Once we made it to the show there was an immediate sense of dread in the air. The vibe was not the one I had grown used to at past Grateful Dead shows. The gates were overcrowded with people trying to make their way into the show. It was already near 7:30 so the show was about to start yet hundreds of us were still trying to gain entrance.
The Security Guys were doing the kind of checks that now seem common at airports since 911, but in 1995 at a concert it was crazy. People were pushing and restless.
We made our way in and found our seats about twenty rows back from the stage. The show began with a rousing rendition of Here Comes Sunshine. And most of the first set was decently performed if somewhat underwhelming. It wasn't until toward the end of the first set as Bob Weir went into Dylan's Desolation Row that the bubble burst.
Suddenly 2000 gate crashes started tearing apart the fence that surrounds the back end of the theater and the shouting and yelling was overwhelming. Suddenly you couldn't hear the music, but no one was watching the stage anyway. All eyes were fixed on the commotion starting behind us. And within minutes the already sold out concert just welcomed 2000 more. The people in the lawn could barely move let alone breathe.
The first set ended and the Dead, known for their long set breaks, didnt come back onstage for almost 75 minutes. No doubt they were trying to decide whether or not to continue on.
During the set break, my friend and I made way to the first row for a closer look at the stage. We were greeted by the odd stares of the first row audience. Odd enough to make us turn around and go back to our seats. (We later found out there had been a very real death threat made against Jerry that night and the front row was full of FBI agents in tie-dyes.)
But the sun set, and the band took the stage. Odd thing is that the house lights remained on. It was very strange. (later we realized it was due to the death threat.) The show continued with the most aimless and heartbreaking versions of Scarlet-->Fire, I have ever heard. Scarlett Begonias was done well, but suddenly as the jam turned into Fire on the Mountain, Jerry seemed totally lost. He played very off key and only managed to remember the lyrics to the third verse. The music fell apart as the rest of the band ceased playing, but Jerry, head slumped in his chest, kept playing off key. Phil Lesh tossed his hands in the air, not knowing what to do.
Thankfully Bob steered the music back on track and the band segued into Victim or the Crime with those haunting opening lyrics, "Patience runs out on the junkie". Bob looked at Jerry as he sang those words. It was chilling. Jerry was just out of it. At this point we were nearing the final week of performances for the summer tour, which turned out to be the last ever since Jerry died 5 weeks later.
The show ended, but no one felt like they'd just had a great Grateful Dead concert experience. Instead there was anger, resentment, chaos and disorder all around.
And when we tried to leave, security wouldn't let anyone go. Suddenly five Tour Buses came speeding down the road and left the grounds. It was the Grateful Dead and crew being allowed to leave first since the threats and chaos made them a target.
The three of us who attended the show drove back to camp silently.
***Funny ending is that the Dead's tour bus actually got stuck in a ditch a mile down the road and a farmer had to come out and help them out of their situation. The next night's show was cancelled as the police refused to work the show. This was the first and ultimately only time the Dead cancelled a concert because of the fans.
This show and a few others that summer resulted in the Dead naming it the Tour From Hell. And the Gate Crashers Suck sticker was born.
By the time we attended the Soldiers Field shows a week later, the band had drafted a strongly worded letter to the fans, that either we smarten up or they were going to quit touring.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cshubs/6668325753/ (The Letter)
It didn't matter. Jerry Died a month later.
