Moby Grape - Monterey Pop Festival (1967) ''Indifference", "Sitting by the Window" & "Omaha"

One of the best '60s San Francisco bands, Moby Grape were also one of the most versatile. Although they are most often identified with the psychedelic scene, their specialty was combining all sorts of roots music -- folk, blues, country, and classic rock & roll -- with some Summer of Love vibes and multi-layered, triple-guitar arrangements.

[@odogsantacruz]

Yeah my dad was Skip, and all the other guys are just like my uncles... I love them all! They were and still are amazing players, songwriters, and performers! It's an honer to get to play with them. I have to sing my ass off to keep up! haha Thanks for telling people about them! Peace, o

[@duderanch108]

Chris Ramey

[@WolffBachner]

If this is Omar, your dad's band started it all in the 1960s. God bless and keep all of the guys from Moby Grape.

[@billballon26]

I've loved your dad's band since I was 17 in 1967. His genius lives on, Omar.

[@andrewwinters8467]

Omar: There never was a band as good as the Grape. Their harmonies, their songs, their impeccable playing, their humor. I am sad things turned out bad for your father, as I am that the Grape never became the "American Beatles" which was their hype when their first album came out. Fuck the fates for what happened but I am grateful to still have this music in my life.

[@lastnamefirst4035]

Ive seen u on utube playing w them. Sound great. You still in the santa cruz area?

[@mitchellschwartz2148]

RIP, Jerry. Loved Moby Grape. Underrated, but not forgotten.

[@glennhfriedman4571]

Not underrated just underexposed

[@billydavis53]

My Mom and her sister went to the Columbia record party for Moby Grape. I saw them by coincidence a week before in San Jose. I was stunned. I had already saw all the greats in the San Francisco music scene. This was a special group of players. It was a wild scene for bands then. The drugs and the traveling was killing them. I saw Skip Spence later in years in Dr. Johns band at the Fillmore. Again I was stunned. One of the greatest shows I had ever seen. Then even later later in years I would Skip roaming the streets of San Jose spaced out from too much LSD. Lived in a local medically assisted home. So sad. When I could I would stop and buy him a cup of coffee. A sandwich. Donuts from the local shop. I often cried in my car. I don't know why. I really loved that guy. The band. A connection. A time in my youth so special to me. Moby Grape is one of the greatest rock band to ever take a stage. Short lived. A sign of the times.

[@michaellavender]

billydavis53 I love this comment so much

[@duderanch108]

You're an alright dude Billy Davis!

[@robertevans4424]

I used to see skippy around town a lot and in later years at the shady grove on haight st when they had Corny Bumpass in the band. Skippy used to have 2 of everything going. 2 beers, 2 smokes, a cute girl on each arm. Seemed like he was enjoying life at the the time. Not too long after those days I would see him around church and market once in a while and he was out there. I always loved all those who guys. Best show I ever saw them do was at the bandshell in gg park. Either 66 or 67.

[@monicacouto4575]

i was only 8 yrs old when Moby Grape was about but every day now i am older and cant stop listening to them. every day i come here and listen to them live here and omaha loved skip i never knew him but there was alot of special talent there so hard to live with schizophrenia my dad had it and you really cant take acid it makes it worse i cry too your not alone god bless

[@BrianJDumas]

Some people take a special place in our hearts... Bless you buddy; you showed heart in what can be a cruel world ❤️

[@geneahart5607]

This band touched a lot of people deeply.

[@kengemmer]

Moby Grape-the 60’s most underrated rock band.

[@RoJoeLa55x]

I jammed with Skip in a little bar in the 70's. He was the nicest person you could want to meet and really funny! That band, Moby Grape, has never gotten the recognition they deserved.

[@stephencourtois9109]

I was in The Staton Brothers band and we opened up for Moby grape at the Concord pavilion 67/68 time frame. We were big fans and did a lot of there songs. We played 8:05 for them backstage and they sat quietly and listened, and as there eyes opened wide they said , your harmonies are better then ours. They were dead serious. It was an incredible moment for us as we were only 16 / 17 year old kids . Imagine, sitting back stage with Moby Grape and singing 4 part harmony to them and watching there eyes get really big and saying to Jeff " you played that song note for note exactly the way it was written". We were backstage singing to them, our favorite band, and they were loving it as much as we were. Mike Staton aka Billy London guitar, Jeff Staton aka Jefferson Jones guitar, Stephen Courtois aka Hank Falcon bass guitar, Sal Sacardo drums. We were Bay Area young boys having fun and opening for our favs. The Staton Bros ended up backing up and touring with Stephen Bishop and then ended up landing in TN. Stephen Courtois was drafted into the military at 19 but joined the Navy right before he got his induction draft papers for the Army. Sal continued playing drums around the bay area with different bands. Hank Falcon ( SC) released an album titled Paint It Country in 2015 produced by Billy London/ Mike Staton ,who joined in on pedal steel and guitar. Billy London had his song In Dreams i fly added to Stephen Bishops lasted CD We'll Talk About It Later In The Car. Jeff/ Jefferson Jones wrote songs for different artists including Alabama, Art Garfunkle , and a few others. Mike / Billy just passed away April 2021 and will be greatly missed. Sal passed away some time ago. Jefferson is still in Franklin TN and Stephen Courtois HF is living in Chico Ca. Moby Grape will forever be in my Heart. Thank You Stephen Courtois HF

[@mrb4886]

Thank you.

