I remember being extremely altered that night, as were most of the attendees. Early on in the night, I was at the side of the stage holding hands and dancing with Alan (Trist), Ken Kesey and Loose Bruce (Baxter). Alan and I considered that to be when we got married. I remember Bill Murray being led gently around backstage by some kind person who was holding his arm. The usual suspects and many friends and family were there. We then hung out on the opposite side of the stage like a couple of anchors, watching the show.
I thought behind the big black curtain at the back of the stage, that it was snowing and there was some kind of train station. It was so cold at Winterland, it seemed like it was snowing back there. I also thought the band was generating some intense mandala of light that radiated out into the audience, who responded in kind. The big banners hanging from the balcony with pictures of past bands who performed there over the years were coming to life and dancing to the music as well. Also, the back of Mickey’s shirt had some date listed on it, probably the date of that show, and it kept flipping backward and forward like a slot machine through the years as he played the drums.
I remember Belushi doing back flips across the stage when the Blues Brothers performed, and landing right next to me.
I remember Belushi doing back flips across the stage when the Blues Brothers performed, and landing right next to me. I patted him on the back and said something like, “Great! Wow man!” and he back-flipped over to the microphone and kept singing. Bill Graham floated in on a humongous joint with Dan Aykroyd doing the countdown. Lots of colors. We did not stay for breakfast at dawn. I was glad that the show was released years later so I could enjoy the music again.
Alan remembers, “the closing of Winterland was precipitated by a chunk of the plaster ceiling falling on stage during a band rehearsal, which shows, since the event went forward anyway, either monumental stupidity in the face of crumbling superstructure or supreme confidence in the elevating powers of Grateful Dead concerts.
~ Deb Trist