Grateful Dead 10-31-91 Oakland Coliseum Oakland CA

Setlist:
Set 2
Scarlet Begonias
Fire On The Mountain
Truckin'
Spoonful*
Dark Star*
Jam**
Drums
Space
Dark Star Reprise*
The Last Time*
Standing On The Moon
Throwin' Stones
Not Fade Away
E: Werewolves Of London*
Bruce Hornsby on several songs (maybe all)
* with Gary Duncan, guitar
** with Ken Kesey rap eulogy for Bill Graham who died only days before
A Dan Sisler video source
A Teddy "GoodBear" Home Grown Production

[@seandewalt309]

The Kesey Rap is chilling. So real. So much love for a lost son. Painful.

[@anthonyphillips533]

Hornsby played the entire show, on all songs, on all 4 of these shows, just after Graham died on the 25th of October, 1991. Hornsby played at all 4 shows- 10-27,28,30, and 31-91. Best/worst nights ever, indeed. Well spoken Ben I was at this show and when Kesey came out with his oversized top hat and started raving......WOW...really made every hair on your body stand up ! Chilling ! The following Sunday was the tribute at the Polo Field, fortunate enough to be there as well. Growing up in the SF Bay Area and coming of age in the late 70's and 80's was really something special.

[@FoFrx]

Anthony Phillips That Sunday show with the Dead and John Fogerty playing Creedance was amazing.

[@anthonyphillips533]

52appaZ Indeed ! That reminds me also of the Fogerty set with Garcia and Weir, with Randy Jackson on bass and Steve Jordan on drums at Oakland Stadium 5-27-89. What about at the BG Memorial when Jackson Browne came out, did Like A Dancer, and made everyone cry like babies ? The Forever Young with Neil was also a major highlight. Yep.... How do you like your blue eyed boy NOW Mr Death ?!

[@grateful9084]

Before JGB & Bobby band at Music Mountain in S. Fallsburg, NY, my then girlfriends friend was Jerry's cousin... He came up three days before for practice & some business.. unknowing this, we were invited. It was the most mindblowing three days I've ever experienced.. At the time, I was heavily into reggae, and brought a lot of live shows. Jerry devoured them. He was like a vaccuum when it came to music... If you listen to the S. Fallsburg Music Mountain show, he is almost turning every song into a reggae beat.. Thank You, I take credit for that.

[@kx9x]

I am absolutely stunned to discover video of this. Thanks to whoever recorded it. The Kesey eulogy for Bill Graham was one of the darkest, most intense musical moments in Grateful Dead history.

[@hammertime714]

The video just doesn't quite do it justice. I was 2nd row in front of Jerry. OFF THE WALL Kesey appearance.

[@musicdunc]

Have listened to it many times. Very intense

[@geauxfast8u2]

Yep first time the hall ways outside completely cleared out Every head in the place was inside the stadium!

[@Anonymous-kq4yc]

met Bear Owsely that run selling his moon medallions. he gifted me and my friends something very special for this show. we did a song pool before this show since it was the 4th night of the run.. fun times The Kesey rap was off the charts intensity building and building during background jam. very special performance

[@grateful9084]

Moons... How can I forget. My friend TP had the East Coast territory... We weren't big on paper back then... We were more of "puddles" on the back of hand... Good times, indeed.

[@raulblanco7601]

Me and my dead head family from Anaheim were there for this show!! The best of times!! We miss you Jerry!!!!

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Nice

[@kurtwilson66]

My favorite concert ever. Was there, and listened to it on tape for years after. The Dark Star --> Kesey Rap gets me every time.

[@mekons12]

There have been so many great guitarists join on stage through the years. Gary Duncan seems to me the best "fit". He & Jerry seem like brothers.

[@hippycritical]

Miss you always, Jerry. You know our love will not fade away.