[@vootee1]

Beautiful recollection. Thank you for it.

[@harvey1954]

Cool memories cat !

[@ClueSign]

4 great singers in one band, all great players of their instruments, great songwriters, and a mad cool vibe with emotion, dynamics, and zeitgeist energy. Plus three of them were absolute babes. Revered by those in the know.

[@pumazpawz]

Bob Mosely was a HUGELY under rated bassist

[@Mike-fx1eu]

You can say that again! An absolute Monster! Very creative and soulful with a sweet soft touch and a rocking hard touch. Amazing!

[@philkennelty7715]

And a great singer too.

[@fviskovi]

YES. I'm a bass player and I don't suck at playing bass. This guy is first rate.

[@mitchgawlik1175]

"Underrated". There's that fucking word again. People who were hip to the L.A. and Bay Area music scene, and even those of us in the midwest knew Bob Mosely and the others in Moby Grape were top notch musicians.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@mitchgawlik1175🤭 I feel the same way about the overrated ‘underrated’ term 😂

[@Yeahthatsright717]

During the summer of 1967 my older brother Mike who was 19 ,took me to Golden Gate park, to the band shell in front of Steinhart Aquarium and I heard Moby Grape play, I was 9 years old!

[@dennisbloomquist9220]

I've listened to all of it. They were the best of the San Francisco bands. They had the most musical talent, and their songwriting was orgasmic.

[@mayhemonwax8486]

Their debut album is way high in my all-time fave albums ... with "finger cover" and poster of course but I still own all their albums!

[@bsdml]

I got to play on stage with the lead guitarist Jerry Miller on two different occasions, and they were both extremely memorable for me. The first time was at a benefit show in Lawrence, KS for a mutual friend of ours who was battling cancer. I was charged with finding him a backup band, and went out and assembled some of the finest local players for the occasion (because he deserved nothing less). The performance went awesomely, and everyone played like it was their last gig on earth. Truly a magical night. Of course, the rehearsal the night before was even more awesome-if such a thing was even possible, as it was basically a nice laid-back intimate party, with plenty of beer and libations flowing. Everyone was so happy and relaxed, and the in-between song banter was just as great as the rest. The last time was at a casual outdoor club date in Tacoma Washington. That was an excellent night as well, though largely due to the sentiment of the occasion (it was partially an open jam, and not every stranger who got onstage with Jerry knew the tunes all that well). Still great fun, though. Anyway, in the best moments of the best jams, the the feeling of being right smack back in that incredible bygone era was palpable right from the first moment after the count-off. There was authentic excitement in every second of the music being made, and everyone in the Lawrence benefit band definitely felt it. And Jerry himself turned out to be not only every bit as good-or better-than the decades-old reputation that preceded him, but also an extremely warm, kind, funny man. Just a joy to hang out with. So grateful to have had that experience as part of my life. That's all I wanted to say~peace.

[@SeeCSeesCC]

❤wonderful post…Jerry is a master of a man and a guitarist extraordinary. Every Wednesday at the Golden West in Tacoma, Washington. I too, have been blessed to share that stage with Jerry

[@richardmindemann6935]

"Sitting.." is pure Peter Lewis. As a writer, he blazed new trails.

[@mitchgawlik1175]

This is just so damn good. They are tight as a band, the playing hits the mark and there's no f*****g around. Some engineer got this recorded right. Every few months I'll pull out their debut recording and it always sounds fresh, never dated. I think to real fans of mid to late '60s rock the Grape's story will always be a sad one. It goes to show what greed (on the part of management), drugs and all the unfiltered crap we put ourselves through can do.

[@recordcave]

I totally agree with everything you said about Moby Grape.... Their first Lp is a Masterpiece and "20 Granite Creek" doesn't get the attention that it should,. Wish I would have seen them live.

