"The rainbow was real."
--Paul Hoffman, Lighting Director for the Grateful Dead
According to news reports that surfaced after this rainbow occurred in Santa Clara, California on June 27, 2015 during The Grateful Dead's Fare Thee Well show, it was unbelievable to some reporters who raised speculation it was a contrived event. There was a magnificent rainbow arching over the entire stadium, with perfect timing showing up during the final song of their first set on this first night of "Fare Thee Well", and morphing into a double rainbow. Billboard.com stated it was not Divine intervention or Mother Nature's unusual weather. One report claimed The Grateful Dead spent $50,000 to stage this rainbow. An ABC News report stated it was possible. "What a great way to create a buzz, for a run of shows that have been nothing if not buzz-worthy from their very first announcement." After all, the Merry Pranksters were there. According to reports, The Grateful Dead orchestrated this rainbow by placing 600 special lights on a building two miles away. Of course they had to bring in the cloud cover, and a few raindrops fell on this crowd in a rainless drought-stricken time, and for the climax, a spectacular incredible sunset fills the sky. Billboard did a retraction by quoting a Deadhead, "This is the band that jams with God."
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Promoter Bill Graham famously said of The Grateful Dead
"They're not the best at what they do, they're the only ones that do what they do."
Quest for
the Best
An Intimate Connection with
THE GRATEFUL DEAD
by Uncle John
"What I want to know
Where does the time go?"
(Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia)
"Lord, the band kept us so busy, we forgot about the time."
(John Perry Barlow/ Bob Weir)
This work is a contemporary narrative with a musical motif, narrated by the author with personal testimony, and dialogue with artists, authors, musicians, dancers, singers, poets, songwriters, and stars. This journalistic odyssey observes the world's most interesting band, whose brilliant creative performances, and individual intellectual insight, provide us with this historical literary account. On the road & at home with The Grateful Dead and their family of bands and musical company, this book records a distinctive recital of spiritual events, revealing a new orchestrated portrait, a sculptured arrangement of golden memories. There is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert! It is a unique and unconventional experience.
Excerpts
KEITH GODCHAUX
STUDIO R
I am visiting Grateful Dead members Keith & Donna Godchaux at their home in Stinson Beach. Keith asks me if I would like to join him in Studio R, adjacent to his home. I follow Keith and sit with him at his grand piano. He says that whenever The Grateful Dead are off the road, Jerry Garcia, who lives down the street from them, would come over and the three of them would come in here to play old gospel songs-
I ask Keith, "Do you believe in magic?".
"Definitely!" he answers. There is a deck of cards on top of his piano that I pick up. I cut the deck and show him a card.
"Is that you, Keith?" I ask, and he gestures with his hand and arm to the giant poster on the wall, an image of Jesus Christ.
I look at the card. Itīs the King of Hearts.
COMFORT IN A COWBOY TOWN
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LAST FLASH
SIX NIGHTS OF THE FULL MOON
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Book Title An IntimateConnection With The GRATEFUL DEAD
suggested by Mikaela Barrett
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