Grateful Dead

Sugar Mag, Bill's favorite. They rocked it out like I have never seen before. All their emotions went into it. Sad show. Everybody was wearing black armbands as I recall. I made him a margarita once at the Warfield (bartended there) and we rapped a bit. He also cussed me out at Laguna Seca...long story

The boys did a sound check with about 12 of us standing in front of the stage. It was The Weight and Attics. I thought that would happen with every pass that followed, but no. That was unique.

The Oakland hills had been burned up and "Killer" piloted Bills chopper right into the extra high power tower out on hiway 37. The wreckage hung up there for a few days as it was lights out for hundreds of thousands of bay area residents. Melissa, Steve and "Uncle Bobo" were gone. He hated being called Uncle Bobo. There was no shortage of tears in the house but especially backstage. David Graham took the stage prior to the show starting and everyone with a lighter or match who could stand lit their flames as he told us how much Bill loved us all. No other promoter in the world cared as much about the patrons as Bill Graham. Thank you uncle Wolfgang! (His birth name)

Santana and Gary Duncan came out on Mona as a tribute to Bill.

...they omitted the Sunsine Daydream part of Sugar Mag (reportedly Bill Graham's favorite Dead tune). It was completed the following week at the Bill Graham Memorial Concert in Golden Gate Park, which I, unfortunatley, could not attend.

after the iko-mona jam on stage were four monster guitarist of the 60's san francisco seen Santana,Duncan,Weir,Garcia as they fade to the next song any one of them could take the lead but no, young Hornsby takes a lead. Not on his beautiful grand piano but on the casio keyboard on top of his steinway. Hard to listen to after the monster jam preceeding.

I drove up from Santa Barbara with my roomates who were huge Deadheads. It was well worth the trip. This show was awesome from begining to end. I'll always remeber David Graham on stage and telling all about Bill's love for the patrons. The lighters lit up the entire coliseum. Then when Santana came on stage to play along, well that just sealed the deal. In the next three years I went to every show possible...Vegas, Eugine, San Diego, Los Angeles...I sure miss those days.

What a show. Very emotional. Epic Iko Iko > Mona with Carlos Santana and Gary Duncan. Still almost brings a tear to my eye.

I remember a large floral arrangement with red roses onstage. A very emotional show. Gary Duncan's appearance was a surprise, as was his great playing after all those years. It felt like a joyous wake for Bill.