[@bolandbert]

My first amazing psychedelic rock band, before my ‘homeless life’ and traveling to India and stuff…. and in Holland 🇳🇱 I bought their LP with the biggest songs ever❤️🇺🇸

[@bobbydonofrio2712]

Forever Changes recorded and released in 1967. One of the top10 all time rock albums. Sgt.Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour, Doors 1st, Buffalo Springfield' Again, Byrds Younger Than Yesterday, Stones Santanic, and Moby Grape

[@mitchellschwartz2148]

Yep, LOVE was such a great band. Too bad that Mr. Lee has such "issues" that he would not play much outside the LA area.

[@TacomaPaul]

Jerry Miller grew up here... and in the 80s I was his rhythm guitarist at a small bar here in Tacoma (Prosito's) every Wed. night for a few months of fun. Just a gig. After a show one night I was reading a Zeppelin book, and in it Plant mentions a Jerry Miller in a quote. I said, "Hey, Jerry... this guy has the same name as... oh SHIT !" I had NO idea ! He chuckled, "That's why I hired you. Now don't get weird." Too funny. A few weeks later Stephen freakin' Stills showed up at the bar and played with us. I got to play the harmonic guitar notes on "For What It's Worth". An honor indeed. THEN... he takes me to this small cabin on the shore of American Lake way south of Tacoma in Tillicum... and we sit around and jam with "Peter" for a few hours just drinkin' and smokin'... dude had awesome chordal skills. Jerry wanted me to learn patterns. On way home, Jerry casually told me, "That was Peter Green". Mind blown. Jerry still plays around here every week. Bye the way, Clapton said he was his favorite guitarist. If ya can, ya gotta see him at these small bars. Amazing.

[@Mark8395217]

Dude, amazing story thanks for sharing! There was an old saying something about being judged by the company you keep. Y'all know some pretty mighty musicians!

[@andythomas706]

+TacomaPaul Ha! Great story! Plant was a huge 'Grapenut'!

[@TacomaPaul]

"Grapenut" ! I like that. ;-)

[@blondbowler8776]

I still have these fifty year old records. Grapenuts, I like that. Hehehe. Saw Charlie Musslewhite in a small bar one night. He played like I was not the only one there, and even let me toot along with him on my harp. Great night.

[@Exiles800]

I'm lost as to what you are referring to in that Robert Plant quote.

[@charlesburrell3704]

Monterey Pop was the height of this ERA, with groups like Moby Grape being one of the best if not the best. This was the best of love, happiness and peace in 1967. It has never and never will be again. I am 70+ and enjoyed every minute of it!!!!

[@mikeeverhart831]

To this day their debut album is one of the greatest of all time.

[@stratocat9999]

The greatest band that never was! These guys were great , and have never to this day received the accolades they deserve! I have most of the vinyl the they had put out, and still wonder, why! Why they were not in that special canon of SuperGroups! They were much more musical than the Grateful Dead as far as melodic ism and great songs! Truly they were overlooked, and still are as true to art as always.

[@johngeddes7894]

Because their manager was Matthew Cates. His only agenda was to screw any bandd he managed out of any royalties including even rights to the names of their bands. He even tried it with Jefferson Airplane, but they got Bill Graham to act on their behalf and Cates was fired in short order. One band he would have loved to own, but never got to.

[@mickeymousebiker1]

Moby Grape, Love, and Quicksilver Messenger Service provided me with some great memories. Countless thanks to them all!

[@lootbrute6467]

It's kind of amusing watching people trying to grasp Moby Grape by comparing them to the Dead and Jefferson Airplane. The Grape were their own thing, there is no comparison.

[@andythomas706]

There certainly isn't even a remote comparison!

[@23igna]

I think they are more alike Quicksilver messenger

[@DeanHaasJr]

I remember them back then. The only connection is that they were all Bay area bands in the Summer f Love era. Jerry Miller, as well as other members, had played with various line ups of other bands before forming Moby Grape, and went on to other bands after. Underrated and very talented. Actually, in '67, they were as popular, and more commercially successful than the Grateful Dead. The Dead just outlasted all the others.I was in Haight Ashbury that summer - a mind altering experience. I was a teen, and changed forever. Moby grape helped in that! :)

[@realzok]

Loot Brute They were better than them. The Dead and airplane were suite compared to the grape.

[@MrRhmccabe]

....you do know their founding member came out of the Jefferson Airplane?...don't you?

[@Chadf838]

all we listened to then was like this. PP & Mary, Fugs, Fairforth Convention, Motwn, beatles, classical. There were no boundries...

[@kimdelong3429]

Took my daughter to a Dead Concert in 88in Wis It inspired y daughter to play her guitar (12 string) all the time 30 years later she's fantastic!

[@Joe-ke2bb]

Unlike most SF bands of this era, these boys could sing.

[@jimdep6542]

Maybe some of the others could too if they chose not to drop acid before they went on stage.

[@TheDivayenta]

They sounded like MEN!

[@flannigan7956]

Heh heh nice

[@mullerk2]

So true. The Dead are flat all the time - other than Pig.