[@gdkev79]

What a great show. The Phil and Jerry back and forth is brilliant...wish I was there for this one. Classic stuff. I fucking crank the volume always on this one. Glad I saw a few shows growing up in Jersey, and my introduction was Jerry Garcia Band at MSG November 93, and then the Dead for Spring, Summer, Fall anywhere in the tristate area until the last show at Giants Stadium June 95.

[@kevinconnelly9277]

listening now 30 years ago to the day. I'll will never forget Kesey's heavy eulogy rap and ee cummings poem for Bill 6 days after he was killed and a few weeks after the Oakland Hills firestorm this show was a rager

[@1234lalani]

This was my first Dead concert. I was 7 months pregnant, feeling gooood, had been on the road camping up the coast, then in Oakland. Will never forget that night.

[@Dead69dead]

Ken Kesey makes me melt everytime.

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Tie dye.coffin..aldous.huxley drop El on.dearh bed

[@danielashelford]

i was in the lot that night too. a little bad vibey bad trippy. oh well still glad i was there. i got to see the show the night b4.

[@davidlinberg4934]

Semi blown away coming across this footage. I was at this show and you could feel the energy flying around the room. Goosebump city watching it again...

[@tobypuente8841]

Thanks for the posting. I remember this run started with Bill Graham's favorite Dead song, Sugar Mag. It segued into Sugaree with the prescient lyrics 'When they come to take you down, When they bring that wagon around, When they come to call on you, And drag your poor body down'. Sadly, the helicopter Bill Graham died in was still hung up in the air, tangle in the power lines. They literally had to drag them down. This is my fav show of all. Gary Duncan was onstage alot the 2nd set, and we love him, don't we...yes, we do. The setlist also is tops. And, the playing was stellar. And, the energy was hair raising. But, when Kesey strode boldly onstage, he told a story about when his son died that Bill Graham placed a directional sign at the place Kesey's son went off the road, so others would see the cliff, Kesey reminded everyone how Bill could reach out to help. Kesey also said, to paraphrase, '...we ain't many...there's more dumb people than smart people'. But when he started quoting e.e. cummings poem Buffalo Bill Is Defunct I jumped outa my skin! We knew this poem from many years before, in Lit class. I was able to say the words along with him this night. CHILLS up and down the spine. Such a poignant, appropriate poem for this night. Thank you Ken. You KNEW it. So, how do you like your blue eyed boy now, Mr. Death?

[@hammertime714]

Almost 31 years now, but still invokes crazy great memories of this spectacular night. Miss ya Uncle BoBo . Scene just isn't the same without the clipboard and trail 70 to come rambling up.

[@deadnardis]

thank you. thank you. was there. four days of music and big big family. something beautiful each night. bodhisattvas, these cats.

[@BW-pr8qr]

I wore out this cassette when I was in college.. Such a great show, from start to finish.

[@staunchy]

I grew up on this rap by Kesey. During the most spun days of my life.

[@jameschandler3308]

I remer this just as clear as when the moment he came out, how do ya like ur blueyed boy now mr death!

[@madjungcomputer]

I love how generous Jerry is being with Duncan.

[@raulblanco7601]

Was there for the 4th night. Great times in my life.. Thank you Papa Bear for the best concerts I've ever been to... "Keep on truckin."

[@nachomomma423]

Best Darkstar I saw live, by a large margin. Thanks for sharing. Namaste

[@hoda2k11]

I was there. one of the best of all time.

[@burchsmith4156]

Yes, thanks for uploading....was there, in the wake of BG's untimely demise. This show answered the question lingering from the first show of the 4 day run. Changed my world, forever Grateful!

[@djmajigga3949]

Rest in peace Jed kesey

[@FoFrx]

My God Ken. White lightning.....blessed

[@burchsmith4156]

Forgot about Gary Duncan from QSMS steppin in on the spoonful & the night before they did a Mona.....rippin goood!

