Grateful Dead - St. Stephen 12-31-78

Closing of Winterland

[@TheEDZEPPELINBAND]

it is slow-but that fits for me right now-cos this was my 'cool' brothers favorite song- and I miss him- RIP George-its 3 am,and i just opened a beer in your honor-

[@Genshuosho]

I LOVE Donna! Shame so many people rag on her.

[@Anteug]

Donna in estimated prophet are Cornell is my favorite by far

[@markoley7681]

She sucked as a singer

[@willstooksbury1477]

@@markoley7681 nah she was a good singer and added some diversity to the vocals

[@biddyism]

my life would be complete & i would never need anything else. just to have jerry back would be all i ever need!!!

[@ibogaful]

thank you for posting this video. there ate so few videos of this great American phcycadelic rock and roll band . God bless the music that set my soul free.................. I love you dead heads you are all my brothers and sisters

[@LittleRedKing]

This is more beautiful than words can express. Just listen to it and let it penetrate your soul. This eliminates all hate.

[@grifftrain]

I definitely call myself a fan, but I do like certain phases better than others. What I agree with you about is we are all fans. I dont downgrade any phase of the band. There is enough for all to love. If you ever liked any phase of the Dead then you were part of something special. their music lives on. Keep on rockin to whatever dead you listen too!

[@grifftrain]

I love the slow pace of this jam. Its one of my favorite St Stephens

[@sunshinenblues]

wish the audience was quieter in this video, but I know how hard it is for them. seeing the GD in person was the most life-altering experience in my short 18 years "for sure", and they still make all the difference to this day, 43 years later!

[@KentokkilHome]

The best period of the Grateful Dead was the period of the Grateful Dead!

[@TheMagic_Bus]

70’s are my favorite era for the dead, such a clean tone man

[@alexbruce9]

Fuck love them all! the Grateful Dead was a family,. Keyboards changed for many reasons but the core remained and gave us their all every day they appeared on stage. I saw Keith and Donna I saw Brent I did not see Pig Pen too young I guess I loved every note every lyric I love the Grateful Dead period. So should you if you call yourself a fan. Good times Bad times all the same.

[@frandsenphilip1]

Yeah, the music of the Dead created a community of insightful souls who enjoyed being together under the umbrella of wonderfully introspective music.

[@DClean]

Jerry's hair is mind blasting in this vid!

[@dlm9293]

Man, I'm in the Deadhead phase where all i'm listening to is the stuff with pigpen, and to me this is almost like listening to a different band. An equally awesome, but much mellower band. Of course it could just be me.

[@25thderivative]

Kieth and Donna, Brent?.. The raunchy blues, rock sound brought to the band by Pigpen was where it was at... Bickershaw 1972. WoW!

[@grifftrain]

I can respect that opinion. I just think they were so good in the 70s that the late 80s and early 90s couldnt compare, but thats just me. The dead were such a great band and had many different phases to thier career. We can agree they were a great live act and Im proud to call myself a deadhead and anyone else who calls themselves one is ok in my book

[@StayOutOfMyDreams]

Thomas, the music truly comes alive at a show. The Dead were not a "fast-paced" band at all, in my opinion. To slow down and really live the music is why there are so many Deadheads. Relax, and be kind. :)

[@benjaminjacobs4369]

lady finger, dipped in moon light, writing "What for?" across the morning sky

[@dirtsurf1]

Just awesome...

[@kdspuh]

Best backing vocals in history in my opinion.

[@themistermax]

I agree. The period when Keith and Donna were with them was their best period. I saw them several times during those years, and the performances were tremendous, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Later years, not so much. Still, the greatest band in American history, of equal stature imo to Bill Monroe, Bob Dylan, George Gershwin... I miss them.

[@hb091666]

Keith was phenomenal and my favorite as well! He really knew how to solo with Jerry and fill in the gaps seamlessly. Keith's performances throughout Europe '72 are amazing. I don't Donna was at the same level of excellence as the rest of the band. Too bad they didn't have a singer like Christine McVie or Sheryl Crow.

[@jahread3322]

she was a session musician before joining the dead...not only did she have little experience dealing with trying to hear herself and the rest of the band through monitors and the pa system....she had to deal with the wall of sound. she literally couldn’t hear hearself. you have to admire the confidence with which she waded into that storm of barely organized chaos. once they dismantled the wall of sound and began using a pa they could actually manage and control...her vocals improved dramatically. the harmonies her, bobby and jer bear came up with were hauntingly beautiful when at their best....just like everything else the dead did when they were hitting strides in peak form.