[@pcoffey49]

Such talent , that totally self destructed! 60 yeras later, and still fucking fantastic! Damn, we had some real good music.

[@HollywdMike]

And IMO, Mosley was one of the greatest bass players ever. Just listen to his playing on the song "Changes". Incredible. THAT's what bass is supposed to sound like!

Not to mention, he was one badass singer.

[@michaellavender]

Come in the morning is another good one to hear his outstanding bass playing!

[@kenneymusic]

And you're not mentioning his voice? One of my favorites.

[@davidpost428]

He knocked me out when I saw Moby Grape at Winterland in San Francisco in '72.

[@umamifactor451]

Saw Moby Grape open for The Byrds at the UC Berkeley theater, and they absolutely blew them away. The Byrds could not perform their vocal harmonies live (I saw them several times) but Moby Grape was precise, in tune, clean and tight.

[@andythomas706]

Umami Factor They were indeed precise. tight, and in tune. Thats why they stood out from all of the competition!

[@sirfrancisdrake4285]

Thanks for the info as a Byrds fan and Moby Grape fan. Another good band was Stephan Stills band Manassas that I saw at Auburn Univ. 1972. Would have liked to see Byrds and Moby Grape also.

[@jeromedragon5287]

I saw the Byrds lineup 3 times with Clarence White, Skip Battin, Gene Parsons and Roger McGuinn, the did not have that problem then.

[@jeromedragon5287]

but you are correct, they blew the original Byrds lineup away.

[@dennisbloomquist9220]

@@jeromedragon5287 Lots of underrated bands. Moby Grape was among the MOST.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@4:34 “Sitting by the Window” lyric gets stuck inside my head. Catch myself singing along while not actually hearing the tune it’s an ear worm of blissful beauty🌹.

[@jerrykibbe6363]

Peter Lewis

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@jerrykibbe6363 thank you, am new to the band and love them!

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Moby Grape Hugh Masekela The Byrds Laura Nyro Jefferson Airplane Booker T. & the M.G.s Otis Redding.....Now that is what I call a Saturday night!

[@jackdornbach5169]

I'd kill to have been born 50 years earlier

[@davestahl6676]

It was a different world. Variety in music...what a concept!

[@lastnamefirst4035]

@@davestahl6676 lol

[@brucemacnaughton3602]

i would've settled for moby grape alone. but that night is beyond my wildest dreams.

[@TheDivayenta]

It was incredible for this 16 year old back then.

[@michaellavender]

We need to take care of papa Jerry Miller!! he’s a gem to the world.. his guitar playing is so god damn great. one of my favorites of all time for sure.. would love to meet him one day.. I get goosebumps listening to to Bob Mosley sing “what’s that song you’re singing baby” in indifference. guys got pipes.

[@jerrynebel4905]

He and his band played in Gig Harbor just a couple weeks ago.

[@dougfriedman]

I got to sit in with him at NAMM in Anaheim. Yes, he's the real deal.@@jerrynebel4905

[@2gambler]

Many of early bands in late sixties got stroked by people they almost had to trust, just to get exposure. Moby Grape being one that never really got off the ground, always being an opening act. But they were pioneers in the San Francisco scene in their era. They did add their own flavor and kudos to the band.

[@charjl96]

I haven't heard much of their music, but the fact that they stepped up and opened the festival leaves a good impression

[@calypsojimmy]

This is fabulous. Jerry Miller is my model of a lead guitarist. The whole band is a group of artists that never leave my mind. I never heard them Live. Great to hear that they had a quality live sound. Omaha is still one of the best 2 minutes of rock that was ever conceived.

[@richardmindemann6935]

Jerry is so fantastic on lead.

[@altcountryguitar]

Saw them the 1st time on "The Steve Paul Scene" TV show in 1967 (NYC-Channel5) along with the Staple Singers. Changed my whole musical frame of reference in about 60 minutes. They performed these same songs. Bob Mosely's voice and bass line on "Sitting By The Window" had me at "hello". Ran out and bought their debut album and never looked back. Learned how to play guitar by copping Jerry Miller's licks as best as my 13-year old ass could. The Grape's my musical Rosetta Stone.

[@arcomanhattan]

The shit just doesn't get any better than this!!

[@user-fn8xz6ke9z]

An unforgettable band filled with immense talent and highly original sound. Been drumming to this recording and find Stevenson a top drummer with a unique style. Just got an official Moby Grape tee shirt from fan club. LISTEN MY FRIENDS.

[@flossie1961]

Sometimes you hear the 'overproduced' albums, but you only really appreciate a group when you hear them playing live, as intended, which is what got them signed in the first place. Incendiary!