[@jamjax]

RIP Gary Duncan

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Quick silver messenger service.. Yes I Jah Herb Jah love Jah Jerry Jah rastafari praises blessings respectfully Tucson Arizona Sonoran desert 🏜️ Jah sisters Jah Trey Jah Duane Africa Ethiopia Addis Ababa Selassie I Jah Creation

[@saintdominicreview]

Hard to believe it's been nearly 25 years since this truly magical night, which I remember like it was yesterday. One of the most intense concerts I have ever been to, the energy was palpably swirling around the Coliseum, it was only a hair away from chaos at points.

[@hammertime714]

Very well said, night 4 was a wild one fo sure

[@raulblanco7601]

Walked in right when Jerry started to sing Fire on the Mountain!! 18 years old, with my dead head family from Anaheim!! Best of times!! Miss you Papa Bear!!!!

[@RobHollanderMusic]

The poem Ken recites during Dark Star is e.e. cummings' "Buffalo Bill", a reference to Bill Graham who died just shortly before this run. You could feel Ken's son's ghost hovering nearby as well. An unforgettable moment.

[@danielhubschmitt7897]

Kens sons ghost? Keseys sons died as well?

[@davidgersfeld8127]

Ken Kesey had a tremendous influence on Jerry. His slam poetry during Darkstar is clinically insane!

[@davidreinhardt5801]

David GersfeldYou are entirely correct..KEE-ZER😅😆😨😎!! A year or tw9 . Either side of 9f 5his New years, hell it mitut have been 1982,??, t ggd atvy we ar calledv fr9m his sp space suit for everyone to do the " Group Grope:! From PranPrankster days andc 70per cent to soon alll crouched arms behind theirlegsc and on count took 12 deep breathes held em, stood up;Groopily . Groping everyone in arms length Stad8um wide-Happy New Year.Hell mmm a the it was this year able??? Melts into a dream....!

[@davidreinhardt5801]

De 'll ere that one im asleep sorry... dr

[@BlankUberEverybody]

I had this on tape about a month after the show thanks to a taper buddy--I knew Kesey..this eulogy for Bill Graham is, in my estimation from observing him for nearly 40 years is this is his finest performance art EVER

[@hammertime714]

@@BlankUberEverybody 31 years now and it still stuns me. Many great memories

[@LesgoBrandon7]

I remember a giant ghost that dropped down from the ceiling during Dark Star. This video could never do it justice but wow, what an experience.

[@FrogTronic]

Thank you. I was there and I will never forget, but such a nice refresher to the ol' brain & soul. Cheers!

[@oscarjames4868]

Kesey kicks in at around 42:00. So glad of this recording, thank you.

[@TedToob]

Left a smokin' crater in my mind standing in front of these peeps at this moment!

[@Revmatchdownshift_]

I wish I could go back. I was there with my dad. I was 18 years old now 46. I didn't realize at the time how significant these 3 shows were. Rest in peace Jerry and my Dad Wyatt .

[@truthnfreedomseeker]

Went to all four shows in this run. We were all feelin' it being the 1st shows after Bill Graham's untimely passing. There were many special moments with the band giving their all in tribute to their longtime friend and promoter.

[@tobypuente8841]

thought this entire run was electrifying! They opened up on the 27th with Bill Graham's favorite tune, Sugar Mag, just 2 days after he died. Then, you know how appropriate it was to play Sugaree? When they come to take you down, When they bring that wagon round, When they come to call on you, And drag your poor body down...Jesus, that's exactly how they had to get Bill out of those electrical wires...they had to drag him down to take him down...oh, Jerry. Bill was many things and most of those were not very nice...but, if he liked a band then he really took care of them. And he liked several bands. And he made sure millions of us got to hear and dance and laugh to our favorite music for many years. For that, I thank him. And for taking care of our Grateful Dead. Just for fun, google map the Shoreline Amphitheater, from above. Tell me it's not in the shape of a skull! The Kesey performance, 4 nights later, was my favorite show of all time, going back to '72... Still feeling blessed to keep hearing lots of Phil & Bob, and to a lesser amount, Billy and Mickey...and many, many jam bands willing to play the Dead music, the Dead style, the Dead family love...so Grateful. Thank you.

