OK, we made a big deal about Phil turning 70 last year, and Bob Dylan got an endless (but very interesting) Rolling Stone cover story for turning 70 a few weeks ago. But now it’s time to give some serious props to Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, whose 70th birthday is June 23.
I remember back in the late ’80s, when the big invasion came after “Touch of Grey,” Garcia used to talk about the Dead possibly being shut out of many venues because of bad fan behavior.
I don’t dig Phish. Lord knows I’ve tried. Through the years I’ve had so many people attempt to convert me. I dutifully auditioned live CDs fanatical fans would pass to me. I checked out every studio album that came my way, wondering if this would be the Phish album that would have songs that actually resonated with me.
When you and I celebrate our birthdays, maybe we go out to dinner with loved ones or toss back a few with pals. If we’re lucky, maybe some cool band is playing in town that night.
Periodically, I’m going to take a look at new releases from Grateful Dead family and friends. I’ll try to keep up so you don’t have to!
Robert Hunter and Alan Trist, who carefully shepherd the Grateful Dead’s publishing company, Ice Nine, have been quite picky through the years about which film and TV projects they will allow the Dead’s music to appear in.
I’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating: I believe The Grateful Dead Movie is the single greatest document of the Dead experience ever released.
