Vol 7 IssUE 10 contents04.16

118 A GRATEFUL LEGEND An inside look at vocalist, guitarist, father and all out amazing performer, , and his influence on the scene.

16 april 2016 iReadCULTURE.com ON THE COVER: Photo © Photography 118 aprilAPRIL 2016 iReadCULTURE.com Photos © Jay Blakesberg Photography erome John “Jerry” Garcia with day jobs. By the late 1980s, online archive of recordings; surviving was a larger than life figure, the travelling circus was so huge it could stop band members who have continued to tour the musical and spiritual a city in its tracks. And Garcia was the driver, in various incarnations; and dedicated fans leader of the Grateful “Uncle Jerry” or “Captain Trips,” whose wildly who refuse to let go. Some 70,000 of them Dead—a band so beloved improvisational guitar style melted the minds turned out in the summer of 2015 when the that many fans devoted their of generations of fans. band played what was billed as their last lives to following them from He also shared his fans’ love of cannabis; show together, ever. show to show. And when he when the house lights at a Dead show went CULTURE recently caught up with two died, millions mourned as if down, the whole audience lit up. But it was of Garcia’s four children, Trixie, 40, who they had lost a family member. heroin Garcia was battling when he checked represents the Garcia family in the Grateful Originating as the house band of the himself into rehab after a summer 1995 tour. He Dead organization; and Annabelle Garcia, mid-‘60s acid freak-out, the died there of a heart attack at the age of 53. 44, an artist and painter. They talked about Grateful Dead built a cult following of stoners More than 20 years later, the music is as the man behind the songs and why his and vagabonds, flower children and closet popular as ever, kept alive by a voluminous music will never go away. >>

iReadCULTURE.com aprilAPRIL 2016 119 What is your earliest memory of the Grateful Dead? Trixie: I suppose it was probably being surrounded by people dancing and spinning and hugging and stuff like that. I just remember a general air of festivity, just being in the crowd, seeing everybody you know, that kind of thing. Annabelle: It’s probably my very first memory period. I have a memory of being held in my mom’s arms and looking out over an audience and my dad on stage, so probably like one year old.

What was it like to go to the , to see the way people revered your father From left to right: Mountain Girl AKA Carolyn Adams, Trixie Garcia, Sunshine Kesey and Annabelle Garcia and his music? Trixie: It made Jerry those things. It was kind of a to do, kid?” He just could not uncomfortable, the way some given that music was his life. be a parent in that way. people fixated on him. To me, That is his purpose. That is his He sacrificed I was always fascinated . . . thing and I never really held it pretty much Jerry has been called a I used to just sit on the side against him, for being on the workaholic when it came to of the stage and watch the road, because I didn’t really everything to keep music. Do you agree? peoples’ faces, watch them go know any different. He wasn’t playing, because Annabelle: Completely through the motions of a song a perfect person. He was very dedicated to the task. He or I’d find that one person human and I think he was so that’s what sacrificed pretty much who is really dancing their exhausted when he got off everything to keep playing heart out and just be amazed the road he had to rest for a he understood because that’s what he by how free they were, how while. best. understood best. He wasn’t expressive they were, and how really cut out to be anything enraptured they were. Annabelle, at his funeral you else other than this creative called him “a great American my homework, none of that. exultation of music and spirit. It’s How did Jerry balance the but a shitty father.” He was like the most killer pretty awesome on that level. constant touring and spending Annabelle: He was a shitty friend you could have as a kid He’s my dad but he’s also this time with his family? father but he was also my growing up. He never wanted positive force for so many other Trixie: I don’t know that he best friend. He never made to sell himself as a great father, people that you kind of separate did a great job of balancing me brush my teeth or do like, “Who am I to tell you what the two in your head a bit. >>

move to live with to his disappointment. over his hobby of Uncle Jerry’s Story their maternal He exchanges it for painting and drawing. grandparents for five an electric guitar 1942 to lose much of years. It is during this and amplifier, and August 1 – Jerome the middle finger time that he explores his stepfather soon 1962 John Garcia is born on his right hand his creativity and introduces him to an Spring – Jerry and in San Francisco, CA at the age of five. begins playing the open-tuning style. meet to Jose Ramon “Joe” five-string . during a party in Garcia and Ruth Marie Menlo Park. Phil later “Bobbie” Garcia, Winter 1960 suggests recording joining older brother Jerry’s April – Jerry enlists one of Jerry’s Clifford “Tiff” Ramon. father in the U.S. Army at 1961 performances to age 17. February 20 – Jerry broadcast on local drowns narrowly survives a radio station KPFA. 1947 while on a major car accident, The recording lead to Spring – A wood fishing trip. December – Jerry is which he cites as a a 90-minute special chopping accident 1957 discharged from the “slingshot for the broadcast, “The Long with his older brother August 1 – On his Army on the basis of rest of [his] life.” This Black Veil and Other at the Garcia family 1950 15th birthday, Jerry “lack of suitability to revelation causes him Ballads: An Evening cabin causes Jerry Jerry and Tiff receives an accordion, the military lifestyle.” to choose the guitar with Jerry Garcia.”