[@absolutelypositively]

Shoreline is definitely architecturally planned from above as a ‘Steely.’ Bill absolutely loved the GD. He considered them his band! That’s saying something. I consider myself a lucky fella to have the universe sweep me into the Grateful Dead nebula. Blessed indeed ❤😊

[@RobertCUlon]

This SOTM changed how I understand and feel feelings.

[@zombijoe584]

Was actually there that Halloween Night - Oh Man Fantastic! Thank you again & again Voo

[@jeffy69ism]

Thanks 🎃 for sharing….. I played volleyball out on the floor before the show…i was young then and did not realize how big a time that was

[@danielashelford]

I passed up on a scalper ticket(for $70) to this show!!! Man , that's still one of my biggest regrets in life. But , thanks to voodoonola , I'm able to watch it!!! Thank You V!!!

[@absolutelypositively]

So really, you were as good as there!

[@j.t.walter5086]

One of the best shows I ever saw. The entire crowd left floored! We all realized what we'd just experienced. I was so close on Jerry's side. Took it easy & just dropped 1 hit. Will never forget it. Gary Duncan! Sat on our ass for hours to get that close. Oakland was all GA.

[@jpotts3]

35:06 Darkstar begins

[@lanaabel655]

This show has always been the lynchpin for me. Had a bootleg of it and that Kesey interlog has stuck with me my whole life

[@crispincain5373]

I was there in the audience for this show...

[@bruesoYT]

whoa! Thanks for uploading! I was there, too and it was a monster of a show!

[@edwinharris3699]

I was in there. A very cosmic night. ⚡️

[@m.shawnanderson4170]

I had Scarlet up through Trucking and into Spoonfull as filler on a tape many years ago. First time I've ever listened to the full set. FUN stuff, and really, a microcosm of the 30 year run the boys had. WALSTIB, indeed.

[@absolutelypositively]

I wasn’t at these shows, but was there for the beautiful tribute in Golden Gate Park. Got a crispy board of both sets of this show though. And it’s absolutely one of my favorites. Glad to be able to watch the show now. Thanks! Peace fellow heads. ✌️👏🏻🌹😇

[@donzammit1927]

who doesn't love Halloween Shows?? Best times ever

[@ibrake4butterflies]

ever.

[@J0hnC0ltrane]

Love Ken Kesey. RIP et al.

[@TheRealForrestGeorge]

I WAS THERE!

[@paulzenski]

me too!

[@trissiat]

I got a miracle ticket. thank you all for sharing. makes me smile.

[@heyshanaynayluv]

Me too! I dressed up as the white rabbit with a huge clock on a chain channeling my inner Flava Flav

[@captainkangaroo4301]

Forrest, I was there too. We thought they were going to do "He's Gone" because of Bill Graham's helicopter crash but they chose not too. It was a tough time with the mountains on fire and a Grace Slick losing everything when her house went up in flames, then Bill dying in the middle of the four show run. They thought about canceling the last two shows but I'm glad they didn't. We needed them to play as we so often did. By the way happy belated birthday to your dad. We miss him too. Take care.

[@jameschandler3308]

did u have blonde dreads?? i knew a forest during this day,, my name is moon that traveled with a sista named sparkle..

[@RobHollanderMusic]

A magic, uplifting night with some special guests during a dark time in the Bay Area.

[@kevinmclain6741]

I can hear myself howling before the encore starts. No joke

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Ginsburg?

[@IggyM]

So good!! Thanks!

[@deontemerritt91]

I love music nice though this from the year I was born nice group and music this was on 10-31-91 that's when the date was signed on my birth certifcate after my birth was so I was born on 10-26-91 my birthday memories though of my birth year.

[@geauxfast8u2]

Saw this live all 4 days!

[@firstube]

Happy Halloween! 1:50:13

[@13xicatTS]

Awesome!!

