My first Dead show (indeed, first rock concert) was at Winterland on Dec. 12, 1972. It was crushing to find out that it was going to close. Winterland was a dump, of course, but it was our dump, and everybody sounded great there. The lack of reserved seats meant you could go at the last minute and still have a great time. When the closing was announced, Bill Graham went on the radio to say the last month of Winterland would be the greatest month of rock and roll that San Francisco had ever seen.
I was in S.F. the night of the show, and I was still a New Riders fan, even if most Deadheads weren’t by this time, and my friend and I figured that because of TV the show would definitely start on time. The show was scheduled for 8 p.m., and we got there at ten of eight, only to find out that the Riders had been onstage for some time. Not a big deal, but a forewarning of disappointments to come.
The New Riders left the stage at about 8:30, and the Blues Brothers came on about 9 p.m. For all my complaints about this show, I will say this, the Blues Brothers were a gas. Every single bit that we now know by heart from SNL and the movies was brand new, and Belushi’s persona had to be seen to be believed. The Blues Brothers played until about 10 and the Dead obviously weren’t coming on until midnight.
So, guess what happened next? Nothing. For two hours, after a smoking hot act, and anticipating an historic event, everyone just stood around. By the time the Dead actually came on, a lot of crowd energy had been lost standing around.
Unlike many people, Grateful Dead shows weren’t social events for me, and I wasn’t there to hang out. I was pretty tired by the time the Dead came on at midnight. Do you think the Dead played well? I don’t. Sugar Mag>Scarlet>Fire was a unique show opener, but the rest of the first set was standard issue. For the second set, I was hoping for all of San Francisco rock royalty to come out, but all we got was John Cipollina and the guy from War.
A brief, crappy Other One, a momentary Dark Star reprise and then Wharf Rat. Sure, a great Wharf Rat, but it was 5:15 a.m. and I was very tired.
By the time the third set came around, it was all down to Dark Star. No historic December at Winterland, no memorable special guests for the Dead, lots of time wasted on the floor, hardly a special set list so far. The third set Dark Star was magical though. I turned to look at the “1535 Days Since Last S.F. Dark Star” bedsheet, but it was still hanging off the balcony. I was told it was eventually tossed to the ground. Anyway, for 13 glorious minutes the night seemed worthwhile, until Weir ruined it by pushing the band into The Other One. I still haven’t forgiven him.
A brief, crappy Other One, a momentary Dark Star reprise and then Wharf Rat. Sure, a great Wharf Rat, but it was 5:15 a.m. and I was very tired. Dark Star was gone, and with it Winterland said goodbye. My friend and I had an unbreakable deal to meet in the lobby at show’s end, but I couldn’t find him. Finally, I found him outside. We left around 7 a.m. with a bad taste in our mouths.
~ Corry Arnold