Grateful Dead

Friends of mine who'd gone with the entourage to Egypt had told me about Hamza el-Din and we were looking forward to hearing him, since he did not play the previous night. Instead of seats, this night we were right up front in the pit twenty feet from the stage, close to everything-- but too close to a grinning, boorish idiot who kept hailing Hamza as "Sambo." No, I'm afraid I am not kidding, folks. "HEY! SAMBO!" he hollered. "That's Sambo," he explained to the people around him, most of whom probably wished "Scotty" would beam him back up to whatever planet he came from. The Dead came out one by one to join Hamza during "Ollin Arageed," which cranked up the energy considerably, and also mercifully deprived us of the heckling fool, who wandered away from the main floor and never returned. Lee Oskar of War came out and played during the "Mojo" interlude and perhaps for "The Other One." This show burned with high energy throughout; I particularly remember the thunderous version of "Passenger" and maybe the best "Estimated Prophet" I've ever heard. My friends who went to Egypt told me the Winterland shows were much stronger than the Gizah shows, though we couldn't match the setting.

I will never forget this night or my first year at SF State. Jim Joses served up some bad Koolaid and Dan White murdered Harvey Milk and Mayor Moscone. But my eternal thanks too Margeret C (Muggs) for getting me into the Dead and taking me to this show. Winterland had a line around the block but a side door opened next to us and we got in early. We sat on the stage left side even with the stage because Margaret liked to watch Jerry, who faced that way as he played at the time. Jerry went all out jamming "Sugaree", and sang beautiful versions of "It must have been the Roses" and "Stella Blues". For 20 years I chased after that feeling again and had a lot of fun in the effort. Thanks Muggs where ever you are. Love James

art Oh what a time! It was also the show that changed me from Dead fan to DeadHead.The music blew my mind,with a little help from the "Brown Dot" blotter that we had been getting in Berkeley.The most beautiful girl I had ever seen was dancing sensually in front (and sometimes against) me. We bought tix at the door that night for like six bucks! Only bummer : my car was stolen that night and I spent the last part of my trip in a police car filing a report,then calling my father to come pick us up, we were only 16. Dad was so kind. A little suspicious but kind.We saw Niel Youngs "Rust" concert the next night, and when I got home my car was back! I would have those times again.