European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 20, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Stories and photos by John Milla staff writer Garcia with new keyboard player Vince Welnick. Below Baba player Phil Leah left and rhythm guitarist Bob Weir. The dead experience mind altering hallucinogenic drugs were not needed to enjoy the grateful dead s first concert in Germany in 10 years. That s not to say that some of the thousands of grateful dead fans who converged at the Grug Halle in Essen. Germany wednesday were not partaking in controlled substances. Deadheads openly smoked hashish and marijuana some concert goers were seen laughing uncontrollably after the show and it had nothing to do the dead s performance. The six member band wasted no time whipping the capacity crowd into a gyrating frenzy with recent hits and old anthems. The dead seemed comfortable and confident from the moment the musicians walked on stage a a contrast from the recent show in Stockholm Sweden during which it was rumoured several band members walked off stage. Fans who were at the Stockholm show said the crowd was Small and Quot unenlightened Quot to the dead. That was t a problem in Essen Lead guitar player Jerry Garcia along with rhythm guitarist Bob Weir and Bass player Phil Lesh provided plenty of the dead s Brand of ramp a country Rock to keep most of the fans on their feet. Vince Welnick the dead s new keyboard player seemed More than comfortable playing old standards. His synthesized keyboard work complemented guest pianist Bruce Hornsby a acoustic piano. And drummers Bill and Mickey Hart provided the drive envied by All dual drum bands. As usual the dead s sound system in Essen was nothing less than awesome. The band members Are used to playing a variety of venues a from indoor concert Halls to outdoor Arenas a but they be never lacked the equipment to get their music to fans in the farthest reaches. In the hour Long opening get Weir vocally lashed at the audience a in the Friendly sort of grateful dead Way a with hell in a bucket from the 1987 release in the dark. Then All the band members including Hornsby took a turn vowing they a ainu to Gonna work on Maggie a farm no in the second set the band returned with anthems such As i need a Miracle and trucking. While playing the fans favourites there was plenty of room for audience participation Garcia and Weir Only had to Back away from their microphones and the crowd would fill in on vocals. At one Point Hart and Kreutzmann started what one thought would be a drum Solo. It soon transformed into a psychedelic percussion pounding session Complete with Echo and other effects. They wandered through a Maze of Drums cymbals Chimes and other percussion instruments for about 10 minutes until they were replaced by other band members who picked up the Impromptu Jam session. Some might have called it noise but to deadheads it was noise Only the dead could make and it held them spellbound swaying slowly. The band was soon Back to playing the Bluesy Rock that again started the majority of the audience gyrating madly. Throughout the show the dead played True to form a no gimmicks no pyrotechnics just dead tunes played pure and simple. In keeping with the band s policy none of the songs were played As they were recorded in the studio rather the tunes were expanded sped up or slowed Down. After playing for almost three hours the dead ended the show with Bob Dylan s Knockin on heaven s door. Homs by picked up an accordian for the song which was Sung by the entire band and audience. Those who Arentt familiar with the grateful dead shy away from the bands shows. Barefooted deadheads dressed in shorts and tie dyed to shirts provide plenty of entertainment Between the bands sets. They seem to be casual and comfortable wherever they Are and Are generally peaceful. The fans combined with the band the Core of which has been together for 25 years mix to create an Quot experience Quot found at no other concert than one played by the grateful dead. The grated dead performs in the following locations. Germany Berrr Ico restate oct 22 Hamburg Ajster Ariar sport Hale oct 24 France pans Zanith oct 27 4 28 . London Wemley Arena pm. 3041 amp new. 1. For tickets id the London shows Cal the to office at 061 -900-1234�?T for German dates Cal 069-296644. A Page 14 a the stars and stripes grateful dead Fane Many from America sell their wares outside the concert Hall in Essen. Deadheads unite in Germany the atmosphere outside the Grug Halle in Essen Germany wednesday night resembled a mix Between a three ring circus and a medieval Market place. A crowd of thousands wandered through the walkways around the concert Hall there were jugglers and guitar Strummer and one Man beat out a rhythm on a set of bongos people dressed in mad color schemes peddled everything from posters and tie dyed to shirts to hand made rugs bandannas and jewelry. Subtle fragrances wafted through the air a a blend of Beer incense wine hashish and spices simmering in Oil. Some people Sang some laughed Many embraced friends of Days gone by Happy to be reunited in yet another strange place. And the show had t even started. The gathering was a Celebration of the 25th year of the grateful dead and the band s first performance in Europe in 10 years. The fans outside the Hall were the dead s faithful followers a collection of part time gypsies known As deadheads. Deadheads have followed the band since it began touring in the late 60s, singing the praises of peace love pot and music. With their Long hair tie dyed clothing beads and bracelets Many deadheads follow the legendary Rock band from concert to concert. A vast majority of those in Essen came from the United states. San Francisco resident Lee Rose said coming to Germany to see the dead was a Good excuse to travel in Europe. He said he goes to the dead s concerts in America whenever he can. Quot in a year i catch Between 20 and 40 Rose 29, said his Job in video production lets him set his own schedule so getting time off is no problem. A the reason i came Here is because they re the Best Rock in Roll band in the world As far As i m concerned. I love their music i see friends people i like to hang out with. Its the nicest group of people in be Ever partied unlike fans of other bands Rose said deadheads Are a peaceful fun Loving lot. Quot you go to most concerts and there s violence and drunk people. You come to these concerts and everyone s Mellow. The drugs they do Are ones that make them Happy instead of irritated you Don t find a Bunch of people doing cocaine you find a Bunch of people doing psychedelics. Everybody s got a smile on their face everybody s having a Good deadheads Are also a driving Force behind the band Rose said. Quot it s Nice for the band to have americans come along with them for the Energy to help keep the audience while the band and fans May have some Type of shared Energy grateful dead officials dealt a heavy blow to some of the group s followers earlier this year by Banning them from Selling their wares and camping out in concert Hall parking lots. Group spokesmen said promoters concert venue owners and City officials feared possible problems with the hippie cult following. Grateful dead Lead guitarist Jerry Garcia said fans understand that the ban is a must if the group is expected to be booked in concert Halls. Quot they understand that its a new imperative Quot he said. Quot its just the Way the world is going i think they d rather see us keep on existing than run us out of band members realize that some fans have followed them from their beginnings in san Francisco s Haight Ashbury psychedelic hippie culture. And the number of deadheads grow with each generation. Quot i think we Appeal to kids who Are getting out of High school and into College. Kids who have just outgrown thrash Metal just outgrown pop the stuff they get Force fed these Days Quot said rhythm guitarist Bob Weir. Drummer Mickey Hart said the band s music Quot is also something you can share with your parents or your older brother and sister it s something that s passed Jason Mann a 22-year-Otd literature student from los Angeles said he worked for a while and then sold his car to follow the dead to Europe. He plans on Selling tie dyed to shirts and Crystal pendants to get by while he s Here. Quot it always works Mann who changed into shorts once inside the concert Hall said it does t take anything special to fit in with the wandering fans. Quot anybody a kind of a Deadhead if they get into it. There s a certain spirit with the grateful dead that s hard to find in any other culture. Its very satisfying. It s sort of like an but being a Deadhead can have its drawbacks Mann said. Quot you get tired after a while you get burned out. Sometimes you get As for Rose he said hell go to Quot every show All the Way to London. Then in be got to get Back to
