Week of March 18, 1991
A February 1991 KPFA interview with Grateful Dead sound man Dan Healy. He talks about the revival of "New Speedway Boogie" (a fresh performance of which opened the show) and the possible revival of other material resulting from the introduction of Vince Welnick to the band and a general atmosphere of reassessment that characterized that moment.
Calls from listeners: Why no free concerts? Why does the band seem to pay new material more on the east coast than at home? Healy talks about ongoing development of sound system and related gear; tells of having special guests sprung on him minutes before the second set; how the tapers' section came to be: "'Dan, your tapers are causing trouble.'"
Call about Vince Welnick, the keyboardist who joined the band a few months earlire. Will Vince ever get to play a B3 on tour? Vince still has "slack and space to get into the groove.... he's doing extremely well." Problems amplifying the organ on a rock'n'roll stage.... Vince is the regular keyboard player; if and when Bruce has opportunities to do stuff, he will be with us."
Offers a sneak preview of One from the Vault, recorded at a release party for Blues for Allah.
Talks about hearing issues and an event he is doing for H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers). Introduces a recording made backstage at the Oakland Coliseum Arena during the December 1990 New Year's run: Ken Nordine accompanied by Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, and Hamza El-Din; and mentions a record he produced with Ken Nordine with Jerry Garcia, David Grisman & band backing him (recorded 2/14/91 and later released as Devout Catalyst).
Grateful Dead 2/19/91 Oakland Coliseum
NEW SPEEDWAY BOOGIE
Ken Nordine (recorded backstage at the Oakland Coliseum Arena the week of FEEL FREE
Phil Lesh
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Grateful Dead, One from the Vault (8/13/75 Great American Music Hall, SF)
HELP ON THE WAY->
SLIPKNOT!
Ken Nordine 12/30/90 backstage at the Oakland Coliseum w/Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart and Hamza El-Din
FLIBBERTY JIB
And here is the text of Phil Lesh's message to Deadheads:
Hi, this is Phil Lesh with a new message for Deadheads. Much of it will probably be familiar, but I would like to add something to our usual list of requests. Yes, it's still important for Deadheads to cooperate with certain rules. It's critical, for instance, that you not come to shows without a ticket, and that you not arrive at venues before the parking lots open. It's also essential that we don't have business - legal or otherwise - going on at shows, and in addition to the no-vendung rule, the no camping rule must continue. THat said, I really want to urge everyone in this scene - all of us - to be more mindful, to be more conscious of the way we're creating our journey together. In heavy times such as these it seems particularly important to act with some grace, so that we don't just survive, but do it with style.
Every Wednesday, we post a program from the Grateful Dead Hour archives for your enjoyment and enlightenment. You can browse or search the playlists at gdhour.com or on the GD Hour Search page, and let me know what program(s) you'd like to hear by emailing me at gdhour@dead.net.
Thanks for listening!
David Gans