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

10-FOUR..I always thought they could never equal the sound on their studio recordings in concert..till I finally got to one at California hall in 1977; which was when I decided to stop wasting time going to hear other bands. And by the way..when you're hearing them live, you kind of have to get up and dance!! Really, the greatest rock&roll band ever

[@jeffgaumond4250]

I understand that they had a moron for a manager. No matter how good you are if your manager sucks it's hard to succeed. They were one of my favorite bands, I love "Motorcycle Irene", next to "Vincent Black Lightening" the best MC songs ever. "I've seen her in the bare where her tattoos and her chains Wrap around her body where written are the names Of prisons she's been in and lovers she has seen Curve-winding, bump 'n' grindin', Motorcycle Irene"

[@549of1k]

the first Moby Grape album was the first record I ever bought..it was the one with the member flipping the bird on the washboard. I played it through a couple times and was hooked. I had the good fortune to see them play live twice because my best friend was the son of the CEO for Ampeg who made amps and guitars ( Hi Skip if you are reading this) the first time was at the first quaker city rock concerti n Philadelphia on the bill with Janis Joplin and the Chambers brothers, Vanilla Fudge and Buddy Guy. the second time was in a North Jersey high school auditorium ( I kid you not) when they played in front of a stack of Ampeg amps provided by my friends father and presumably a sponsor for the show. We got to go back stage and meet the band and everyone was nice and appropriate... but Skip Spence was shaking like a leaf. I was just a kid, but I'd been out to San Francisco for the summer in '67 and just knew that the guy I so admired was over the line. that being said some flowers bloom magnificently but only last a day or two. The chemistry this band had was incredible and that first record I bought all those years ago is still a perfect thing that I treasure, and having seen them play live they were as powerful and nuanced as their recordings. I play some guitar but am still trying to figure out the Tab for "8:05" If you think this was just another 60's rock band with a funny name work that tab out and post it. I would appreciate it, and I think you will too by the time you are done

[@335blues1]

If I remember correctly, that middle finger was airbrushed out of the album cover on most of the production runs....

[@bonniecondict5250]

some flowers bloom ..............WOW !

[@dhwaja9]

Sitting By The Window, one of the few songs i never, and its fifty years - never get tired of. It created a matrix for a special mood in me.

[@jeffthrow6892]

Wow.....what a treasure this is! Like someone else said, it's a shame the cameras weren't rolling when these guys played. This immensely talented band should have been HUGE...............

[@michaelchisom321]

They were rolling... Their asshole manager demanded 1mil$ for it to be released. Still locked in a vault somewhere...

[@naclean91]

Jerry Miller is still playing strong in the Northwest music scene

[@rodbottomley4514]

The best music from the best time to be alive in my books and I wasn't even born yet. Been listening to music from this time period all of my life and will never understand why music today is so shitty. Guess once in a lifetime is all you can expect.

[@aboutsoundandvision]

A quite impressive set, the performances are just as solid as the LP versions. The Grape was a raw talent at a level you don't see often, what it would have been to see them live at the height of their powers like this

[@johnnyguitar335]

Listenin' to "sittin' by the window" brings to mind "the Dead", and "The Jefferson Airplane " wish we had groups like this today. They can really play. Art, Craft and soul!

[@pschomer1]

+johnnyguitar335 Yeah -- you could do a nice remix of "Window" with "Triad" from Surrealistic Pillow (technically a Byrds tune, oc, David's finest hour).

[@nyclass22]

"Triad" (by the Airplane) is on "Crown of Creation"....

[@paulschomer4085]

ooops! Doh. thanks Neil! I knew that...

[@newyorkukuleleschool1425]

Really can't put the Dead in the Grape's class

[@TheDivayenta]

I was there! I was there! I5 years old, in my pea coat , wearing a peace sign necklace. The show finished out with the amazing performance of Otis Redding backed by Booker T and MG's. In between were Jefferson Airplane, I think Janis redid "Ball and Chain", and I can't remember the rest. The whole festival was an enchantment.

[@catherinesimons4002]

I was there too! Monterey Pop was such an important event for me. Moby Grape was terrific and so original. Summer of Love 💙❤️

[@TheDivayenta]

Catherine Simons and now I live in the Monterey area. Forever memories.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

So jealous of you both! Great memories. Was born 10 years too late. I’d time travel back to Monterey Pop ‘67. Happy for technology to revisit✌️♥️

[@edstein5642]

They sound great live, in 1967 no less. As first up, the sound engineers probably used them to make adjustments. It’s a shame they didn’t get their set in the Monterey Outtakes dvd.

[@RandomPlayIist]

They weren't first up, they we smack dab in the middle of the festival.

[@macadoo2530]

@@RandomPlayIist they WERE the 1st band to play at Monterey Pop. Opened the festival. Fact.

