GOOD OL’ GRATEFUL DEADCAST

Wake Of The Flood 50: Here Comes Sunshine

We explore the Beatlesque optimism of “Here Comes Sunshine,” its roots in the Vanport flood of 1948, & the story of the brand-new custom Doug Irwin guitar Jerry Garcia debuted on Wake of the Flood.  

GUESTS: Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Bruce Hornsby, Steve Parish, David Lemieux, Alex Bleeker, Scott Metzger, Shaugn O’Donnell, Bill Polits 

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A personal favorite of both Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter, we explore how “Stella Blue” grew from New York’s fertile Chelsea Hotel into one of the great American songs, plus Bruce Hornsby on how Wake of the Flood made him a Dead fan.

GUESTS: Elvis Costello, Bruce Hornsby, David Lemieux, Nick Paumgarten, Scott Metzger, Shaugn O’Donnell, Nick Bush

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Wake Of The Flood 50: Row Jimmy

The Deadcast explores the strange not-quite-reggae of “Row Jimmy,” featuring a long never-heard interview with lyricist Robert Hunter from 1977. 

GUESTS: Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Robert Hunter, David Lemieux, Brian Kehew, Scott Metzger, Shaugn O’Donnell

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The Deadcast explores Keith Godchaux’s only song for the Grateful Dead, the unassuming but complex “Let Me Sing Your Blues Away,” the debut single from Wake of the Flood & Grateful Dead Records, co-starring Donna Jean, company president Ron Rakow, & a gaggle of early Dead tapers.

GUESTS: Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Ron Rakow, Steve Brown, Howard Wales, Marty Weinberg, Les Kippel, Harvey Lubar, Howie Levine, Jim Cooper, David Lemieux, Brian Kehew, Scott Metzger, Shaugn O’Donnell, Marc Masters, Dave Mandl

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The Deadcast begins our deep dive into Wake of the Flood, including multi-track breakdowns for Mississippi Half-Step, never-heard outtakes, studio memories from Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, & the origins of Grateful Dead Records with co-founder Ron Rakow.

GUESTS: Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Ron Rakow, Alan Trist, Steve Brown, David Lemieux, Brian Kehew, Nick Paumgarten, Shaugn O’Donnell

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The thrilling conclusion of our visit to the record-breaking Watkins Glen Summer Jam, featuring John Belushi crashing the backstage, a super jam onstage, a teen-run pirate radio station, & the birth of a new generation of Dead Heads.

GUESTS: Sam Cutler, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Bunky Odom, Chuck Leavell, Jim Koplik, Buddy Thornton, Sepp Donahower, Lee Ranaldo, Steve Silberman, Rebecca Adams, Gary Lambert, John Ramsey, Tim Meehan, Michael Simmons, Dan Henklein, Erik Nelson, Bob Student, Jim Cooper, Harvey Lubar, Todd Ellenberg, Ihor Slabicky, Jay Kerley, Brian Schiff, Eric Alden, David Lemieux, Alan Paul

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Watkins Glen Summer Jam ‘73, Part 1

Musicians, organizers, & fans tell the epic story of how the Watkins Glen Summer Jam started as a giant rock show & turned into history when more than a half-million came to see the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, & The Band.

GUESTS: Sam Cutler, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Bunky Odom, Chuck Leavell, Jim Koplik, Buddy Thornton, Susan Wickersham, Janet Furman, Sepp Donahower, Lee Ranaldo, Steve Silberman, John Ramsey, Tim Meehan, Michael Simmons, Dan Henklein, Erik Nelson, Bob Student, Jim Cooper, Todd Ellenberg, Ihor Slabicky, Jay Kerley, Joe Gauthier, Eric Alden, David Lemieux, Alan Paul

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Our stadium-sized season finale visits the Dead’s June 1973 mega-gigs with the Allman Brothers Band in Washington DC, featuring the Allmans family, legendary tapers, searing heat, super jams, backstage brawls, & the manifestation of the Ouroboros. 

Guests: Bunky Odom, Buddy Thornton, Ron Wickersham, Alan Trist, Ben Haller, Peter Rowan, Richard Loren, Allan Arkush, Merl Saunders Jr., Steve White, Jim Cooper, Laurie Oliver, Dan Henklein, Howie Levine, Ihor Slabicky, Jay Kerley, Brian Schiff, David Lemieux, Alan Paul

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The Deadcast visits one of the Dead’s most legendary hometown shows with the band, crew, & Bay Area Dead freaks, featuring 3 sets in the Golden Gate Park sunshine, technological innovations, & an important paper by the Haight Street Free Medical Clinic.

Guests: Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Dave Smith, Bob Barsotti, Ron Wickersham, Jerry Pompili, Steve Brown, Sally Mann Romano, Mike Dolgushkin, David Gans, Strider Brown, Bob Student, Mike Crater, David Lemieux, Nicholas Meriwether

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Feel the ocean breeze and spend a sunny Sunday with the Grateful Dead as the Deadcast visits Santa Barbara ‘73 with first-time showgoer Al Franken, archivist David Lemieux, the show’s promoters, and more.

