Comments on: Grateful Dead Prove There’s Really No Such Thing as a Kinder Capitalist

By: Geoffrey

Geoffrey — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:06:01 +0000

The Dead were amazing out in the Gorge 09′!

By: Taylor Quinn

Taylor Quinn — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:17:42 +0000

I think the point of the original article is lost on “hanakapiaihopi”. Of course the Grateful Dead didn’t start out as a greed driven machine. However, in the wake of recent developments they certainly seem to be driven by the almighty dollar nowadays. I think “The Dead” or whatever they wish to call themselves without Jerry, should have knocked it off when Garcia died. Now they’re just milking the cash cow that is the Grateful Dead. What I think should be mentioned too, is that the band owes a lot of its success to the drug culture that surrounds them. It gives people an excuse to gather and pretend they’re hippies by not showering for a couple days and dropping acid together. The amount of money dealers have made on Grateful Dead fans at their concerts over the years would greatly out do what the band took home, I’m sure. For many fans, it’s much more about the drugged out hippie experience than the music being played on stage. I wonder if the band ever got a cut of those sales? Just my two cents.

By: hanakapiaihopi

hanakapiaihopi — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:50:16 +0000

Whomever wrote this piece…has some interesting points overall, but really, does not know quite what they are talking about.
The band toured because they loved the people and they loved to play music…and they had a gift which they shared with the world. Of course they liked being paid ..working is how folks pay their bills.
Any person who thinks blindly that the dead were motivated by greed, is sadly mistaken.
They were likely one of the most down to earth & thrifty also, of the touring rock acts of the 20th century.
Jerry they say, had only ten million when he passed from this world.
This is peanuts, compared with groups, such as kiss; ( like this writer mentioned.) Gene Simmons, might make that in one tour for goodness sake. The dead were also very, philanthropic often putting up money for those left behind in jail after tours for various legal fees. This is the reality… and furthermore..any person who thinks that there is anything like a grateful dead concert..and I am speaking of this phish nonsense, surely has a lot to learn. These people seemed also to not get it…there is nothing like a grateful dead show. NOTHING…and being copycats is not the same. To those who don’t recall..there is nothing like a grateful dead show…except maybe..a live tape..played at quiet volume somewhere peaceful…thats as close to it as folks can get. Take me back to the spinning lodge..on a Thursday afternoon, out on our ridge in the mountains…..let’s have a vote from the whole crew…what tape shall we spin to today? First shall we narrow it down to a decade.?..then a certain era in that decade? how many of us would like the 1978 Egypt shows…what night..? let’s see…are we all in agreement.. happy new year everyone