Grateful Dead

...and I don't remember any of the Dead! My dad, great dad that he was, took my sister and me to Monterey to see the Mamas and the Papas. I was 13, my sister was 11. We were big M&P fans. I was way too young to understand what I was seeing and hearing, but I do remember Jimi burning his guitar and wondering what that was about. And I saw the Who! Of course I remember the M&P, they were great, that's what I came for. Sandwiched in there was the Dead, and I don't remember them. I was at my second Dead show, and didn't even know it. I remember standing in line for a port-o-san, and hearing from far away on stage, "Please welcome, THE WHO!" And my Dad told us that the funny smell was incense. I still had a great time at the show, and when Furthur played Monterey a few years ago, it was the first time I had been back there at least 40 years, because I didn't go to the Jazz Festivals (my loss). It was fun to see this historic performance space again and remember my time at the Monterey Pop Festival with Dad and my sister. Such an innocent time... nitecat

Grateful Dead Live at Monterey Fairgrounds on 1967-06-18 - Grateful DeadCold Rain And Snow, Viola Lee Blues Alligator > Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks) Note: Deadlists indicates that Alligator/Caution may NOT be from this date. See that discusion for additional details.

I was working in L.A. at a place called, "Jumbo Jim's" sandwich shop at the end of Western Blvd near the entrance of Griffith park. My shift had just started when some friends showed up in a car headed for Monterey. "C'mon, blow off work," they said, "it'll be a groove, let's go..." No one had tickets, and my boss was tapping his foot inside as he watched us. My rent was over-due and for once in my life i was going to act responsibly. They left, I stayed; the rest is history! For the sake of some minimum wage gig that i lost a few months later, i missed one of the greatest rock shows in history! In the years since then, i have bailed on more jobs, dates, and serious obligations than i could shake a stick at. In fact, i actually lost the job at Jumbo Jim's because of what would be my first Dead Show up in the park a few months later. The generator was louder than the music, the acid was full of speed, and on the way out i got busted for relieving myself in public; "Lewd and Lascivious Conduct" they called it. With no bail, or fine money, I did five miserable days in Old County Jail, but overall, it was worth it. To be honest, i had gone to see Gracie Slick & the Airplane, but it turned into my first of many, many, Dead Shows, and a job never interfered again!