After arriving at 5:30 p.m. for an 8 p.m. show, we were treated to a viewing of Animal House. As the credits were rolling at 8 p.m., the screen rolled up and New Riders started playing. The band was geared up for this performance, playing well all of their best tunes including Panama Red and Last Lonely Eagle. Ninety minutes later, they stopped and the set change was happening.
When the lights came up for the Blues Brothers, Paul Shaffer was wailing on the organ with the opening notes, doing the intro for the band. I had no clue that the MG’s Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn and the Legendary Steve Cropper would be in the backup band or the horn section would include Tom Malone from Blood Sweat & Tears. They were phenomenal and John Belushi did his trademark back flips across the front edge of the stage. Running through Soul Man and Rubber Biscuit as well as a brief Rawhide, they really delivered a great 75-minute, power-packed show. I was glad we got good seats near the front of the back balcony.
As the set change was happening, I wandered downstairs only to run into a half-dozen friends from high school I would always see at Dead shows. The bathroom was packed, I grabbed a water at the snack bar and headed upstairs. The air was thick as was the tension waiting for the band to appear, but at the stroke of midnight the crowd began cheering as Dan Aykroyd came out to do the midnight hour countdown.
Upon the opening chords of Sugar Magnolia, I knew we were in for a ride as that was usually a second set song.
Upon the opening chords of Sugar Magnolia, I knew we were in for a ride as that was usually a second set song. Nothing about their performance this night was usual. Following with Scarlet Begonias, the machine started to roll. There were times when Phil’s bass seemed as if it was shaking the rafters; it was so deep and strong.
I had seen the Dead jam with many guests including Etta James and Miles Davis; most notable for me, closing night was John Cipollina from Quicksilver jamming in the third set as well as seeing Ken Kesey. It was bittersweet as I was still missing Pigpen’s signature vocals. I think my favorite song was hearing Terrapin that night. It seemed so smooth and perfect.
Winterland held many memories for me, and many firsts: Yes in quadraphonic sound with Rick Wakeman; The Last Waltz; a triple header show with the Airplane, Quicksilver, and the Dead; Fleetwood Mac — memories that have lasted a lifetime. With over 200 Dead shows seen between 1969 and 1978, this was one of the best.
It was an epic day ending around 7:30 a.m. when I got in my car and drove home to Fremont. I had made that trip a couple hundred times driving to and from Winterland. I shared breakfast with 5,000 others around 6 a.m. after an epic night, and to think this morning was the last time.
~ Bill Bischoff