After the Dead’s set the second day Pete came up to Jerry and told him that he was amazed that after watching two different shows the Dead had not repeated one song. The Who had been doing the same show for the last year and a half, Townshend told him.
Sitting on my dad’s shoulders as The Who started playing, I got the feeling one gets just before a roller coaster ride speeds up. From my angle I could see WHO written in bold letters on the top of Pete’s amp and watched wide eyed when Keith stood on top of his massive drum set. Before The Who’s encore the second day Pete dedicated “Shakin’ All Over” to the Grateful Dead and their fans.
One time when both bands were at the Navaro Hotel in New York, Jerry Garcia heard what sounded like a bird thumping on his window. Minutes later the sound was more like a knocking, which wouldn’t be strange if he had not been on the tenth floor. Pulling open his curtains Garcia found Keith Moon peering at him from the small ledge outside.
Amazed, Jerry invited Keith into his room and Moon explained that since he had climbed out the window of his room he couldn’t get back in because it was dead bolted. Without another word Keith started tearing through the wall in Jerry’s closet until he had dug himself a hole big enough to crawl through. Mission accomplished, Moon and Garcia went out for a night on the town where Keith got away with things, such as biting pretty girls’ asses, that would get Jerry slapped if he tried.
So years later I’m sitting with some of the Dead family in the restaurant of our German hotel and keep looking at the loud table of Who people. Following my dad over he introduces me and my hand is pulled around the table by the band’s crew while John Entwistle and Kenney Jones continue to eat oblivious to their pranks.
When two crazy outfits like The Who and the Grateful Dead got together I’m surprised the hotel was still standing by the morning. I passed Roger Daltrey as he and two huge roadies were on their way to see if they could break into the hotel’s closed work-out room. My dad and the Dead’s other percussionist, Mickey Hart, sat on either side of Kenney Jones and they all tried to one up each other, story for story, drink for drink.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
justin, these stories are fantastic.
seriously.
2 - justin Kreutzmann
Thank you. I has been an entertaining life so far. More (life and stories) to come...
3 - Bill B
Once again, good stuff Justin. I remember seeing either the same interview where Jerry spoke about being sandwiched between The Who and Jimi Hendrix at Monterey, or maybe just another occasion when he related the story. Very very funny.
I have a vhs tape of some of that Rockpalast show. One of my favorite versions of Sugaree that night. Off hand I don't remember much else, maybe Mexicali and Althea I think and with Townshend on Not Fade Away.
Interesting comment from Garcia about Townshend. I hadn't heard that.
4 - Bennett
Great stuff Justin. Thanks for bringing these "behind the scenes" writing to blogcritics.
More please!
5 - justin Kreutzmann
Bigger and better things to come.
Just cleaning out the closet of the old rock 'n' roll stories.
Exciting things in the works that will produce new stories.
6 - Doug Smith
Geez!! You've got a great blog going here. Seriously fantastic stories.
7 - CC joe
grate stories! my old lady love's the stuff about the Who! and it is always cool to hear about two cool bands hanging out! thankx!
8 - toast
I just pulled out my recording of the Rockpalast show (which I'd never finished) last night and saw the segment with Pete. Wanting more info, here I am- thanks soooo much for your stories!
9 - absoluteabsence
I remember reading a quote from Jerry where he was talking about musicians he really loved & he said "Thank God for Pete Townshend". I can't find the interview the quote was from but wholly agree with it
10 - Sam
I was at the shows in London. I stood right in front of Jerry for all three shows.