120 aprilAPRIL 2016 iReadCULTURE.com It’s no secret that How do you think he’d cannabis was everywhere feel about it being sold at Dead shows. Did your legally in stores? There are so many parents try to shelter you Trixie: He’d be amazed. from it? It’s such a huge deal for things Jerry would be Trixie: No, not at all . . . I everybody who watched was sheltered from hard their friends spend their delighted about these drugs, and heroin lives in prison for an ounce and stuff like that, but not or whatever . . . There days and weed for the from cannabis. And drunk are so many things Jerry people were definitely would be delighted about people is definitely one not welcome around the these days and weed for scene. the people is definitely of them. Annabelle: We were one of them. rolling weed when we Annabelle: He was a firm were kids because little believer in using cannabis tiny fingers could clean and our culture to kind up stems and seeds of further his own ability better. Every kid I grew to explore the guitar. It up with, we all have the was a huge part of how skill of digging the seeds they got to where they out, which is a lost skill were . . . It was one of nowadays. I have very the reasons he decided fond memories of the to have fun instead of smell of weed, everything becoming a really square, about marijuana. My mom normal person. He got wrote the first book about turned on early and how to grow at home, realized there was a more called The Primo Plant, positive way to get things and we were part of her done than the grind. I experimental garden, so think weed in general it was totally 100 percent was kind of the seed for with us our whole lives. all of that. >>

124 aprilAPRIL 2016 iReadCULTURE.com 126 APRILapril 2016 iReadCULTURE.com iReadCULTURE.com aprilAPRIL 2016 127 1963 perform their first Spring – Jerry and show as the house Sara Ruppenthal band at a Ken form Jerry & Sara. Kesey Acid Test in They marry later San Jose, CA. that same year. 1966 Jerry joins October – Jerry the Zodiacs and the rest of the August 23 – Jerry formed by Bill band move into a appears on the Kreutzmann, with communal house cover of Rolling Ron “Pigpen” on Ashbury Street Stone Magazine McKernan in San Francisco, for the first of 12 and Troy CA. It becomes total covers. Weidenheimer. a fixture on the local music scene, and provides 1970 free concerts January 20 – throughout the Jerry records year and a half his only solo they all lived there. electric guitar This leads to the performance at Grateful Dead MGM Studios in Fall – Jerry performing more Los Angeles, CA, forms The Black free concerts than for the movie Annabelle Garcia and Jerry Garcia Mountain Boys any other band in Zabriskie Point. with friends David history. that was going on with the crowd How do you explain the Dead’s Nelson and Eric popularity more than 20 years . . . Here’s 70,000 people having Thompson. February 2 – after Jerry’s death? this incredible moment together December Mountain Girl Trixie: I think there’s just and it’s hard not to tear up Jerry starts gives birth to something timeless about the talking about it. December dating Caro- Garcia’s second daughter, music they composed and 8 – Daughter, lyn Adams, Heather, is born to Annabelle Walker played. Hopefully going forward, Jerry’s guitar style has been also known Jerry and Sara. Garcia. like a fine wine, it’s just going to credited with helping to create as Mountain become more and more special an entire genre of music, jam Girl, after rock. Do you see that as his as time goes on. The whole Baby 1964 she breaks September Boomer generation, this is the greatest musical legacy? Spring – Jerry off her 7 – music of their lives and everyone Trixie: That’s definitely a thing. joins , marriage Jerry Garcia & is trying to reconnect with that But he was composing. His Pigpen McKernan, to George is time when they felt connected playing style was amazing and Dave Parker, Tom Walker, a formed. with something, a bigger picture, he wrote that music. We have Stone and Dave member of Garbett as Mother and that’s why the Grateful Dead (The Jerry Garcia Symphony the Merry has such an enduring legacy. Tour) and we’ve orchestrated a McCree’s Uptown 1973 Pranksters. March 2 - Jerry Annabelle: I met so many lot of the music Jerry and (lyricist Jug Champions. performs with amazing 18-year-old kids last Robert) Hunter composed and , year at shows . . . and I ask them, it’s fabulous with an orchestra 1969 , “How did you come across and it really makes me appreciate May – Jerry enters and the Grateful Dead? You’ve got Jerry as a composer and to his “pedal steel Richard Green as tattoos? You’re only 18.” And think about what he might have flirtation period,” Old & in the Way, they say it’s the one thing that accomplished had he lived longer which continues for the first time, at made them feel like they belong and branched out, done more through to 1974. the in somewhere. The fact that it still jazzy stuff, symphonic stuff. During this time Sausalito, CA. has that value is really humbling Annabelle: That’s the kind 1965 he records one of to be a part of on our end. of stuff that will get you shot May 5 – Jerry the best known steel solos on 1974 on some corners of Haight- joins Phil Lesh, , Crosby, Stills & April 20 – Jerry Ashbury (Laughs). On one hand, How did it feel to see so many Pigpen McKernan Nash’s “Teach joins Richard people come together to he was a great improvisational and Bob Weir to Your Children.” Green, David celebrate the legacy of Jerry and guy. He was out there. On the perform first gig Grisman, Taj the Dead (at last year’s concert?) other hand he wrote some of as The Warlocks Mahal and David Annabelle: I had a great time. the most amazing guitar riffs, at Magoo’s Pizza August 7 – Nichtern as The It was amazing, incredibly perfect power pop songs. He’s in Menlo Park, CA. Jerry joins New Great American sentimental and overwhelming part of this gigantic cultural Riders of the String Band, and on too many levels I can’t even movement . . . I don’t think Purple Sage, make their debut performance at put into words. I was sad at first, we’re going to know for a few December 4 – The and continues Warlocks change to be a member the Pilgrimage and by the end of it I was so hundred years his true impact, their name to of the band until Theater in happy with this incredible spirit or this band’s impact. >> Grateful Dead, and November 1971. Hollywood, CA.

