One of the greatest Dark Stars ever--Grateful Dead 10/26/89 Miami

You can't go wrong with this Dark Star. Comments welcome.

[@robertepstein]

This is really good, but my favorite is still the version on Live Dead. Maybe it's just because I've heard it a million times, I know every note & it's the song that turned me on to the Dead, summer of '70. It's perfect!!!

[@grizzkid795]

+Robert Epstein , I think I know every note from that one too. But now 10-18-74 is one of my favorites. You must listen to the jam leading into it also. And then there is 2-18-71.....

[@wtangodelta1715]

hehehehe.....

[@mcdaniels6188]

If Dark Star is what turned you on to the Dead I'd say you got on at the right bus stop!

[@chrishorton615]

Love the Live/Dead version, but I can't listen to it while driving. There is a part of the jam that sounds like a traffic jam and is chaotic. lol

[@wingman5724]

that is the definitive version

[@neosmith8933]

This is not just great, it's legendary, mythical. Scary Jerry!

[@t.w.3910]

Two weeks earlier in Hampton these very same Warlocks changed my life over a magical 76 hours. All Darkened Stars shone bright in those spaces where stolen faces were found in the lost 'n found and the band let the music play them. I always felt like John Coltrane was brought into the stage as guest conductor and soul-conduit whenever this music began to grow in a show.

[@senatorjimdracula1603]

Brent was the best keyboard player they ever had. It's like he and Jerry had a telepathic thing going... this is incredible.

[@freddyturner2063]

TC’s better Brent’s keys don’t come close to the way he played on dark stars, Tom’s atmosphereic playing just goes better with dark star then Brent’s not that Brent isn’t awesome I love Brent 👍👍👍

[@steveanderson7864]

Can you imagine how gacked out they are at this gig? Miami in ‘89 with the Dead at the height of their commercial and artistic power with Brent going wild? I would time machine to this show out of literally all of them and would probably die but it would be worth it.

[@Gumbo72203]

Lol this is very true

[@nettle99]

it's funny cause in the early days I was never a fan of the grateful dead. I was jimmy page and metallica up-brought-en, then I realized improv' guitar - and realized jerry was damn good. his roots lie in bluegrass jams, so to bring the trip elongated electric into the mix, was truly a turning point for his(and my) space. everytime I listen to a great ‘other one ‘or ‘darkstar’, it is a confiding moment that the improv’ genius stays alive in us and timeless, thank you jerry.

[@randystorm3243]

yes that's what the dead was so good at. letting their music take you on a journey

[@stanleymarch354]

It was a treat for us Florida Dead Heads for sure.

[@spacin007]

Agreed on one of the best ever. Sounds like the gods playing pinball in your head

[@DavyLaStrange]

This show was rubbing shoulders with another dimension all night ,although Jerry's voice was blown out ,he and Brent were on fire and in each other's face, serious as a heart attack. I've seen plenty of shows ,but this one went down some dark alleys that even had the rest of the band stopped in their tracks several times and when it was over we all looked like WTF ! A friend actually said WTF was that! Another friend taped it ,but you really had to be there!! There's a big ass book with reviews of almost every time they played ,check out 10/26/89 Miami .

[@udontexist47]

are you saying thy played really bad or really well?

[@done1675]

@@udontexist47 Yes.

[@828kl]

I was in the 13th row in front of Jerry. The entire arena was waiting for Dark Star. It was so loud and angry. WTF was that was a common reaction to it. There's a dead cast that talks about this dark star. Was curious about them not releasing a Dave or Dick's pick but Jerry's voice was shot and this was the final show of the East Coast fall tour. All I can say is that the volume and the sound was crazy. I remember looking on both sides of me and seeing my friends holding their ears!

[@dancinb69]

I really was more into bands like Sabbath or Maiden at the time. I showed up at my buddies house on a Friday after work. He threw me a tie die and said " PUT THIS ON! YOUR COMING WITH US!"... LOL. Got to see 'em 3 more times before Jerry passed. Then all the other guys (most of em ,) at "further festival" in West palm beach Florida, once

[@neosmith8933]

I was a couple months short of 3 for this, my first of 5 or 6 Jerry shows. Haven't seen any incarnations since Tampa 94. Don't remember the carnage after Orlando, but I recall the venue.

