Grateful Dead

In February, the band plays three shows around Chinese New Year at what is now named Henry J. Kaiser Auditorium, in Oakland. This mid-February run becomes a regular kickstart to the new year. In the spring the band lands a new gig - writing the music for the revived 'Twilight Zone' television show. In April, Mickey Hart and Dan Healy take a day off from tour to record the Gyuto Monks. Various parts of the Dead family will be involved with the monks for years to come. Also in April, the band goes into Marin Vets to film an hour-long video (out in 1987) that will be called So Far.

This year's February run includes the first Mardi Gras parade (complete with the Neville Brothers opening). The ever-growing population of Dead Heads leads to a band decision to play stadiums this summer, but in the company of Bob Dylan, who is backed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. This leads first to the worst-sounding Dead concert of all time, at the Metrodome in Minneapolis (Dylan's 'home town'), and ends on a stunningly hot and humid weekend in Washington, D.C. Two days after they return home, on July 10th, Garcia collapses into a diabetic coma that will last a week.

Energized by Garcia's recovery, the band sets up in January at Marin Veterans' Auditorium to record its first 'studio' album in seven years. Their energy and focus are near-perfect, and in a very few weeks, they finish In the Dark. At the same time, Bob Dylan comes and hangs out for a couple of days at the Dead's studio, and they decide to tour in the summer as 'Dylan and the Dead.' In February, Ben & Jerry's introduces 'Cherry Garcia' to a waiting world. The spring tour sells out in seconds, and gets consistently rave reviews from critics and Dead Heads.

1988

Venue troubles continue. A video of police striking a fan whose arms are pinned outside a Pittsburgh show in early April makes the rounds, but the result is anti-Dead Head. The Mayor of Milwaukee dances 10th-row center at his home show, but elsewhere (Irvine and Washington), politicians try to use anti-Dead opinion for personal publicity. At home, the Dead take part in May in a major concert to benefit research into AIDS at Oakland Coliseum, with Garcia and Weir backing John Fogerty singing his classic Creedence songs.

The new decade opens at Oakland Coliseum Arena, the scene having outgrown Kaiser Auditorium; crowd control problems remain a constant worry. The highlight of the spring tour is a visit from distinguished jazz saxophone player Branford Marsalis at Nassau Coliseum on March 29th. His playing delights both band and audience, leading to a standing invitation to return. Another old musical friend, David Grisman, receives a large check as the Ralph J.

Following the spring tour, the band releases the first of what will be a long string of archival CDs from its renowned tape holdings. One From the Vault documents the legendary August 13, 1975 show at the Great American Music Hall to promote Blues for Allah. Later that month, Arista issues Deadicated, a fine tribute album to the Dead?s music. On June 4th, Mickey Hart and Planet Drum lead the American Booksellers Association convention in a samba line into Times Square.

In February, Mickey Hart wins the first ?World Music? Grammy ever awarded, for Planet Drum. The spring tour is Bruce Hornsby?s last as a regular. In an effort to save its hearing, the band shifts in May to in-ear audio monitors (rather than on-stage wedges). This lessens volume on stage, which is not popular with many Dead Heads. At the summer Olympics, the Lithuanian basketball team, recipients of a Rex donation, wear skeleton t-shirts to receive their bronze medals. G.D. Merchandising suddenly has a hot-selling new product. Once again Garcia?s health hits the wall.

At February Mardi Gras shows, the band debuts an impressive array of new songs, including Weir?s ?Eternity? and Garcia?s ?Lazy River Road,? ?Liberty,? and the majestic ?Days Between.? The newly-elected Clinton/Gore administration is Dead-friendly, and most of the band visits the White House during the spring tour. In April, Garcia, Weir, and Welnick sing the national anthem for the SF Giants? opening day.

The Grateful Dead are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in January at a black-tie ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Garcia ducks out on the event. Phi Lesh conducts the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra for a charity event in May, with Weir and Garcia there to cheer him on. Because of the World Cup, the summer stadium tour is delayed, which means that this year?s visit to Las Vegas is in 115 degree heat rather than the usual 90 degrees. The on-stage air conditioning helps the band, and fortunately, Dead Heads adapt and no one gets hurt.