[@mikegotcha]

I gotta tell yall. I was a 15 year old aspiring guitar player in 67 and lived in Seaside Cal..right by the fairgrounds . The Who had just played the El Rey theater.. I was there and saw, heard it all. Gotta say.. Hendrix and the Grape were the bomb. 7 years later I got to play professionally with Jerry Miller and other Grape members. What an amazing time it was.

[@tomfile3131]

I love that gritty, electric, raw sound of the music from the 60's and 70's. It's pretty amazing, really.

[@Will-qs3ql]

I always thought Moby Grape ROCkED!! I think the bay area bands Moby Grape, Jefferson Airplane , The dead, Quicksilver, and Big Brother and the holding co . W/Janis was some of the coolest music of the 60s

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Love all the groups you mentioned so wish I’d have seen them perform. Glad to have these recordings; makes me feel as if I’m audience.

[@larrymiller4]

Good gracious! MG was a TRULY ... *GREAT* ... BAND. We can celebrate the fact that they had everything going for them. Just watched an interview w. Don Stevenson. All I knew about him was that he had a jazz background, but listening to this vid made me sit up -- this guy made the band ROCK! And I have yet to hear anyone in the rock world sing like Bob Mosley, and play bass. Somebody (Don?) compared him to Otis Redding. Whatever. Just astonishing. And Skip was one of those guys so far "out there" that he could be called a "mad" genius. I'm sorry his life took a bad turn in NYC. Skip was the driving force of MG. We cannot make improvements on the past, but we can be thankful for what it gave us, and in this case, the exquisite memory of this band.

[@chickensandsuch.1754]

Saw them at the 2nd fret in Philly in 1967. 90 People there. I still remember all the single Twin Reverb Amps. Boy, did that band sound good.

[@fob1xxl]

I knew Peter Lewis when he was just forming his band . In fact in the beginning, he called it "Reign Beau". Peter's mom was the movie ledgend, Loretta Young. Peter Ford was the second member of the early group. His dad was actor Glen Ford and his mom was Actress and dancer Eleanor Powell. How do I know, because I was the third member of the group. My name ? Guy Apollo. We never got to become the success "Moby Grape" became. Both Peter Ford and I quit in less than a year. I always knew if Peter had all the right people in his group, he couldn't fail. I'm very proud of him and what he achieved. Even today, with his daughter. The guy has got real talent !

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Very cool history lesson, thank you!! I learned of Moby Grape because of Robert Plant, he really liked them. Where did the name “Moby Grape” come from?

[@fob1xxl]

@MountainMari I honestly don't know, but back then, there used to be one of those really dumb jokes going around. What's big and purple and swims in the ocean ? The answer, of course, was "Moby Grape" ! Who knows ?

[@pietmunsterman1510]

Great. The best group ever.

[@petermarquard5107]

I went to see the Grape at Santa Monica Civic in, I believe, 1971. My tape deck got confiscated at the door and I didn't get that great show. My memories are of the crowd cheering when they recognized the opening chords of "Murder in my heart for the Judge" a great rendition of "Come in the Morning" and, of course "Omaha." The encore, as I recall, was "Goin' Down," which featured fiery guitar playing by...by everybody! Great night.

[@hugatag]

In 1965 Skip Spence was at a Jefferson Airplane gig and their drummer didn't show up. Grace Slick asked if anyone in the audience was a 1/2 way decent drummer and Skip said that he was. Well he drummed through the entire 2 hour gig. Members of the band asked Skip "how long have you been playing the drums"? Skip said,"this is my first time I ever played them" The band was so impressed they hired Skip as their drummer for the 1st Airplane album.After that Skip joined Moby Grape, True story!

[@jacktwist5907]

Great band. Great memories. Wow! 1967 produced such an amazing array of artists.

[@BobJacobson]

Best Bay Area band ever.

[@maryrobertson6772]

+Bob Jacobson them and Sly

[@samdsalvo3726]

+Mary Robertson ... Lucky me....MG basically started in my house..Sly started in my club....

[@carrieberry8846]

Er, and the Dead.

[@andythomas706]

Screw The Dead! A bloody bar band compared to MG!

[@SuperAmin1950]

Er', and Quicksilver Messenger Service... ...er', and the 'Airplane.

[@PsyVen]

Bay Area rock at its absolute peak of power and passion. This band deserved so much better than they got.

[@rolfemusicgroup]

Omar, your father's work with Moby Grape is amazing, he was the spirit of the group. And, I have to say that "Oar" is one of the most beautiful records of all time and one of my all time favorites. It is really a special thing to hear you talk about him and Moby grape!

