40 years ago tonight, it was a big one

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I'm getting ready to get moving toward my evening's activities, but I had to take a moment to post this.

Of course tonight marks the 40th anniversary of the final concert at the truly legendary Winterland Arena.

IMO it was one of the greatest shows ever performed by the Grateful Dead, and it was the second time I saw them.

Suffice to say that despite the fact that much of the true greatness of the band's performance that night went over my 18-year-old head, the entire event had a profound effect on me, one that had a direct impact on the course of my life in many ways, and one that continues to effect me this day.

Winterland was a dump in the truest sense of the word, a place that by todays standards would have people recoiling in horror (watch out for the sawdust thrown over the puke from the night before!) but to my young mind it was a magical, completely unique place, and every once in a while even 40 years later, if I'm lucky, I will be at a show and get a hit of the unique, crazed, claustrophobic yet glorious feeling that reminds me of what it was like to be in Winterland.

So tonight, as I do every NYE, I will squeeze into the Skull & Roses baseball shirt I bought that night 40 years ago, now two sizes too small, paper thin and with burn holes from decades gone by, and honor that night that changed me and set me on a course that I happily continue to wander through all these years later. 

We mark time and thus our lives through these things called years, and every one we get is precious. 40 doesn't sound like so many, but it was a lifetime ago.

Far out.

Happy New Year everybody.

Long Live Rock 'n Roll!!!!

LONG LIVE THE GRATEFUL DEAD!!!!!!!!!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKzrZENiERU&t=16s&fbclid=IwAR1njEXOmZLfQ...

https://www.vivalazone.org/other-stuff/40-years-ago HA! Emilyed almost at the same time! Happy NY Lance!smiley

What times did the sets start and how long were the set breaks?

I couldn't tell ya' exact times kid. They started the movie around 6:00, NRPS probably started around 8:00, the Dead started at midnight, took two normalish length breaks and finished around 5:30am or so.

I don't think anyone was looking at their watches that night though.

Or if they were I doubt most people were seeing normal time, if you get my drift.

I know you don't have it down to the minute. That time frame is good enough for me to understand. 

Next question. 

Was that the only new years show they started at midnight or did they do that a bunch?

I've always wanted to go to a new years show that did that but times have changed.

Seems like everyone plays sets before midnight and finishes between 1 and 2.

the two bathroom stalls in the men's room were always backed up / out of order within 15 MINUTES after the doors opened......every night.

Almost broke my neck slipping on fresh puke on the risers at a Ten Years After show.

They started at midnight on 12-31-71 - KSAN broadcast...great Dancing in the Streets opener-- followed by Bobby saying (on the air)...  " this stage is a fuckin MESS! .. and if you got bare feet stay away"

Got that tape cued up.

Also got thrown out at a Frank Zappa show in 1975- that really sucked.

 

Mylar & Lance..... I was 17 and a junior/senior in high school.  Had not yey seen my first Dead show but was well on my way. In 1979/80 I was a freshmen at Queens college with about 6 or 7 shows under my belt.  The school had an orientation type weekend where about 50 of us traveled Upstate. My  friend traveled with me and he brought his Boom Box and 10 Dead bootlegs.  We came up for the weekend well prepared with many snacks and goodies.  We attended early morning orientation and during the break we decided to hike the mountains with boom box in hand.  The box must have weighed 13 pounds. We hiked for what seemed to be miles and miles up hill most of the way but time wise it all passed in the blink of an eye. At the very top of the mountain we encountered train tracks.  We decided to kick back and partake. We were partying hard.  I remember sweating bullets and thinking how incredible the day was turning out.  Out of the blue I think i hear a train.   I put my ear to the tracks and I tell my buddy something is afoot. But being at the "peak" of the mountain we cautiously  turn up the music.  A minute later a train comes ripping around the bend with the conductor  blasting  his train whistle.  On the boom box was Winterland 78 blasting Terrapin station. it was really unreal. Do not think we could get much higher. The train seemed to be endless as it was a cargo train.  I must have counted about 100 cars before it finally passed.  Like i said it was unreal. We eventually made it down the mountain only to realize what we thought was 2 hours of hiking turned out to be about 6 hours. Needless to say we missed the rest of orientation.  The rest of the weekend is kind of a blur but those moments on the mountain are 4 ever vivid.

>as that the only new years show they started at midnight or did they do that a bunch?

From 1972 on, the bands were on by 10:30.

Even with opening acts.

Always 3-4 sets & they had to start the show as soon as 7:30 by 1980

Not sure about the NYE 1969 Phili Electric Factory 

in 1968 the band came on at 12:20 > 50 years ago tonight - wow almost hard to believe , till I look in the mirror

at 4am the bus appeared and I got on >> Viola Lee Blues for like 40  minutes

 

 

I also hung you that night Lance some 40 years ago

IMG_4558_1.JPG Nice reflection

 

IMG_4557_0.JPGGod bless America 

 

50 years ago tonight is a half of a century. 

Nice posters longlive the dead

New Years is the best.

Hope you catch a good one Lance.

 

 

Bluelight,

 

Heathentom just said they started at midnight in '78 so your statement that it was 10:30 every year after '72 appears uncorroborated.

 

And they played the Boston Tea Party NYE '69.

I just said -just-now- NRPS were on at 8PM that night.

^

Next.

Are you from California?

Re read what was written above again.

My statement is a fact.