response 25 of 69:

Aug 12 08:09 UTC 1995

We are all entitled to our opinions... but the fact is a man has passed away,
and it would be nice to see some respect for the dead here (no pun intended,
really). I truly do like the Dead's music, and I resent the pseudo-hippies
who stick Dead stickers on their cars and wear the tie-dye, but never really
listened to the Dead and don't have one damn clue about the Sixties and what
happened back then. I was born in 1972, so of course I don't recall that era
either. I really do enjoy the music of those days though... I just don't want
to put on this fake persona of having been there.

response 27 of 69:

Aug 12 17:26 UTC 1995

   Well, I think you're mostly right Jemmie, but that is becuase they
didn't "go commercial" in the usual sense and try to plaster themsevles
everywhere like other rock groups.  That in and of itself was rather
unusual.  But I think they did pave the way for other groups to make
music that wasn't excessively head-banging.  So no, they didn't have
that much impact on the music world, but it was by choice I think.
I really respect them for that.

response 29 of 69:

Aug 12 19:49 UTC 1995

#27: Let's not glorify commercial mediocrity, Steve. Maybe they didn't 
     "go commercial" because their music was not that good and didn't appeal
     to many people? How does one "choose" to not have their music impact
     the music world and the next generation of artists? One writes
     uncompelling music and then says, "Hey, let's hope this doesn't 
     influence too many future artists!" You respect them for creating
     possibly mediocre music which did not influence future artists? 

#28: Yeah, it might simply tell you deadheads have nothing better to do
     during the summer than follow the Dead around the country. 

I hate to be an asshole (actually, I like being one but let's leave that 
for another time) but let's just say that Jerry Garcia was a nice guy who
took lots of drugs and played lots of concerts. Let's not say that he and
the Dead were musically influential or that music will have an unfillable
void. It is probably safe to say that Kurt Cobain and Nirvana had more
influence on music in five years than the Dead did in thirty years. 

response 31 of 69:

Aug 13 01:36 UTC 1995

RE The fact that _Touch of Grey_ was the Grateful Dead's only top-40 hit. 
Another point of reference is that Jimi Hendrix also had only one top-40 hit,
_All Along The Watchtower_, and that song was a Bob Dylan composition.  And
Frank Zappa also had only one top-40 hit (_Valley Girl_ with his daughter
Moon, now seen on "The New VH-1").  However, calling any of the above "one
hit wonders" cound be tantamount to blasphemy to many classic rock buffs.

response 33 of 69:

Aug 13 05:40 UTC 1995

  That IS Touch of Grey, Valerie. I was thrown by it at first, but
you have to listen to it closely.

response 35 of 69:

Aug 13 12:09 UTC 1995

Oh dear, sweep up the stars and lock up the wood, I'm actually
agreeing with rogue about something...  >8)  (Re the Dead's
influence on music vs. Nirvana's)

Of course, I still think the commercial success of any pop
music group has as much to do with their publicist as with
their music.

response 37 of 69:

Aug 14 15:07 UTC 1995

I've listened to some of the dead's stuff, and, quite frankly, I don't see what
the big deal is!  I found it very bland undistinguished music.  THis is not a
case of "kids these days can't accept good music"...I LOVE so called ' oldies',
as well as almost any other kind of music, but the Dead are just BAD!  I know
this is kind of a sensitive topic to bring up now, and sorry if I've offended
anyone, just wondering if there is some secret hidden cache of good dead music
that I can't get at or something...

response 39 of 69:

Aug 14 16:14 UTC 1995

I know of quite a few people wo were on that so-called bottom rung. Thankfully
most of them have gotten out of drugs, because they realized they were killing
themselves. And I don't think anyone smokes that first joint or does that
first line of coke with the sole intention of becoming an addict. You know
what the really bottom rung is? Rapists, murderers, and abusers. And I
certianly didn't find any of those among deadheads. Those "dregs" were very
friendly people, and while I saw one smoking a joint, no one offered me drugs
and I don't think they would have thought anything if I had refused an offer.
I agree Jerry did not live a quality life, but he did live *quite* a life.

response 41 of 69:

Aug 14 22:41 UTC 1995

Yeah, just to clarify something/.
Jimi Hendrix's albums got high in the charts both in the UK and US during
his career.

DRugs dont enhance the quality of life, either.
DRugs are an escape from reality. They dont broaden horizons, they limit.

I belieive that if someone truly loved life, drugs would be 
unneccesary. Reality should enuff of a "high" for an entire lifetime.

response 43 of 69:

Aug 14 23:27 UTC 1995

I think Jerry's dying does expose drugs' consequences. And Jimi's . And
Janis's. I've never done drugs and don't have the desire to. And drug use is
sadly glamorized, but the "just Say No" campaign and drug war have not worked.
When I was in high school, there were always speakers with the "Just don't
use drugs, kids!" Speeches. Some of my friends experimented with drugs, saw
that it was highly overrated, and left them alone after that. Some of the
anti-drug posters in school were hilarious... "No! I am going to a rap concert
with my friends! My parents won't let me use drugs!" Pshaw.

response 45 of 69:

Aug 15 22:39 UTC 1995

  Where as most bands make a point of banning video cameras at concerts,
the Grateful Dead not only didnt ban them, they set a special roped off
area near the stage at all their shows where fans could make good
quality tapes of their shows.  A truly cool non-commercial attitude.
The Dead were one of a kind!

response 47 of 69:

Aug 16 01:56 UTC 1995

#37: I'm a great oldies fan. I have practically all of The Beatles music,
     . I have Zepplin's 10 CD set. I have The Who, Hendrix, Eagles, 
     CCR, etc. I have listened to some of the Dead's music and, musically,
     it does not compare to any of those I have just listed. 

#40: Who gives a shit if Hendrix gags on his own vomit? His music was/is
     awesome and he was a great guitarist. 

#42: I think many musicians since The Beatles have been influenced, explicitly
     or not. The Beatles have at least 10 songs which will live as long as
     rock lives. The Dead have zero. I'm not sure how you can mention The
     Dead and The Beatles in the same sentence when talking about music. 

#44: I didn't make a judgement about The Dead's commercial success. I was
     responding to steve's conclusions. Take a downer, krj.