[@angystewart4277]

There music stands the test of time

[@prunebreath]

@hugatag Well, close. Grace hadn't joined JA in '65. Marty, Signe(?), etal, were at the Ark, in Sausalito. They needed a drummer and Marty saw Skip having a drink at the bar. Marty said; "I can tell a drummer and that guy can drum." Skip protested that he played guitar, but Marty insisted; they already had two guitarists. (Skip had drummed in H.S.) His style is certainly unorthodox, but it works - check out his drumming on "OAR." BTW: The Grape formed with 3 guitarists. Coincidence?

[@Darrylizer1]

If these guys had a better slot at Monterey they would have been superstars.

[@MrMarkar1959]

i was 8 years old in '67,,smoked my first Camel short,,in '68 a cuz came home from VietNam with "Mekong Mud Dope" looked like a Camel short with wrinkles,,still like wrinkled smokes and Moby Grape✌🏼

[@Exiles800]

Great to hear a band that got drowned and forgotten in bad management and personal problems re-emerge as a really great sound 50 years later...

[@videomaniac108]

It's a real artistic crime that we can't see the video of this magnificent performance. Think of what an inspiring thing it could be to budding musicians of today and tomorrow. The value of this work will far outlive the lives of the greedy and insignificant ants that prevent its viewing.

[@waynesilverman4409]

Indifference has a really good chord pattern.good band .to unlucky at the times

[@bobburroughs6241]

Their manager wanted a million dollars to film it!

[@peterjonsson3807]

Love them. Kept me company in SE asia

[@kynyrdskynyrd]

That version of Omaha just rips,what a rocking band they were,WOW!

[@rick4electric]

Listen to what Bob creates underneath "Sitting By The Window". Pure fucking genius!

[@TJamesBell]

The reason why the Grape are not included on the Monterey Pop film or on the soundtrack is because their unscrupulous manager Matthew Katz was demanding a million dollars from Lou Adler and threw a big temper tantrum when he didn't get it and Adler just said 'Fuck you'. and that was it. Once again, thanks Katz. Here's a quote from the Grape's Peter Lewis: Why didn't your segment make the cut for the Monterey Pop film? Or the CD box set, for that matter. That was another smart move by Matthew Katz. He told Lou Adler they had to pay us a million bucks to film us at the Monterey Pop Festival. So instead of putting us on Saturday night right before Otis Redding, they wound up putting us on at sunset on Friday when there was nobody in the place. Katz went nuts in front of Lou Adler. And that's when we decided he had to go. He made some stupid moves and couldn't kick his own ass, and he became this guy who went around blaming everyone else for his own mistakes.

[@Sargebri]

Katz really screwed them over. If he had their best interests at heart he would have told Columbia not to release every song on their debut as singles or not to do the disastrous hype campaign that killed them.

[@billlarstead8019]

What a useless little piece of shit Mathew Katz is; he killed these guys just as their dreams were coming true! Fuck him forever! I loved that first LP & this live recording shows how tight a band they were. I caught them live at the Kalaidescope in Hollywood in early 69' w/ of all people, Buddy Miles on 4th guitar! They were amazing & Jerry Miller could have shown up Mike Bloomfield, he was THAT good.

[@andythomas706]

Bill Larstead You lucky lucky man. I was living in London back then, and was a huge fan! I'd loved to have seen them but never got close. Miller was indeed an astounding guitarist. The Dark Magic bootleg double CD testifies to that. PS. At least the original Spirit made it this far. I saw them at The Lyceum in The Strand. It was one of the best nights I ever had. And I speak as a man who spent most of 1968-69 in The Marquee!

[@billlarstead8019]

Andy Thomas For some reason, Andy I was too lazy to make the effort to go hear Spirit right in my own back yard. So I'm a little envious of you as well. We all assume these guys will be around forever, so we take them for granted, much to our chagrin!

[@andythomas706]

Bill Larstead The first Spirit album and 'Wow' have been on heavy rotation in the car all weekend! What a pair of Classics!

[@BaconTomatoCheese]

Just a few days ago, I got “Oar/ more Oar” on cd from eBay- by the late, great Alexander Spence- I’ve played it through several times already, still absorbing it… great stuff. This live Moby Grape performance is amazing! Band is tight, and great sound too! Fantastic… wish there was more!

[@wsnone9934]

LOVE THE "FINGER" ON THE FIRST ALBUM. AFTER THE RECORD COMPANY REALIZED IT THEY AIR BRUSHED IT OUT. SO PEOPLE WITH THE FINGER HAVE A COLLECTORS ITEM.

[@selfhelp69]

Grew up with the Jimi and Who cuts from Monterey. Only heard of the 'Grape through some blacklight style psych compilations I had on cassette. Thanks for putting this up. Man they were good. They got jacked. Easily as important to the SF sound as the Airplane and the Dead maybe better. Super tight psych blues rock. If you like this, early Amboy Dukes and a band out of Austin called Bubble Puppy are killer too.