[@rustypierz1309]

Donna fuckin killed it she has a great voice

[@TheEDZEPPELINBAND]

thanks-that's really nice of you....all of you....

[@alexbruce9]

Yeah..... Peace!

[@DrewAnti1960]

I liked kieth an Donna,I liked brent too although I only saw brent with them once in 1980,the last time i saw the GratefulDead ,I saw them a bunch of times in the 70s

[@Magnolia274]

Thank U a lot...........

[@supergroovepimp]

Thats' GOLD Jerry, PURE GOLD !!!

[@Anonymous-vb8nw]

Ha! Ha! How's 'bout some soup at Mendy's? On me and it counts as a meal.😜

[@TheEDZEPPELINBAND]

Jerry is in FINE form here-

[@ClydeWPhillipsJr]

Appropriate. Much Love.

[@alexbruce9]

:-) see your point; it was never my intention to downgrade any period at all I was reminiscing on a period when I saw them performing. I agree with you that's why I say "Good times Bad times all the same"

[@marvinbrucefood]

wow. some folk need a perceptual enema. dats all. /b. thanks for this gift. gold. B.

[@TNAisWWEv2]

@philagerryberry714 they might be the originals, but they hit there peak in the 80's with Brent. The song "Touch of Grey" is what really got the world wide, even though true DeadHead's know there albums were nothing compared to all there live shows.

[@tennisbumojai]

Well, if we're gonna fantasize, how about Jennifer Nettles, or Anita Carter, or Wanda Jackson. Jerry was really moving around a lot here....love that.

[@CaptainSpaceClown]

cosmic thanks my friend

[@grifftrain]

In my opinion the band was never the same again after Kieth and Donna left. I never liked the sound Brent got from the keyboards as compared to Keith. But, The Dead was such a great band with so many different phases that there is something for everyone to enjoy

[@LisaDawnn]

I often wondered why Bonnie Bramlett (Delaney & Bonnie) didn't sing with them. She's a powerhouse. I'm happy when Roseanne Barr re-exposed her to the world during her show with David Crosby. Bonnie is so incredibly talented and would've been an asset to the Dead.

[@biddyism]

while jerry was alive, the dead were the best live act period

[@grifftrain]

Relax man, were all friends here

[@mclearyb]

by December 1979 Keith and Donna were out of here !

[@sunshinenblues]

probably for glare prevention...i'm an old acquaintance of Bobby's...he did have glasses on occasionally!

[@cmzeman]

Man, I know it's just me, but Jim Jones Bobby videos creep the hell outta me.

[@sunshinenblues]

you know...this sounded almost like an improvement on perfection..is that even possible?

[@icantbreathe]

@shipitbysea Makes sense to me, after that Dark Star thru Wharf Rat. Mellow songs.

[@KentokkilHome]

Well said!

[@JGarcia77]

Oh to have one more night at the Master's feet.

[@angelbndscumn]

this is the only time i ever heard donna sing in key...

[@dlm9293]

their best keyboardist since pigpen

[@bcri]

February 15th 1979 Keith and Donna's last show

[@sonier123]

Well said :)

[@3681pokey]

Classic!!

[@JGarcia77]

The Boys doing what they did best!!

[@mperrotti76]

Yeah. The whole show is like this. Could be Ludes, could be nitrous, could also be the heroin Jerry began freebasing in 78... Who knows. If I remember right, the Blues Brothers were also on the bill, so who knows what was going on backstage that night with Belushi in the house.

[@grifftrain]

dim9293....In a way i think that is what is great about the Dead. The were a very different band when Pigpen was with them. My favorite phase is 1974-1977. They for sure were a more mellow band in 77 than they were in the early 70s. Many people like that jammin pigpen sound. I like both phases, but after Kieth and Donna left after 78, I didnt really dig the sound. I didnt like the new keyboard player. Jerrys voice had taken its toll. But during the 70s, they were the best live act in the USA

[@jaygolfs2008]

fucking Jerry , Just amazing

[@oceanbreeze234]

Ahhh..why did music have to die since then :( BRING BACK THE DEAD! ;) I'm a 21 year old chick and I HATE pretty much all of today's music. Jerry Garcia would be spinning in his grave. I love the Grateful Dead!

[@marclayne9261]

St Garcia......

[@TheEDZEPPELINBAND]

I liked 'em on 'Terrapin Station'....i think-lol-

[@tripfall224]

@mclearyb actually..I have dead tapes with Brent in late 1979

[@iorioriorio]

what would be the answer to the acts of the u.s. a in the early 2003's?????