[@davidr1676]

@@neosmith8933 Orlando is carnage to begin with. Except for there being a very lovely place that I can stay there, I can't stand the city. I haven't found the old part of town or the place Kerouac stayed at and wrote or chilled at but it is just so corporate compared to some other coastal towns that are or were a mix but it's been a couple of years now since Covid interfered with traveling and all that. Wish I could see Florida a hundred years ago but still have summertime AC and lobster tacos and cornbread.

[@neosmith8933]

@@davidr1676 I believe people shouldn't inhabit slabs of swampy marshy wetlands in general.

[@neosmith8933]

@@davidr1676 I believe people shouldn't inhabit slabs of swampy marshy wetlands in general.

[@mokeski2196]

It was my birthday this night and was on a road trip with my friend Bill. Saw the Stones in LA flew to Charlotte for two shows then down to Miami. Had the good fortune to drink a couple beers with Bobby W. At the penthouse bar of the hotel after the show. He even bought me a Heineken. Great trip.

[@PaulEnsor]

I was there. Ran into "Magic" liquid, thought it was just a dream until now.

[@dougpotosky4102]

Wow! Thanks for this! A grand slam in the 9th inning. With two outs. Score is tied. Bases loaded. Sometimes the music just wants to be left alone! Maybe some kind of Alien contact was made this night. Something strange was definitely going on!

[@musicman2001]

Thank you for posting my friend. I was living in Miami at this time. This was my 70th or 80th show by now... BUT! my sisters first time tripping and first show. My only dark star. The light crew was off the hook good on this one. When they went off the deep end, pitch black we where seeing little pieces of Jerry flickering in and out. Needless to say sis caught a few moor shows

[@WilliamsStolenVideos]

dope

[@chrisshipley8703]

Also a First show for me, ridiculous, the sound quality in that arena was next level, so glad I got to see the Brent years PS: grab Freedom by the Bitcoin!

[@hubertsumlin9697]

i love Bob's whammy chords around 13:00....he's such a unique and underrated player

[@erichanhauser3190]

He is finally getting his dues.

[@numbernine2207]

Indeed. I love him on 12-15-86! That "Althea"!!!!!!

[@jmlorenz58]

Maybe not the "greatest" (it's up there), but one of the weirdest, scariest, freakiest Dark Stars for sure, Hard to describe until you listen to it.

[@zachfriesen7567]

I think of this comment ‘scariest’ every so often. Makes me find this version and listen again. Spot on - scary.

[@MrRikk68]

That is a tasty dark star. I really don't think I've heard one I didn't like. Even the studio version has that cool banjo piece at the end.

[@markjbaldwin]

really great instrumentation. kalimba. subtle synth & keyboard. riff references. do I hear fripp - like processed guitar now? wow.

[@ooskerfoontney6326]

Mark Baldwin Jerry had a MIDI interface on his guitar

[@ckmicdtmddtm1038]

greatful dead will be with each and every one of us : long after electricity in this format is gone 4 good...JERRY was touch by the true Creator as with his crew..thank you so so so so so so much

[@mishima611]

this was the final show of the 1st tour tht i did frm start to finish. what a way to end an amazing run!

[@BDB78]

A legendary Dark Star. The story goes that it got so dark during this jam that a bunch of Heads ran terrified right up outta there. Late-era Psychedelic Jerry in full command of his Starship. Wish I coulda been there for this one.

[@timconner5226]

Estimated 》Blow Away 》Dark Star, fantastic show

[@sm-jones5911]

the little jam between blow away and dark star is beautiful

[@Plumberron64]

This brings back memories. Oh. Yes.

[@mongoarts]

HOLY SHIT BALLS, THIS IS GOOOOOD!

[@1bigbillz]

This is a highly psychedelic dark star

[@nectar810]

this darkstar just keeps on givin !

[@dougpotoksky5415]

nectar810 It has ( the) vibe that was going on in that time. And when played it brought us back to that time! That is what is missing in the music of today. 99% is empty. No soul!

[@j.t.walter5086]

R.F.K. 7-12-90 Dark Star is pretty epic & filled with sublime MIDI. My third show.

[@JACKnJESUS]

I was there as well... great show even if Jerry's voice wasn't

[@brianboekhout7897]

i agree but music is bout the music the music the dead r the dead when they r in sync mussically not whilst singing

[@bretfoley424]

I was there ; Jerry was ill A F , giant , aaaannd could barely play - '94 in Miami though , they were fabulous

[@Dumballa]

Thank you for this :-)

[@popecannabissativathctchc9340]

MaybeTheBest: this show is so incredible, maybe one of the absolute best, AND, it seemed so haunting, that, omething, someone must've made an affect/effect on that setlist Lots of death&darkness tunes, sending a message

[@vmeglis70]

Well, it was five days before Halloween..lol..🎸💀🥀

[@aaspendlove]

Pure magic!