Guests: Al Franken, Jim Curnutt, Sepp Donahower, Rosie McGee, Michael Parrish, Bob Student, Gary Wulfing, David Lemieux

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We time-travel to the Dead’s massive 3-set show in Des Moines, May 1973 (& the first show on the new Here Comes Sunshine box) with stories from Donna Jean, the show’s promoters, & the Dead’s office staff, plus custom gear, big jams, an indoor fireworks fight, etc.

Guests: Donna Jean Godchaux, Gail Hellund, Rita Gentry, Rosie McGee, Sally Mann Romano, Steve White, Jon Hoak, Candace Brightman, Dan Erlewine, Sepp Donahower, Bob Glaza, Joe Gauthier, David Lemieux

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The Deadcast takes a special side trip into Jerry Garcia’s extracurricular projects in 1973, exploring his partnerships with organist Merl Saunders & the legendary bluegrass group Old & In the Way with guests David Grisman & Peter Rowan, & how they impacted the Dead’s music.

Guests: David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Merl Saunders Jr., Richard Loren, Howard Wales, Hawk Semins, Joe Jupille

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The Deadcast sets course for 1973, diving into the newly announced Here Comes Sunshine box set with firsthand tours of the ambitious family businesses in orbit around the Dead in 1973, including an independent record label, booking company, travel agency, clothing boutique, & more.

Guests: Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Alan Trist, Rosie McGee, Steve Brown, Sally Mann Romano, Gail Hellund, David Lemieux 

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Ladies and gentlemen, fellow deadheads, today’s regularly scheduled DeadCast will be coming in the not too distant future, fear not we have all the Golden Yummies lined up for your listening pleasure.

You’ll definitely want to join the party when you see what sunshine we have in store, so stay tuned, and we’ll see you just a little bit further down the Golden Road.

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T.C.

The Deadcast is honored to welcome Tom Constanten to discuss his remarkable tenure as Grateful Dead keyboardist from late 1968 through early 1970, his work on 3 classic albums, & his adventures before & after the Dead, including his current band Dose Hermanos.

Guests: Tom Constanten, Bob Bralove, Henry Kaiser, David Lemieux

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Bear’s Choice 50

The Deadcast returns to the Fillmore East and digs into the Dead’s 1st archival live album, History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear’s Choice), produced by former LSD alchemist Owsley Stanley & released as a tribute to Pigpen just after his death.

Guests: Allan Arkush, Gary Lambert, David Lemieux, Starfinder Stanley

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The Adventures of Pigpen, part 2

The Deadcast concludes our tribute to Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, exploring his years with the Dead, featuring more documents from the McKernan family archives, his alleged firing, former housemate Tom Constanten, lost song lyrics, & last songs.

GUESTS: Jim Sullivan, Tom Constanten, Denise Kaufman, Eric Thompson, Starfinder Stanley, David Lemieux, Kay Alexander, Mike Dolgushkin

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The Adventures of Pigpen, part 1

The Deadcast marks 50 years since the passing of original Grateful Dead frontman Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, in part 1 uncovering his mysterious pre-Dead years in the Palo Alto folk scene, featuring a visit to the McKernan archives, never-heard performances, & archival interviews.

GUESTS: Jim Sullivan, Denise Kaufman, Eric Thompson, Ted Claire, David Lemieux

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The Deadcast concludes its dive into the Grateful Dead’s entanglement with technology, exploring Jerry Garcia’s digital graphics obsession, how Dead Head online communities helped shape the emergent internet, lyricist John Perry Barlow’s manifestoes, & more. 

Guests: Paul Martin, Mary Eisenhart, David Gans, Steve Silberman, Bob Bralove, Dan English, Doug Oade, Christian Crumlish, Charlie Miller, John Markoff, Erik Davis, Michael Calore

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The Deadcast explores the Grateful Dead’s long-term cosmic entanglement with the California technology world & the architecture of the internet itself, featuring biomusic pioneer Ned Lagin, Dead Heads at the Stanford AI Lab & Apple, sonic heroes from Alembic & Meyer Sound, & more.

Guests: Ned Lagin, Ron Wickersham, Susan Wickersham, Daniel Kottke, John Meyer, Helen Meyer, Paul Martin, Andy Moorer, Steve Silberman, Erik Davis, John Markoff

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We present an encore of the Deadcast’s Denmark episode from earlier this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Europe ‘72’s proper release, as well as to get you ready for (or debrief you from) the Meet-Up At The Movies presentation of the Dead’s historic Danish telecast.

Guests: Sam Cutler, Steve Parish, Mountain Girl, Donna Jean Godchaux MacKay, Ben Haller, Alan Trist, Jim Sullivan, Gijsbert Hanekroot, John Morris, Sam Field, David Lemieux, MC Taylor, Lars Bennike, Bjørn Lindstrøm, Hans Francke, Jens Skovby, Palle Lykke, Lars Movin, Graeme Boone, Shaugn O’Donnell

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The Grateful Deadcast celebrates Bobby Weir’s 75th with the birthday boy himself, exploring Weir’s world with Don Was, Jeff Chimenti, members of the expanded Wolfpack, & orchestral collaborator Giancarlo Aquilanti. 