[@hoda2k11]

I was there.... the HSF 1st set opener was awesome. The band was tight and ON this night. The DarkStar rap chills my bones every time. Where's the 1st set?

[@bunnybeckman8029]

Sorry I didn’t finish , & to think that Bobby is still in the Band is amazing to all of us I think because he is amazing as a musician !

[@gratefulant1]

Love it!

[@BlankUberEverybody]

best scarlet ever

[@rainbowloomoverflow5106]

The Kesey Rap kills me

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Fyah rap

[@beachdog67]

Jesus. We *did* kinda go somewhere there for a bit, didn't we? And fuckin' Kesey? Holy hell. Look, I'm an old man now. And this show was damn near two decades after "my time" working around and enjoying the company of this band. But god damn if this isn't the Real Deal.

[@adam420t]

How do you like your blue eyed boy now, MR DEATH?

[@briancartoscelli8029]

I was at this show

[@jessedriscollmusic5962]

Kesey's rap is the highlight.

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Fyah rap

[@Twotontessie]

Sweet "flute" solo in the jam leading into "Fire." And people don't like 90s Dead? How is that possible? Don't get it. When it was on it was the best of the best along with '72-'73.

[@jpotts3]

It's after this show, Bill's passing, that the long slow decline began a steeper slope. I saw them first in 1979, and last show was 1994, nearly all my shows wwre in the 80's. The first three years of the 80's were the last super peak run for the band, some feel. Anyway, much love.

[@robertpulica4164]

The Spring and Summer 90 tours were some of their best them we lost Brent. The show's from the early 90s with Hornsby were great. When Hornsby left after Spring 92 all the wheels stopped turning for good. Give Vince RIP the credit for his effort but he just wasn't the man to be the lone keyboardist in the band he just didn't have the ability.

[@shawnomalley7398]

@@robertpulica4164 can't completely agree w this .....Garcia was in great shape in Spring 93...and 10-1-94 is one for the ages..By 94, it was hit or miss, sometimes in the same show...But, saw some nice ones on spring tour 93...

[@TheRealForrestGeorge]

#TodayInGratefulDeadHistory!

[@stevesobel4521]

saw the previous nights but could get a ticket for halloween. spent the night in the parking lot. it was cold. but fun.

[@douglynch8954]

Really love the Scarlet Fire here. A bit wonkiy in parts, but a really unusual version. This is one tune/ medley that was served well by the new band configuration.

[@SSags]

My last dead show.

[@bunnybeckman8029]

I love the colors as I did the other day on mushrooms ! Boy was I high ! What fun I had with just the music of the Dead of all their songs , like a big musical ! ❤️❤️🐰🌹🌹🐇👽🛸🪐😍😘🥰🎹🎼love Jerry so much still , I don’t know how to get over the love of him ? ❤️❤️

[@groovinhigh2842]

Wow So Sick PHIL Sound Damn Insane! [ Phill Zone] Everyone is Smoking! Gota Love Hot Dead! (Phil's Syncopation is one in a kind well we know they all are!)

[@DropD1123]

This was one of my first tapes - probably still have it in a box somewhere. Does anyone know what Kesey is saying after "There's always gonna be more dumb people than smart people?" We ain't many? We ain't knitting? It's been bugging me for like 25 years.

[@firstube]

He just says we ain't many again. It's clear as day 🤣

[@mrfish4lyfe]

perfect for today >:]

[@livemusicfannc]

Too bad no one has ever posted a video from 10/27 - the first concert after Graham's death - it was an intense night in that big old building...

[@stevensocher852]

I haven't even watched the kesey rap on this video yet and I still remember what he said . " We ain't many, there's more dumb people than smart people".. something like that... I guess I'll fast forward to dark star and see if I got it right...

[@emmerfarro]

Latter Day Smoker........There are not many Scarlet>Fires post-Brent that make me take notice. Take notice of this one.........

[@brandonbond769]

Missing out on that 1st set. HSF is absolute fire and the Let it grow ain’t bad either.