130 aprilAPRIL 2016 iReadCULTURE.com People still come up to me and cry about how much they miss Jerry, 20 years later. He meant more to many people then their own families, for whatever reason, for that experience they had with him in the audience that one time, or whatever it was, these deep emotional connections. It’s overwhelming how deeply connected the fans are.

132 aprilAPRIL 2016 iReadCULTURE.com thing. Just a hilarious person. He could’ve up after that. He’d been through a lot, been a great stand-up comedian. health-wise. He really wasn’t as strong Trixie: He had this way of kind of not as everyone seemed to think. He was giving a f*ck and also being like really kind of a frail guy. happy and amused about it. He was always finding the joke, finding the way After Jerry’s death, there was a great to make it not heavy. It was just nice to outpouring of grief, public gatherings be around him. He was also a great artist. in cities around the country and world. He also innovated all these business What does that say about how Jerry models for the music industry, with free and his music impacted people? shows, and (audience) recording. It’s a Trixie: People still come up to me and large impact he’s had in our culture. cry about how much they miss Jerry, 20 years later. He meant more to many Were you worried about his declining people then their own families, for health in his last years? whatever reason, for that experience Trixie: We were all worried and I’d hear they had with him in the audience stories from the road about how bad he that one time, or whatever it was, looked and it was progressing, but what these deep emotional connections. It’s do you do? . . . Drugs are bad. Heroin overwhelming how deeply connected and coke are bad news. Stick with your the fans are. psychedelics and weed.

Lauren Parish, Trixie Garcia, Jerry Garcia and Steve Parish Annabelle: We would have interventions Do you find yourself comforting fans or and he would promise to be better do you cry together? How do you remember him best, as the and he would try. He just wasn’t into Trixie: We cry together . . . I’m helping to father, the guitar player, the friend? accepting how bad he felt or how sick help manage Jerry’s legacy so I’m trying Annabelle: The father, for sure, the he was. I certainly witnessed a whole lot to desensitize myself with exposure, so giggler, the sly chuckler. He could crack of pain out there because I can enjoy a concert without crying, a joke in under point-zero seconds those years were his declining health which is very difficult for me. But I went and devastate anyone with the most years. Then he got the reprieve after his to see Prince last night and I cried there hilarious joke you ever heard, yet with a coma (in 1986) and had this amazing too, so maybe it’s just not a Grateful benevolent smile. The smile is the first rebirth. Then I think he kind of gave Dead thing. c