Guests: Bobby Weir, Don Was, Jeff Chimenti, Barry Sless, Giancarlo Aquilanti

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Ace 50

The Deadcast welcomes Bobby Weir to honor the 50th anniversary of his 1972 solo debut “Ace” (& its forthcoming reissue), made with an all-star backing band that happened to be the Grateful Dead, featuring archival audio with “Ace” lyricists John Perry Barlow & Robert Hunter.

Guests: Bobby Weir, Donna Jean Godhaux-MacKay, Don Was

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Pack the Microbus & hit the road with the Dead in ‘83, hang out with the deep scene of Dead Head graffiti writers & frisbee players in Central Park, & get back to Madison Square Garden for two shows with two room-shaking bustouts.

Guests: David Lemieux, John Meyer, Helen Meyer, Dan English, Alan Trist, John Scher, Eric Schwartz, John Leopold, Charlie Miller, Jim Wise, Bob Minkin, Lee Greenfeld, Johnny Dwork, Eric Pooley, Rich Farrell, Larry Price, Dean Heiser, Mary Eisenhart, Corry Arnold, Elijah Funk, Alix Ross, Mark Rodriguez

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The Deadcast examines how the Grateful Dead remained a center of innovation in 1982, exploring their new sound system with John & Helen Meyer of Meyer Sound, an audacious plan to sell live tapes, the DIY zine scene, one future hit, & two sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden.

Guests: Alan Trist, John Meyer, Helen Meyer, Dan English, Bob Minkin, Charlie Miller, Jim Wise, Eric Schwartz, Chris Goodspace, John Leopold, Johnny Dwork, Shaugn O’Donnell, Jeff Pincus, Marty Meyer, David Lemieux, J. Christian Greer

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We point the Deadcast to the ‘80s & channel the room-shaking power of the 1981 Madison Square Garden shows on the new box set with archivist David Lemieux, promoter John Scher, photographers Jay Blakesberg & Bob Minkin, tapers Jim Wise & Charlie Miller, & many more.

Guests: David Lemieux, John Scher, Jay Blakesberg, Bob Minkin, Charlie Miller, Christina Schreiber, Jon Huntley, Jim Wise, Chris Goodspace, Eric Pooley, Shaugn O’Donnell, Marty Meyer, Frank Boesch

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On a very special bonus episode, we check in with Mickey Hart about his latest drones and hear high tales of Grateful Dead madness, from frying bacon onstage to using firearms as percussion, plus stories about his handcrafted instrument, the Beam, and a look into the Barn, his recording “crucible” in Novato and one of the great and oft-forgotten studios of the ‘70s and ‘80s.

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This week, the Deadcast swaps feeds with the Comes A Time podcast hosted by Dead & Co. bassist Oteil Burbridge & comedian Mike Finoia, featuring their interview with promoter Peter Shapiro, impresario behind Fare Thee Well & the Capitol Theatre, & author of a new book.

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We time travel to one of the Grateful Dead’s most legendary shows, the 1972 benefit that saved the Springfield Creamery, featuring eyewitness accounts of heads freaking freely in the scorching heat amid some of the most incandescent jams of the band’s career.

Guests: David Lemieux, Johnny Dwork, Justin Kreutzmann, Chuck Kesey, Sue Kesey, Mike Sherwood, Dave tharp, Joshua Clark Davis, Nancy Hamren, Richard Sutton, Larry Roberts, Jay Kerley, David Koranda, Strider Brown, Sam field, Adrian Marin, Camille Cole, Al Strobel, Dano Hikinin, Michele Lefowith, Don Witten, and Mango Man

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The Deadcast explores the backdrop for one the Grateful Dead’s most extraordinary shows, saving the Springfield Creamery at an off-the-grid potluck picnic amid Merry Pranksters, colorful commune dwellers, & innovative yogurt pioneers during the heady summer of 1972.

GUESTS: Chuck Kesey, Sue Kesey, Nancy Hamren, Huey Lewis, Sam Field, Al Strobel, Adrian Marin, Strider Brown, Richard Sutton, Camille Cole, Danno Hikinin, Michele Lefkowith, David Koranda, Lawrence Roberts, Don Witten, David Lemieux, Joshua Clark Davis, Johnny Dwork

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Our Deadcast season finale explores how the Grateful Dead crafted 73 hours of tape into the sparkling triple-LP Europe ‘72, commissioned iconic cover art, spawned several new businesses, created a global impact, & eventually built a groundbreaking box set four decades later.

Guests: Bob Matthews, Sam Cutler, Alan Trist, Steve Parish, Janet Furman, Ben Haller, Oteil Burbridge, David Lemieux, Jeffrey Norman, Steve Silberman, Erik Davis, Philipe Sicard, Bill Giles, Dave Speidel, Mark Mumper, Corry Arnold, Stephen Gardiner, Chiku Parbat, Andrew Stuart, Ferrnand Berger-Vasq

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The Grateful Dead (& the Deadcast) finish the Europe ‘72 tour with 4 rapturous nights at London’s Lyceum Ballroom, where they record much of their new live album, including a most psychedelicized tour finale, plus deep dives into “Ramble On Rose,” “Morning Dew,” & other classics.