[@jeffriley2218]

Is this the same show that had Gary Dincan & Santana playing on Hey Mona ?

[@brianshafer5643]

Where's my Town Car CREW?

[@JoshDone]

Probably the last great Grateful Dead show.

[@tomb613]

JoshDone check out 10/01/1994 and the rest of the Boston Garden run from 94. 10/1 being the highlight.

[@robertpulica4164]

The last great Grateful Dead show indeed

[@edwinharris3699]

I miss Jerry

[@rickrose5069]

🎃💀👻☠️1:50:00 HaPPy HALLOWEEN

[@Kevin-ke4ik]

KALBOY SOJUOURN PEACE ❤🎉

[@bunnybeckman8029]

That Jerry took Bobby in under his wing at 17 years old if I have that rite which I think I do ! ?

[@rexmagnum8047]

Ever notice when ever other guitarists played with the GD the soundman always f*cks up the other guitarists sound? It happened so often that one has to wonder if there was some kind of ego trip going on there... in that somebody in the Dead organization wanted it that way to make Jerry seem that much better. Anyway, it was a terrible waste that they did it like that so many times.

[@FoFrx]

Rex Magnum Really? I saw both Chip and Miller sound amazing. A lot has to do with the dynamics of the GD and guitarists not knowing how to adjust. I just find it hard to believe they would purposely fuck with someone to make them sound worse than the almighty. Jerry didnt need that and I doubt would put up with it.

[@FoFrx]

52appaZ Just realized that was Duncan. Kharma....

[@anthonyphillips533]

52appaZ Huh? I agree with 52appaZ, I find it hard to believe that Healy (at this time, he didn't get fired until 1992) would purposely sabotage someone else's sound. Why would he ? What's the incentive ? Think about how unique and unconventional Garcia and especially Weir's rigs, playing, and sound were. That's what you're usually working with. Gary Duncan is much more a straight ahead blues style player, more conventional sounding. Ultimately the sound is dictated mostly by the onstage amp that the guitarist is playing from anyway. That's the sound that's being mic'd and going through the PA. Even the best FOH engineers aren't going to be able to fundamentally change the actual originating sound emanating from the onstage speakers. Saw Carlos Santana sit in with the GD at least 3x and he sounded amazing every time. That was probably in large part because of that sweet onstage sound he'd get from that Mesa-Boogie amp.

[@rexmagnum8047]

Almost every time somebody sat in with them you could barely hear them, and that is due to poor mixing (simply having them turned down in the mix). It's not that complicated. I studied audio engineering... by the way. The amp and foldback on the stage are not the reasons. The guitarists, including Jerry, might not have even been aware they were mixed so low since it isn't always obvious when you are onstage as your personal speakers are right in front of you and have separate volume levels... but looking at the vids the guest guitarists are often seen constantly trying to turn up their guitars without much success... so they did seem to be aware something wasn't right. I've seen tons of times where this happened, as well as seeing many vids with the same problem, and it was almost every time. That is too often to be a coincidence.

[@joefelice5062]

Never noticed guests having their sound ruined every time, either on tape or live. I saw a few shows with guests and could hear them fine. Some notable recordings of guests sound fine to me (Stephen Stills 83, Santana 87, just off the top of my head). Duncan sounds fine here... do you have any examples?

[@crystalasmar5998]

Owsley omms 8five? Timothy Leary mdma eighty one wuz it? Frisco lab

[@timhernandez9413]

Death Don't Have No Mercy...never did.

[@robdel8689]

Hey boo, f them graphics

[@bunnybeckman8029]

I like this but for Brent not being there but at least we still have Jerry for a few more years ! ❤️❤️🌹🌹🐇🐰🎼🎹👽🛸🪐😢😥🥲

[@FredShatta]

Gary Duncan perfect fit.

[@crystalasmar5998]

Owsley omms 8five? Timothy Leary mdma eighty one wuz it? Frisco lab