Tom didn't play with the Dead very long. He was apparently a devoted Scientologist with a powerful antipathy to drugs, both clinical and recreational. He wasn't a very good fit for the house band at the Electric Cool Aid Acid Tests.
Sadly, the Dead have been living (dying?) up to their name. Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Keith Godchaux, Donna Jean Godcheaux, Bobby Weir, Brent Mydland, all gone west.
Mick, it wasn't like it was a standing-room-only crowd at the U.M.O. recital.
Tom did a LOT of "..and then I wrote" stuff plus some Ragtime.
My favorite Bob Weir story happened before a show in Boston, I *think* it was at The Beacon?
We were hanging out in the parking lot before the show and this bright red Ferrari (a 308 as I recall) comes blasting through the lot, driven by a knock-out lady with long black hair, sunglasses, and not much else. Bob steps out of the passenger side with a sheepish grin and heads towards the security folks. We all gave him a respectful Golf Clap.
By far, my best music experience in New England didn't have much to do with music.
Some friends and I at Orono got tickets to see Hot Tuna (just Jorma and Jack, acustic) play at a hole-in-the-wall joint just north of Portland called Raule's Roadside Attraction. We show up and NO ONE's there, just some bar flies talking to the bar tender and a lady (who turned out to be Jorma's wife) sitting at a table. OK, maybe we got there early so we start to order pitchers of beer. I check my watch, we're NOT early. We were the
only people who showed up to see Hot freakin' Tuna. Jack and Jorma finally come out and look around. "Well, what do you want us to do?" says Jorma.
"Hang out with us and drink beer" was our idea.
So, I literally wind up sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with the guy who played the intro to White Rabbit on his bass. Jorma is the real deal BUT to me, Jack Cassidy WAS Rock 'N Roll when I was growing up.