Guests: Sam Cutler, Steve Parish, Alan Trist, David Nelson, Ben Haller, Janet Furman, John Morris, Courtenay Pollack, Allan Arkush, Alex Allan, Andy Childs, Ken Hunt, Chris Jones, Graham Walker, Bill Giles, Derek Gillman, John Kieffer, Jim Smolen, Jeremy Poynton, Volkmar Rupp, David Lemieux, Graeme Boone, Nicholas Meriwether, Stephen Gardiner

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The Europe ’72 tour’s last week on the Continent includes a free show in Lille (where a Greenpeace co-founder has a far-out experience), a broadcast from the biggest pirate radio station in the world, a famous new sticker for Jerry Garcia’s Stratocaster, & adventures in the Alps.

Guests: Sam Cutler, Steve Parish, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Mountain Girl, Rick Turner, Rosie McGee, Alan Trist, Candace Brightman, Ben Haller, Kid Jensen, Rod Marining, Philipe Sicard, Daniel Duchene, Thomas Storch, Sebbie Buhler, Mimi, Richard Parkinson, Chris Jones, Bill Giles, Simon Phillips, Uli Teute, David Lemieux, Steve Silberman, Graeme Boone

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The Grateful Deadcast explores the Netherlands with band & crew, dives deep into “He’s Gone,” learns why Dutch Dead fans were headier than regular Dutch rock fans, glides through the longest ever “Dark Star,” & traces the Hippie Trail from its northwestern terminus in Amsterdam.

Guests: Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Steve Parish, Sam Cutler, Berry Visser, Alan Trist, Ben Haller, Geert Driessen, Dickson Hall, Peter Swift, David Johns, Sjaak Leitjens, Eric Alden, David Lemieux, Graeme Boone, John Colpitts, Michael Kramer

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The biggest gig of the Grateful Dead’s Europe ‘72 tour, their largest ever overseas show, & one of our biggest Deadcasts yet, reconstructing the legendary Bickershaw Festival mudbath with enraptured audience members including an extended conversation with Elvis Costello.

Guests: Elvis Costello, Michael Moorcock, Mountain Girl, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, David Nelson, Steve Parish, Sam Cutler, Alan Trist, Janet Furman, Ben Haller, John Morris, Allan Arkush, Peter Luttner, Alex Allan, Chris Jones, Bill Giles, Barbara Nellist, Simon Phillips, Steven Feldman, Brain Petheram, Adam Gotley, Mick Etherington, David Lemieux, Graeme Boone

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Europe ‘72: France

The Deadcast’s grand tour of Europe ‘72 hits the City of Light, goes museum-hopping with band & crew, digs deep into 2 classic shows at L’Olympia & the 5 songs recorded there for the live album, reconstructs how everybody got too high, & puts together the pieces of the Lille riot.

GUESTS: Sam Cutler, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Steve Parish, Mountain Girl, Rosie McGee, Alan Trist, Courtenay Pollack, Janet Furman, Ben Haller, Candace Brightman, Jim Sullivan, Philipe Sicard, Daniel Duchene, Harry Tuft, David Lemieux, Graeme Boone, Shaugn O’Donnell

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The Grateful Dead truck into West Germany, film a session for the Beat-Club, get thrown out of their hotel, jam in a planetarium, meet Naked Frankfurt Dude & many American GIs, are pranked by their light crew, influence the course of German psychedelia, & play 3 legendary shows.

Guests: Sam Cutler, Steve Parish, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Mountain Girl, Rosie McGee, Alan Trist, Candace Brightman, Ben Haller, Janet Furman, René Tinner, Jim Sullivan, Uli Teute, Hagen Glas, Eric Alden, Uli Dohrmann, David Lemieux, Graeme Boone, Chris Jones

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In which the Grateful Dead make landfall on the Continent, do battle with Danish customs, play on the 1st live rock telecast in national history, perform in a university cafeteria, visit Hamlet’s castle, cross paths with a countercultural hero, wear clown masks, & get cool sweaters.

Guests: Sam Cutler, Steve Parish, Mountain Girl, Donna Jean Godchaux MacKay, Ben Haller, Alan Trist, Jim Sullivan, Gijsbert Hanekroot, John Morris, Sam Field, David Lemieux, MC Taylor, Lars Bennike, Bjørn Lindstrøm, Hans Francke, Jens Skovby, Palle Lykke, Lars Movin, Graeme Boone, Shaugn O’Donnell

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The Deadcast begins our 10-part series on Europe ‘72, revisiting the Grateful Dead’s legendary triple-LP & epic tour, as the band prepares to blaze a new circuit across the Continent with more than 40 family members, custom recording gear, & the makings of a classic album.

GUESTS: Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Elvis Costello, Sam Cutler, Steve Parish, Mountain Girl, Alan Trist, Candace Brightman, Ben Haller, John Morris, Janet Furman, Allan Arkush, David Lemieux, Bill Weber

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Board the red-eye to London & storm England with the Dead as they open their Europe ‘72 tour, featuring family members, legendary jams, British Dead freaks, letters home from Pigpen, a trip to/at Stonehenge, Bozos, Bolos, & the birth of Hypnocracy.