[@dennisbloomquist9220]

They would have blown the dead off of any stage. Probably Airplane too. Oh, MaN! Bubble PUPPY!

[@mrbag60]

The 8:45 of the band in action is further proof that when these guys were playing at their best they were undoubtedly the best band SF had to offer; even better than other well-known SF area favorites like CCR, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Steve Miller Band, Sly & The Family Stone and Quicksilver Messenger Service. I still have a vinyl copy of the first album which in my imo is nearly perfect.

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

Sly%theFamilyStoneONLYcan give the GRAPE a run for their$$

[@bluecollar825]

I always remembered seeing this band name and all them psychedelic posters from the 60s and always thought to myself, I wonder if they were eating grapes one day and came across an especially plump one and were like "moby grape! That should be the band name!"✌

[@KittyGrizGriz]

😂I’m curious too?! 🍇. Love the psychedelic posters of that era. Been buying band t shirts like that from the San Francisco 60’s groups.

[@josephlemko3027]

These guys were really talented.

[@kernalsanders6538]

Moby Grape saw them at the Avalon probably in 66 nobody really knew who they were when they opened the show but everybody in the ballroom knew who they were when they got done with their set. They just lit up the place great guitars , bass, vocals, and drums. Wondering is that a Brdland that jerry's playin?

[@davidcaron5545]

The first music show I ever saw was Moby Grape, Steve Miller Blues Band and The Grateful Dead at the Avalon Ballroom in Christmas time 1965. Steve opened and then Grape and then the Dead. My fav was Moby Grape because of the energy and amazing cohesivness in a raw unbridled set that lit me up. I was able to walk all the way to the stage and stand there watching. ...

[@robertkelly6282]

Thanks for posting one of the best from SF

[@rineric3214]

Vanilla Fudge had four lead singers in one band. I thought they stood alone. But, Moby Grape had FIVE! Five-part harmony! Maybe the Association was their only peer. Skip may have been crazy but he was not a casualty.

[@pmoyer50]

Moby Grape smoked Jefferson Airplane back in the day. They were one of tightest bands to ever exist. They made the Stones look like choirboys. Lawyers love to pick the flesh off of bones. Moby Grape rules.

[@hashachar70]

Jerry Miller still cooks!!! Thank You so much for posting, HotRockinJohnny--your Grapeness!!!

[@mitchgawlik1175]

Back for another listen, and to dig the great photos, even though it stings a bit to see Skip Spence and think of the unfortunate turn his life took.

[@johnbsteele6199]

I was fortunate to witness their incredible rise and also unfortunate to see them in their downfall.

[@zincChameleon]

Greatest debut album from the Sixties. Tight as hell, and endlessly creative. First-rate acoustic guitar work, by the way. Check out "8:05".

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

I have an old jukebox and always have buttons dedicated to their singles, at least 2 if not 5 at any given time. Pure art

[@markhunter8554]

Robert Plant was a fan of the album.

[@Glicksman1]

So F'ing great. Love the Grapes.

[@harryking917]

One of the great bands from the Psychedelic era along with Quicksilver Messenger Service and Country Joe and the Fish and others

[@iggyaztec]

this version of 'Omaha' is beyond the pale. thank you for this

[@vincentrathbone26]

The first track is an absolute KILLER !

[@HBIC505]

Brilliant shooting stars. Blessed to have them all together however briefly.

[@thegreatchain7112]

the Great Moby 🍇 Grape

[@mickeymousebiker1]

For Little Steven and The Underground Garage. This is music that FM stations in my area won't approach. Steven -- thanks for keeping this sound alive on the radio!

[@Zopf-international]

One of my most favourite concerts ever. Go Skippy/ Grape for President.

[@larrymiller4]

*Omm -- Aha! Whe else ever rocked, or now rocks, with such energy as these guys? Talk about Rock and Roll. Buddy Holly is smiling, somewhere.

[@videomaniac108]

Wow, I just discovered that all those songs that I loved so much when I heard them back in the day were done by Moby Grape! M.G. is like a fine wine, gets better with age. Jerry Miller really cooks on lead on Omaha.

[@ghostrider-ek8gu]

A great San Fran band that personified the SF sound

[@MrBrentles]

Shit I only looked up this stuff cause the hippy teacher off Beavis and Butthead told me they were good. Far out. What a band. Love it!

[@stevencastillo8914]

Hahaha I never knew that lolol 😂😂

[@tracyporter5471]

They have a couple great albums. I especially like the songs "Can't Be So Bad " and "Hey, Grandma"

[@neilphelan145]

I loved this band! They absolutely were one of the very best ever!

[@bwanna23]

What a special time it was back then. And nobody even knew at the time, that it was "the sixties."