[@thomasmazur6916]

Great song

[@scottjeffries1127]

The MIDI Darkstar.

[@johnnythundersockeye2101]

All the Fall 89 RETURN Dark Stars have there pwn flavor ,flow style and energy and theay are ALL wortwhile and relatively Hot Powerhouses of the improvisational GroovePhest we all expect a Dark Star worth its salt to yield! that said istill think its hard to bear the Hamptom 10/8/89 formerly the warlocks Bustout version foor Overall Hair raising Energy Explosion BUT only if heard pn a High Quality Audience recording....if heard on Soundboard the Audience STOKE!!! just does notTranslate AT ALL!!! its AMAZING the Difference Actually!!! i was at Shoreline (9/29//89 ironocally with a VERY Dear Brother who passed away 48 hours after the DEad and Company 6/30 Show Last Summer! anyway 27 years earlier we had been Blessed to see the' Death Dont Have No MErcy" Bustout yet were lamenting not getting the :dark Star'we heard they had been soundchecking!!! Do remember they PLayed China Rider for Ya Though Bro!!! ALL of 89 ROCKS REALLY!!!!! Rip JordyBro!!!!!

[@bitchezzcansuckit]

ohhhhyeahhhhhh that soulfull sound

[@brianfrickinmeehar8650]

Jerry's voice sounds so funny i couldn't help laughing!

[@erichanhauser3190]

A lot of crappy weather on that tour. Cold & wet. I got sick as dudu. Jerry prob cought what I had!

[@joefelice5062]

I don’t get why people posting this performance omit the beautiful little feedback interlude that went on for a while just before the first notes. It’s really a shame…

[@dancinb69]

My first Dead Show....

[@musicman2001]

By the way GREAT SOUND!

[@JP-uj2gk]

I was there 😎

[@keithlavallie6968]

The version on nightfall of diamonds album. Believe it was October 88 meadowlands arena. That version blows me away every time I hear it

[@JusCuz410]

10/15/89, the second Dark Star since Hampton.

[@RobHollanderMusic]

Yes - if you've never heard anything from the 60s or 70s.

[@eleventhirteenX]

A nice one

[@elipeeli]

I really liked this 38 minute version, but it ends abruptly. It was from Uniondale new york and I can only find two that sound remotely similar, but the other is 16 minutes and also ends abruptly.

[@LSommer]

Definitely.

[@Lordementor96]

my favorite dark star is veneta 72

[@danamaguire4285]

Might be mine too

[@Klaatu_Prime]

mine is the one from the dane county coliseum in madison, wisconsion, 1973 :)

[@wobrien007]

Oh, Jerry......where did your voice go this night, my man? Really great playing for a 1989 Dark Star but holy shit, Jer.......

[@tagarran69]

It was the end of the tour (and a great tour it was!), I'm sure he was pretty tired at this point.

[@steveanderson7864]

His voice is fucked in a lot of 89 shows.

[@wobrien007]

@Keith Phillips Easy friend. Just saying he wasn't perfect and the band wasn't perfect. They had off nights like everyone else. It makes me crazy when people get upset when anyone makes even the smallest criticism of the band, like it's some blasphemy and anything they ever did is above criticism just because it's the Dead. And the Dead are my favorite band, Garcia is my favorite singer and guitarist, I still listen to them almost daily, etc etc. Just saying - His voice detracts from the song here but this is a great version for 1989.....

[@stefanschleps8758]

Brahman Buddha Bobby Blessing Oh My God....the Dead live!

[@christopherforsberg4446]

They’ll just never be another Jerry ! Wow….need I say more

[@timwilcox5733]

I missed out I didn't get into the dead tell about 3 years before jerry died. I was only 13

[@chrisshipley8703]

Me and Steve Gauge enjoyed the best first show

[@numbernine2207]