GUESTS: Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Sam Cutler, Steve Parish, Mountain Girl, Bob Matthews, Alan Trist, Ben Haller, John Morris, Allan Arkush, Janet Furman, David Lemieux, Graeme Boone, Jim Sullivan, Ken Hunt, Bob White, Chris Jones, Adam Gotley, Bob Hearne, Bill Giles, Richard Parkinson

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Coming Soon: Europe ‘72

The Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast is back on April 7th and we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of Europe ‘72 by going on the whole tour, featuring members of the band, crew, family, European heads, 11 Dark Stars, and 10 episodes of high adventure, every Thursday through June.

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The Deadcast celebrates the 30th anniversary of 1991’s “Infrared Roses,” the last original Grateful Dead album (with cover art by Jerry Garcia & track titles by Robert Hunter) & explores the band’s MIDI years.  

Guests: Bob Bralove, David Lemieux, Steve Silberman, Doug Kaplan, Dave Harrington

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We uncover the secrets of the Grateful Dead’s legendary tape vault with archivist David Lemieux, from LSD alchemist Owsley Stanley to the making of the Betty Boards, from “Dick’s Picks” (& Dick Latvala’s own home recordings) to the 10th anniversary of “Dave’s Picks.”

Guests: David Lemieux, Carol Latvala, Rhoney Stanley, Starfinder Stanley, David Gans, Mike Johnson

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Dead Studies

We examine the emergent interdisciplinary world of Dead Studies & pay a virtual visit to the annual Grateful Dead Scholars Caucus, hearing presentation excerpts from a spectrum of musicologists, historians, psychologists, and more.

Guests: Rebecca Adams, Nicholas Meriwether, Brent Wood, Melvin Backstrom, Beth Carroll, Rhoney Stanley, Isaac Slone, Julie DeLong, Adam Brown, Corry Arnold

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We give thanks to Dead Heads and use listener-submitted stories to tell to the Heads’ history from the Haight-Ashbury to Shakedown Street, with Bill Walton, DeadBase founder Mike Dolgushkin, sociologist Rebecca Adams, Steve Silberman, & and many new friends.

GUESTS: Bill Walton, Rebecca Adams, Steve Silberman, Mike Dolgushkin, Adam Brown

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We are beyond honored to welcome former Grateful Dead vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay herself to hear the wondrous story of how she went from Alabama to the top of the charts before fate led her to San Francisco, Keith Godchaux, and the Grateful Dead.

GUEST: Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay

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Listen To The River: Kiel Auditorium, October 1973

The Deadcast finishes our tour of St. Louis at the Kiel Auditorium in fall 1973, featuring Warlocks-era insider Steve Brown, local heads, the return of musicologist Graeme Boone to go deep into Dead’s jams, & a visit from Rich’s parents. 

GUESTS: Sepp Donahower, Tony Dwyer, Steve Brown, Thom Pallazola, Drea Stein, John Ellis, Janne Mahan, Bill Mahan, David Lemieux, Graeme Boone

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We explore the Grateful Dead’s formative early 1966 months in Los Angeles under the patronage of Owsley Stanley, LSD chemist & the band’s new sound engineer, featuring Owsley’s assistants Tim Scully & Don Douglas, Merry Pranksters, Rosie McGee, & an archival interview with Owsley.

GUESTS: Tim Scully, Don Douglas, Rosie McGee, Denise Kaufman, Ken Babbs, Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, David Gans

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Listen To The River: Fox Theatre, October 1972

We go behind the scenes, into the crowd, around the specially-installed mirror ball, & inside the music at the Dead’s 3 legendary 1972 shows at St. Louis’s Fox Theatre with promoters Sepp Donahower & Tony Dwyer, musicologist Graeme Boone, & Dead freaks who were there. 

GUESTS: Tony Dwyer, Sepp Donahower, Bill Weber, Drea Stein, John Ellis, Bob Simmons, Thom Pallazola, Joe Schwab, Mark Slosberg, Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, Graeme Boone, David Lemieux

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The Grateful Dead’s relationship with St. Louis went deep as the new Listen To The River box set and this Deadcast prove, featuring promoter Tony Dwyer, offstage jams at Scotty’s Music, and the time the Dead crashed Richie Gerber’s bar mitzvah.

GUESTS: Sam Cutler, Tony Dwyer, Michael Scott, Richard Gerber, Mark Slosberg, Steve Fisher, Doug Heller, David Lemieux, Joe Schwab, Tom Wood, Bob Simmons, Thom Pallazola, John Ellis

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Enter Keith Godchaux

The Deadcast opens its 4th season with one of the most unlikely but totally true stories in Grateful Dead history: how Keith & Donna Jean Godchaux approached Jerry Garcia at a bar and announced that Keith was the Dead’s new keyboardist, going deep into Godchaux family history.

GUESTS: Brian Godchaux, Donna Jean Godchaux MacKay, Greg Anton, Sandy Rothman

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The Deadcast takes a special season-closing look at Jerry Garcia’s classic eponymous debut with co-producer Bob Matthews and friends, recorded during the summer of 1971 by Garcia and a small crew of close collaborators including Bill Kreutzmann and Robert Hunter.