September 21 Close Encounters of the a near-fatal diabetic coma makes their first public February 14 – Jerry and Mountain Girl Third Kind. for five days, after which appearance at The Deborah Koons marry he has to relearn the guitar. Fillmore during a benefit on Valentine’s Day in gives birth to concert for Artists Rights Sausalito, CA. Garcia’s third 1979 Today. daughter, January 30 – Theresa Adams Reconstruction, featuring Jerry, John Kahn, Merl December 20 – Jerry’s “Trixie” Garcia. Saunders, Ed Neumeister, partner, Manasha, gives Ron Stallings and Gaylord birth to his youngest Birch, make their first daughter, Keelin Noel 1975 public appearance at The December 15 – The Garcia. January 23 – Legion of Keystone in Berkeley, CA. Grateful Dead return to Mary, consisting of Jerry, performing five months Merl Saunders, John Kahn, after Jerry emerges from 1990 Martin Fierro and Ron 1980 his coma. December 17 – Jerry and Tutt, hold their first public December 31 – Jerry and David Grisman perform performance at Sophie’s in Mountain Girl marry. together for the first time Palo Alto. 1987 publicly at Sweetwater in Named in tribute to Jerry, Mill Valley, CA. 1995 1982 ice cream-makers Ben August 9 – Jerry passes August 5 – Jerry performs April 13 – Jerry and Bob & Jerry’s release Cherry away at Serenity Knolls under the name Jerry Weir appear for the first Garcia. Treatment Center in Forest Garcia Band for the first time on Late Night with Knolls, CA, at age 53. time, alongside John David Letterman. Kahn, and March – Jerry records at Keystone in a number of radio August 13 – Jerry is Berkeley, CA. April 21 – Jerry Garcia & commercials for Levi’s 501 celebrated by 25,000 John Kahn is formed. jeans. friends and family at a 1994 public memorial in Golden 1977 January 19 – The Grateful Gate Park. Memorial spans November 5 – Jerry 1986 March 17 – The Jerry Dead is inducted into the the nation as people all appears in the movie July 10 – Jerry lapses into Garcia Acoustic Band Hall of Fame. over mourn his passing.

136 april 2016 iReadCULTURE.com When Dennis McNally was hired by his idol—Jerry Garcia—the on-the-job training was brief. “First, we don’t suck up to the press.” “That about covers it—here, smoke this.” True story, says McNally, who ran the Grateful Dead’s publicity machine— such as it was—from 1980 until the band’s demise after Garcia’s death. He has written multiple books on music history and authored a book called A : The Inside History of the Grateful Dead. He also wrote the definitive work on the history of the band and last fall published Jerry on Jerry: The Unpublished Jerry Garcia Interviews. McNally gave CULTURE a few minutes recently to reminisce about the legend. >> Dennis McNally and Jerry Garcia at a United Nations Press Conference at a benefit for the Rainforest, 1988.

140 aprilAPRIL 2016 iReadCULTURE.com Joining the Dead The idea of running off to with a guitar in his hands and this thing where they weren’t organization, what was join the circus—it was the last joint in his mouth, not terribly the show. Everybody in the Jerry like, compared to circus, the last opportunity responsible. And he became room was the show. They were how you saw him from the to run off and join the circus. responsible not only to his simply the soundtrack and audience? In reaction to the Reagan employees but to a million they related to their audience The impression we got in the era, lots of people did, deadheads who demanded as equals and partners and audience was who he was. He which began the era of the he give them a musical fix 80 there was at least a pinch of had his dark side and he had . It was a cultural nights a year and that wore on that with the Grateful Dead for his demons but he kept them phenomenon. There had been him and is one of the reasons the next 30 years. And that’s to himself. When it came to fans in the ‘60s and ‘70s but why he self-medicated. powerful. That’s what created associating with people he was the stereotype of hordes of the community and nurtured almost always a gentleman. people in tie-dye following Why do you think the music the community. (Rock promoter) the band from city to city, remains so popular? once said that the only two that’s a product of the ‘80s. He was genuinely charismatic. You recently published people that he knew of in the He was a truly great musician. a volume of interviews rock and roll business who How did Jerry handle The Grateful Dead brought with Jerry. What might were the same versus in later becoming an icon for all two things. They brought this surprise deadheads in those years, after which time they these legions of fans? interesting mix of rock and roll interviews? became famous and quite rich People would say, “These kids, musical modes with -style His conversation about what’s were (from they’re devoting their entire improvisation that nobody else going on in his brain when he’s ) and Jerry Garcia. lives to the Grateful Dead.” He has really ever quite done . . . improvising is an articulation Jerry was curious about the said, “Well so am I.” As it went Along with an enjoying sense of things that I didn’t even rest of the world, interested on, it became something of a of community that lasts to know can be articulated and in other people from when he burden, where there were 50 this day. That community, that certainly that only he could was an impoverished banjo employees and their families connection with the audience, ever articulate and I found picker to the day he died. and they all needed work really developed when the it absolutely fascinating . . . I and a paycheck. There was Grateful Dead, all of them, went never dreamed he would take How did the travelling a part of him that wanted to to the (mid-’60s San Francisco) my question and run with it for audience build up? permanently be Huck Finn, and experienced four or five minutes. c

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