[@mperrotti76]

This show is a little slow, but still a good one.

[@beonthebrightside]

One man's slow is another man's tasty❤

[@concretejungle80cruz]

since we are being critical, i will say that i like most just did not like donna screaming... but i really liked Keith's sound on the grand. He did fit like a glove. Brent was nice, but keith was the best fit IMHO... they just should have shoved Donna off the stage

[@mperrotti76]

@angelbndscumn Yeah, Donna, dude. It's a bit pitchy, dawg.

[@1212boochie]

I like wolf better than tiger….. but that's just me.

[@sbgitana1]

Why did Donna leave the band? Anyone know?

[@coastallp74]

Lots of folks rag on Donna. Anyone have an insider's tale on how the band felt about her?

[@sbgitana1]

Bobby with glasses?

[@jlglex99]

Several seasons, with their treasons ....

[@babaregi108]

Song inspired by Stephen Gaskin

[@Nezbien]

Great tune. Just a little slow for my taste

[@iak706]

αταραξια

[@frederickmminis]

I think this is a pretty good St Stephen, you know this was a tough one to perform... here, the tempo keeps the song tight... as far as Kieth and Donna, they were a nice fit...just don't get me going on vocal nuances that spoiled some performances...

[@TheEDZEPPELINBAND]

I meant the song- compared to most ive heard....is the whole show like this?...were they doin Qualudes that night? I used to have a book that documented all that shit...what drugs they were on when they played certain shows-a lot of 'American Beauty' was done on nitrous oxide-they had a tank of it in the studio-and huffed that shit till they almost went unconscious-and then recorded the songs...no shit...I read it-

[@TheEDZEPPELINBAND]

you can freebase heroin? i had no idea,it would most likely be the drummers controlling the tempo-and I think they HAD to know how slow and subdued it sounds--I really think now that it's done purposefully-it's harder to play at a slower tempo than faster-singing is easier-especially if youre overweight- its hard to get enough breath...drugs ARE bad-heroin at least-he might still be around-he'd still be playing...I miss Jerry too... I like the slow version better now-lol-

[@sunshinenblues]

i can't believe i spent two nights in bed with BW in Porchester NY 1969! this would be the way they sounded minus Donna...she certainly changed the dynamics of the band. i don't need her at all.

[@lindatheobald7789]

Mule sez--so nice--enough said--(~);}

[@LisaDawnn]

Whoa. Did you forget to take your nappy when you wrote this? Chill. Posts like yours only exasperates the situation not glean any insight. Be an example not a critic!

[@PatrickNM57]

For those who say they were better during this time or that time. Get a fucking clue. It is an subjective OPINION. Why do think the world is breathlessly awaiting what your pronouncement on the TRUTH of Grateful Dead music. It is not your HUMBLE opinion. If it was your humble opinion, you would keep it to yourself.

[@sunshinenblues]

Donna singing her hymns again? no thank you.

[@jaygolfs2008]

But Donna really

[@KentokkilHome]

Maybe - but they made much better music as you and me...

[@88wildcat]

It always sounded like Brent was playing some kind of Casio thing designed for seven year olds. The tone was way too high pitched compared to what everyone else in the band was doing. Toss up to me between Keith and Pigpen. Donna I could take or leave. At her worst she was still better than listening to Yoko Ono warble on backup vocals on one of Lennon's solo albums.

[@eslmc]

Oh yes.......take your time. One of my all time favorites. And, I must weigh in, Brent saved their asses. Keith was a junkie and Donna was mostly annoying/distracting. Never meant to last. Not only was Brent a killer keyboard player but, covered the high vocal part. (In tune) Nine Hundred Thousand Tons of Steel! Too bad he also had substance abuse problems. Who knows what he'd be doing now. The good they die young.

[@Genshuosho]

Never cared for Brent. 70s best.

[@LiterallyJesusChrist]

Kieth yes, Donna no. Brett, meh...

[@gwhalen3]

Never been a fan of women singing with them. I can't imagine anyone else has. Just the truth is all. Doesn't sound good at all!!

[@shipitbysea]

this version moves like a sloth.. lol

[@BlinkBeer]

I wish i could play music this pretty, let alone make millions. But Donna dean is weak and rode coat tails

[@thomascomis4219]

Oh,, Yawn...I never liked a band so much on record but hated their boring ass shows. why do they play all these great songs at a snails pace? this sucks. the Grateful Deads' shows suck.