GUESTS: Bob Matthews, Steve Silberman, Joe Jupille

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Playing Dead, Part 2

A truly all-star Deadcast examines the infinite approaches to playing Dead music, from traditional to radical, with a massive span of musicians who’ve played it, from jazz arrangers to indie rock heroes, from actual Dead members to Japanese cover bands.

GUESTS: Bob Weir, Oteil Burbridge, Joe Russo, Peter Shapiro, Stephen Malkmus, Ira Kaplan, Steven Bernstein, Jeff Mattson, David Gans, Holly Bowling, Dave Harrington, Shu-Hey Iwasa, Jake Rabinbach, Rebecca Adams, Gary Lambert, David Lemieux

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The Deadcast examines how the Grateful Dead became a genre and school of music unto themselves, tracing the history of Dead covers to New Jersey in 1969, Calcutta in 1975, & beyond, featuring special appearances by Phish’s Trey Anastasio & Yo La Tengo’s Ira Kaplan.

Guests: Trey Anastasio, Ira Kaplan, Henry Kaiser, John Zias, Sanjay Mishra, Rebecca Adams, Jeff Mattson, David Gans, Gary Lambert, Dennis McNally

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The Deadcast finishes its all-star “Skull & Roses” dive with cosmic diplomat Alan Trist, Courtenay Pollack’s new tie-dye speakers, a surprise trip abroad, the closing of the Fillmore West, studio parties, explorations of the album’s legendary art & infamous original name, & more.

GUESTS: Alan Trist, Bob Matthews, Rosie McGee, Rick Turner, Courtenay Pollack, Stephen Barncard, Allan Arkush, David Lemieux, Nicholas G. Meriwether, Michael Parrish

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We celebrate the 80th birthday of the late Robert Hunter, the Grateful Dead’s primary lyricist, exploring his extraordinary partnership with Jerry Garcia and work with other collaborators, as well his poetry, fiction, and solo career.

GUESTS: Raymond Foye, Greg Anton, Jim Lauderdale, Alex Allan, Nicholas Meriwether

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BONUS: Over There: The Dead in England

The Grateful Dead only visited England a half-dozen times in 30 years, but the quintessential American band’s relationship ran deeper than it might seem, filled with unexpected connections & fans as devoted as any Dead Heads back home, including lyric scholar Alex Allan.

GUESTS: Alex Allan, Richard King, Rich Lee, John Mulvey

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Skull & Roses 50: Fillmore East Late Show

The Deadcast sticks around the Fillmore East for even more backstage stories with stage crew member Allan Arkush, including movie nights with Jerry Garcia and the guitarist’s brief stint doing Hollywood sound effects. 

Guests: Allan Arkush, Candace Brightman, Robert Cooperman, Blair Jackson

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The Deadcast trucks into Bill Graham’s Fillmore East, where the Grateful Dead recorded the bulk of Skull & Roses in April 1971, featuring stage crew member Allan Arkush, tour manager Sam Cutler, & a deep dive into “Wharf Rat” with Darkside’s Dave Harrington.

GUESTS: Allan Arkush, Sam Cutler, Dave Harrington, Robert Cooperman, David Lemieux, Gary Lambert

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Skull & Roses 50: Side C

After special guest Judy Collins joins us to untangle the surprising origins of the Dead’s most-performed song, “Me & My Uncle,” the Deadcast wades into the oversold 3-night April 1971 Dance Marathon that became part of “Skull & Roses,” guided by tour manager Sam Cutler and friends.

GUESTS: Judy Collins, Sam Cutler, Candace Brightman, Sally Mann Romano, Rick Turner, Gary Lambert, Blair Jackson

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Skull & Roses 50: Side B

Our celebration of the Skull & Roses 50th anniversary reissue continues as we explore the “spaceship in construction” of the Grateful Dead in 1971 with Rosie McGee, luthier Rick Turner (maker of Jerry Garcia’s Peanut guitar), tie-dye pioneer Courtenay Pollack, & rare audio.

GUESTS: Rosie McGee, Rick Turner, Courtenay Pollack, Bob Matthews, David Crosby, David Lemieux, Gary Lambert

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Skull & Roses 50: Side A

We begin our 50th anniversary celebration of 1971’s live album Skull & Roses with co-producer Bob Matthews, lighting director Candace Brightman, tour manager Sam Cutler, David Crosby, & David Freiberg, plus lost sessions, a 6-night false start, dream telepathy, song origins & more.

GUESTS: Bob Matthews, Candace Brightman, David Crosby, David Frieberg, David Nelson, Sam Cutler, Stanley Krippner, Stephen Barncard, David Lemieux, Gary Lambert, Blair Jackson

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Hug the Heat, or the Story of the First Dead Tape

We wish you a merry Pranks Day with a surprise Deadcast about the first known live Grateful Dead tape, from 1966, and reveal what happens when you try to shut down an Acid Test, featuring Merry Pranksters Ken Babbs and Denise Kaufman, with additional storytelling by Jerry Garcia.

GUESTS: Ken Babbs, Denise Kaufman

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The Deadcast season finale wraps up American Beauty and looks at the iconic Truckin’, the autobiographical album-closing road anthem, unpacking the band’s history from its verses, lost lyrics, and never-heard original ending.