Indeed it is. "Wolf" (midi Dark Stars) are the best imho. 12-31-89 ("Well my buddy over hear tells me it's the beginning of a new dick head, I mean decade"...lmfao. This Victim > Dark Star is magical. The after space is one the all time BEST! YOU CAN HEAR JER SMILING ON GOING DOWN THE ROAD. Best one I saw was Brent's last......RFK 1990. Just went on forever!!!!! Both verses & mad midi on Rosebud. Thank GOD there's pro shot video of that one. Halloween 1991 with Gary Duncan is a very close number 2. I loved Soldier Fields '91 instrumental Version out of space. I was trippin' hard for that show. Easily the best Shakedown I've ever seen. The clouds & weather before hand. The fireworks after!!!! That Halloween run after Bill's death was unique in so many ways. PHIL'S THUMPING TO KEYSEY'S RAP was berserk!!!!! " and Ole Bill knew it! He knew it!" THANKS TO New World Order . The days of freely roaming this special place & it's divine land would have been miraculous. If you fuck anyone who's had the jab, you not only get a piece of their DNA but also start your ORION, hive mind set trans-humanism walk in. People have hard t__¹¹ý⁶⁶????

[@trentnunyabiz6204]

This one sepreates the Hippies from the Prog/Krautheads.

[@nectar810]

dark star me n my uncle darkstar dusseldorf 72

[@stefanschleps8758]

OMB...👽

[@TransitiveNightfallofDiamonds]

None of the late 80s and early 90s stars hold a candle to the golden age of 69-74. More than half of this doesn't even sound like Dark Star. It is space. Good space, but space. It is good and interesting, but there are easily 30 Stars from the golden age that I would reach for ahead of this. The best 80s Star is without question Berkeley 84. That has a pure lyricism that this one only approaches. Lyricism is the core of Dark Star. The further any Star gets from lyricism the less it is a Star. Other One, Playing -- those are different. Lyricism is less critical in those and in other great Dead jams. But the essence of Dark Star is lyricism. As Bob announces at the beginning of one of the best 60s stars (10-12-68) "This number is a foxtrot"

[@ekimnus5010]

I think my parents went to this

[@adrianpeterspeters6149]

Ekim Nus oh, hey, have your parents ask you, how did you come into existance ......haha .......?????!!!!!

[@pamkapp4622]

OMGD

[@kenbossy22]

Hate to be that guy but in no way shape or form is this one of the greatest dark stars ever. But, to each his own

[@bretfoley424]

Honestly, i was here. As a head from '70s, i apologize, but Jerry could barely play, it was just plain sad. Think it was a two night run : Jerry was physically huge, realllll strung out, and phoning it in. Sorry, y'all. I clearly remember feeling bad for Bill, Phil, Bob and Micky. TY

[@philippinto9780]

Yeah because without Jerry they were just such an amazing band.

[@nataliezementbeisser1492]

15:20 Damn what is happening here?

[@ericelkin5321]

8

[@anthonymichaelpulice8110]

phil lesh goin' ham at about 16:00

[@grifftrain]

No Dark Star after 74 can be called great

[@byrondorfman2482]

In its sublime, understated way, New Year's 78 was beyond great.

[@grifftrain]

Mustard Tiger clever!

[@wildharemb]

I tend to agree. But the last one I caught, 10/31/91, was the last great GD show I saw and DS was a huge part of the greatness with Kesey joining in with his eulogy to Bill Graham. They were a different beast after 74.

[@grifftrain]

Michael Bell if you were at the show, I’m sure the experience was great. I really just mean as far as getting a good recording of a live show, I’d much rather hear an early Dark Star than a later period Dark Star. To be honest my favorite period was 76 and 77 and they didn’t even do Dark Star those years. But I also love 71 and 74

[@davidmanchajr6839]

M mm

[@seanbell4258]

Not close to my fav, too much mickey and just noise

[@tbashara42]

Well, you have the date almost right, but you're 20 years off on the year. 10/25/69 (it's on KZbin) :)

[@tagarran69]

Clearly you don't know the Dead and their sound (and the progression of it over the years). This is the '89 show, I was there and I assure you it was this good!

[@steveanderson7864]

Thomas Avery Garran LOL 😂

[@anthonykimball7463]

No such thing as a "great" dark star after 1972.

[@wildharemb]

11/11/73, 2/24/74 and/or 10/18/74 want to have a word with you out back. I got to see all 3.

[@anthonykimball7463]

@@wildharemb Those dates you listed were all excellent shows, but sorry to tell ya, by 1973 dark star was no longer a MAJOR (ie "significant") highlight of the group's live repertoire. In fact, I'd wager that by 1973 most of these interminable 2nd set jams put a lot of the dead's audience to sleep. Dark stars in 1973-74 were no longer the extraordinary things they had been in 1970. I completely 100% stand by my claim.

[@pamkapp4622]

OMGD