Grateful Dead

Hot Tuna was the unbilled surprise guest act. DW

The show was billed as Stoneground, New Riders of the Purple Sage and Grateful Dead and "friends". Instead of Stoneground getting things started, David Crosby and Graham Nash started with their band. After them, New Riders of the Purple Sage came on but Jerry Garcia wasn't feeling well so he did not play with them. In his place Jack Cassidy and Jorma Kaukonen from Hot Tuna (and formerly Jefferson Airplane) joined the New Riders. After that set, the rest of Hot Tuna came on stage and played a set. After they finished it was close to midnight so the Dead came on and played. Finally at 2:30 AM, the warm up band - Stoneground - finally came on stage. After that set, the jam started.

There are some bad cuts in the circulating recordings. "Monkey & The Engineer" is missing its middle. Also the "Cryptical Reprise" is totally gone (there is a noticeable splice after the "other one.)

Seemed like Hot Tuna played from 10 til midnight, then The Dead til around 5 a.m. I don't recall the GD band leaving the stage those 5 hours. Who made up Stoneground?

1. Truckin' 2. The Monkey// & The Engineer 3. Cold Rain & Snow 4. Easy Wind... Big Railroad Blues 5. Cumberland Blues 6. Dire Wolf 7. Cryptical Envelopment> Drums> The Other One> Cryptical Envelopment 8. Black Peter 9. Sugar Magnolia** DISC II 1. China Cat Sunflower> 2. I Know You Rider 3. Good Lovin'> 4. Uncle John's Band

The dead did not play straight until 5am. Stoneground did indeed come on after the New Years set about 2:30am. After that they had a big jam from compilation of all the acts that night until 5 or 6 in the morning. Bill Graham followed that great night with a great breakfast for all that braved a long night of music. Croissants, fruit, and much needed fresh squeezed orange juice by the vats. Great show and breakfast to boot.

I remember quite vividly sitting in the middle of the floor. Early on, before the GD came on stage, there were hippy chicks walking through the crowd handing out something to those who wanted it. One came up to me and said, "The Grateful Dead wish you a Happy New Year". She handed me a tiny piece of paper and told me to put it in my mouth for a good trip. I took it, but did not take it that night. I don't know if these girls were sent out by the GD or were acting on their own. Regardless, it was quite a scene!