Bob Weir, Stephen Barncard, Mickey Hart, Howard Wales, Steve Silberman, David Lemieux, Gary Lambert

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A surprising and wide-ranging conversation with Ned Lagin, the pioneering jazz-trained electronic composer whose friendship with the Grateful Dead began when the band crowded into his M.I.T. dorm room to jam and would encompass contributions to American Beauty and Wake of the Flood, nearly 20 onstage appearances with the band between 1970 and 1975, and Lagin’s own Seastones project, released by Jerry Garcia’s Round Records, featuring contributions by Garcia, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, David Crosby, Grace Slick, and more.

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Two episodes in one: we meditate on the harmony tracks and metaphysical overtones of the hymn-like Attics Of My Life, before David Crosby and Steve Silberman return for extended look at how the American Beauty sessions flowed into Croz’s masterpiece, If I Could Only Remember My Name, where Jerry Garcia and the Dead served as supporting musicians and friends.

Bob Weir, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Stephen Barncard, Ira Kaplan, Steve Silberman, Erik Davis, William Tyler, Brian Kehew, David Lemieux, Gary Lambert

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Jumping off from “Till the Morning Comes” and the outtake “To Lay Me Down” we hear from Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay on falling in love with (and to) the Dead, Bob Weir on the secret to recording Phil Lesh, Stephen Malkmus with a psychedelic book recommendation, and time travel to Winterland in October 1970.

Bob Weir, Donna Jean Godchaux MacKay, Stephen Barncard, Stephen Malkmus, Billy Strings, Nick Paumgarten, David Lemieux, Gary Lambert

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We examine how the Grateful Dead classic “Brokedown Palace” forms a hidden but powerful song suite with “Ripple,” the preceding song on American Beauty, with guests Bob Weir, pianist Howard Wales, longtime Dead publisher Alan Trist, historian Nicholas Meriwether, and musicologist Mike Hamad, plus a search for Pigpen’s cat.

Bob Weir, Howard Wales, Alan Trist, Nicholas Meriwether, Mike Hamad, Nick Paumgarten, David Lemeiux, Gary Lambert

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On a very special bonus episode, we check in with Mickey Hart about his latest drones and hear high tales of Grateful Dead madness, from frying bacon onstage to using firearms as percussion, plus stories about his handcrafted instrument, the Beam, and a look into the Barn, his recording “crucible” in Novato and one of the great and oft-forgotten studios of the ‘70s and ‘80s.

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We examine Ripple, the timeless cosmic hymn leading off Side B of American Beauty, written during what Robert Hunter called a peak experience, and take a close look at the Dead’s very own softball team, with guests Bob Weir, David Grisman, Ned Lagin, and many more, including Ripple chorale performer Sam Cutler.

Bob Weir, David Grisman, Sam Cutler, Alan Trist, Stephen Barncard, Ned Lagin, Stephen Malkmus, Steve Silberman, Nicholas Meriwether, David Lemieux, Gary Lambert, Jake Cohen

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With the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir, we examine how “Candyman” updates an old folk meme, we welcome David Crosby to talk about the hottest session guitarist in 1970 San Francisco, Jerry Garcia; plus a cavalcade of stars.

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To celebrate “Operator,” the fourth song on American Beauty and the first Grateful Dead song written solely by Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, we examine his life and offer an extremely rare look into the Pigpen archives, a collection of journals, letters, and more inherited by an old family friend.

Bob Weir, Jim Sullivan, Brain Kehew, Michael Parrish, David Lemieux, Gary Lambert

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We are honored to welcome the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir (!!!) for a deep look at his signature song, “Sugar Magnolia,” and the making of the Dead’s landmark American Beauty in 1970, plus surprising memories of the song from Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus and Yo La Tengo’s Ira Kaplan.

Bob Weir, Rhoney Stanley, Stephen Malkmus, Ira Kaplan, David Lemeiux, Gary Lambert

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BONUS: Dead Behind / Dead Ahead

In the fall of 1980, the Grateful Dead celebrated their 15th anniversary with a series of 25 special shows in San Francisco, New Orleans, and Manhattan, playing acoustic sets for the first time in a decade, along with two electric sets each night. The shows would yield the live double-albums Reckoning and Dead Set, as well as a Halloween simulcast that became the concert film Dead Ahead. We went behind this massive undertaking for a special bonus episode of the Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast.

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American Beauty 50, Episode 2: Friend of the Devil

The Grateful Dead’s most-covered song, “Friend of the Devil,” also uncovers the secret history of American Beauty, including a never-heard demo reel for the album and totally scrapped session tapes newly released as The Angel’s Share, with guests David Grisman, David Nelson, Stephan Barncard, and more.

David Grisman, David Nelson, Stephen Barncard, David Lemieux, Gary Lambert, Brian Kehew, Mike Johnson

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To celebrate the 50th anniversary remaster of the Grateful Dead’s American Beauty, we begin our track-by-track exploration of the band’s bittersweet 1970 masterpiece, powerfully embodied by opening track “Box of Rain,” featuring archival audio, and guests including co-producer Stephen Barncard and Freaks and Geeks creator Paul Feig.

Stephen Barncard, David Nelson, Paul Feig, Sam Cutler, Steve Silberman, Rebecca Adams, Nick Paumgarten, Gary Lambert, David Lemieux, Andrew Peerless

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DESCRIPTION: In our packed season finale, we explore how “Casey Jones” combined folk traditions and became an underground hit too risque for pop radio, hear a break down of the multi-track, discuss the infamous sniff and other Workingman’s Dead’s finishing touches with co-producer Bob Matthews, figure out the location and date of the cover photo, and more.

GUESTS: Bob Matthews, Brian Kehew, Billy Strings, Bob Egan, Gary Lambert, David Lemieux, Michael Parrish

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DESCRIPTION: We explore how “Easy Wind” was the only song on Workingman’s Dead sung by Pigpen and the first Dead tune solely written by lyricist Robert Hunter, featuring rarely heard radio promo spots recorded by Hunter.

GUESTS: Bob Matthews, Rhoney Stanley, Eric Schwartz, Gary Lambert, David Lemieux, Mike Johnson, Brian Kehew

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DESCRIPTION: With special guests Graham Nash and Rhoney Stanley, our dive into the Grateful Dead’s Workingman’s Dead examines how a mishap with an estimated $50,000 worth of LSD led to both the writing of “Black Peter,” perhaps the Grateful Dead’s most somber song, and turned Jerry Garcia into a Crosby, Stills and Nash fan.

GUESTS: Rhoney Stanley, Graham Nash, Bob Matthews, Gary Lambert, Shaugn O’Donnell, Buzz Poole

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DESCRIPTION: A very Jerry bonus episode explores Jerry Garcia’s early ‘60s years in the Palo Alto folk scene and his progression from guitar strummer to banjo picker during a prodigious half-decade before going electric with the Grateful Dead, including interviews with David Nelson and Bob Matthews, both one-time members of Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions.

GUESTS: David Nelson, Bob Matthews, Nicholas Meriwether, Dennis McNally

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DESCRIPTION: We flip sides on the Grateful Dead’s Workingman’s Dead and explore why “Cumberland Blues” is a much stranger song than it might seem, chart the transformation into the so-called Bakersfield Dead, and--in an extended interview--hear how new tour manager Sam Cutler helped the band turn themselves into a real-life workingman’s Dead during one of the most tumultuous and pivotal moments in their history.

GUESTS: Sam Cutler, Shaugn O’Donnell, Bob Matthews, David Nelson, Gary Lambert, Mike Johnson

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We explore “New Speedway Boogie,” the last song on Side 1 of the Grateful Dead’s Workingman’s Dead, examining how the song grew from the disastrous 1969 free festival at Altamont headlined by the Rolling Stones, and listen to never-heard session outtakes from “Mason’s Children.” 

GUESTS: Bob Matthews, Sam Cutler, Gary Lambert, David Lemieux, Buzz Poole, Mike Johnson, Brian Kehew

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Our close listen to the Grateful Dead’s remastered Workingman’s Dead 50th anniversary edition continues with “Dire Wolf.” Album co-producer Bob Matthews reveals recording tricks. With David Nelson of the New Riders of the Purple Sage, we get a look inside Jerry Garcia’s living room as he learns how to play pedal steel guitar. We untangle the connections between “Dire Wolf,” the Zodiac Killer, and Sherlock Holmes to figure out the exact date the song was written, examine session outtakes from the Angel’s Share, hear from bluegrass phenom and Dead fan Billy Strings, discuss how “Dire Wolf” is only one of many connections between the Dead and Game of Thrones writer George RR Martin, and debut a "Dire Wolf" supercut.

GUESTS: David Nelson, Bob Matthews, Billy Strings, Jeffrey Alexander, David Lemieux, Gary Lambert, Brian Kehew, Mike Johnson

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The Grateful Dead’s masterpiece Workingman’s Dead song by song. For “High Time,” we look behind the purple door of Pacific High Recording with co-producer Bob Matthews and tour manager Sam Cutler, examine session outtakes and tape mysteries with Brian Kehew and Mike Johnson, and explore how “High Time” was a songwriting breakthrough for Jerry Garcia and his new housemate, lyricist Robert Hunter.

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The first of our ongoing surprise BEAR DROPS, exploring the life and legacy of Owsley Stanley, the pioneer underground LSD chemist as well as trailblazing sound engineer for the Grateful Dead. With Bear’s son Starfinder, partner Rhoney, and Hawk Semins of the Owsley Stanley Foundation, we explore Bear’s singular personality, the hi-fi origins of the Dead’s quest for sound, and how Owsley was the inspiration for two of the Dead’s most potent symbols, the skull-and-lightning bolt Steal Your Face logo and the omnipresent dancing bears, seen everywhere and beyond, most lately on Nike’s NikeSB Dunk Low Pro ‘Grateful Dead’ sneakers.

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Join us for deep dig into the rich history of WORKINGMAN’S DEAD with album co-producer Bob Matthews and others, beginning with a close listen to “Uncle John’s Band,” including its surprising roots in jazz history and Macedonian choral music, a further look into the session outtakes, and the story of the real-life Uncle John.

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