October 31, 2024

Who's Who in the Grateful Dead Movie (Guest Post)

By Dr. Beechwood (with contributions from Light into Ashes)
 

Following up on our previous attempts at identifying people in the Grateful Dead world (on the Aoxomoxoa and Rolling Thunder album covers), I have used the 50th Anniversary of the October 1974 Winterland run and the posting of the Grateful Dead Movie to YouTube to put together a key to the band, crew, fans, and others who show up in the movie but who are basically uncredited.

 
I have also put together a key to which songs came from which show. 

Many people shown here have not been identified. If you know anyone not named, or if we have made a mistake, please let us know in the comments!
 
PART 1: THE BAND
 
1. Jerry Garcia

2. Bob Weir

3. Phil Lesh

4. Bill Kreutzmann

5. Keith Godchaux

6. Donna Godchaux

7. Mickey Hart (Mickey only played on 10/20/74, which Bill was not happy about as we learned in his 2015 autobiography “Deal.”)

8. Ned Lagin (Ned played with Phil Lesh during the Seastones set for 23 shows from 6/23/74 to 10/20/74. Ned also played on other songs such as the Seastones-Dark Star-Morning Dew set on 10/18/74. He is only seen a few times in the movie, and never was announced as an official band member.)

9. John Perry Barlow, Bob’s lyricist. (This interview took place at Bob’s house in Marin County.)

(Robert Hunter does not appear in the movie – he may have been in England at the time.)

PART 2: THE CREW
 
10. Steve Parish, who was Jerry’s guitar tech.

11. Leonard “Boots” Jaffee, who was in charge of pyrotechnics. Here’s an interesting article about him and his relationship to the folk singer “Odetta”: https://www.greeleytribune.com/2011/05/11/a-mom-and-her-son-boots-jaffee-remembers-odetta/

12. Lawrence “Ramrod” Shurtliff. He was the drum tech and de facto leader of the crew.

13. Mark “Sparky” Raizene (with Bill Graham)

14. Joe Winslow (and Steve)

15. Bill “Kidd” Candelario (and Joe)

16. Rex Jackson. He would die in a car accident in 1976; the Rex Foundation would later be named for him. He only appears for fleeting moments in the movie.

17. Dan Healy. He would become the soundman for the Dead until he was let go in 1994.

18. A crew member (behind Bill Graham). We previously thought this might be John Meyer, who was in Switzerland that year, but now we’re not sure. (He’s also spotted at the roadie nitrous party with Parish and Sparky.)

19. Betty Cantor-Jackson (with baby Cole Jackson, Rex’s son). She was involved in sound and recordings, though not for these shows. “I have my hands full.”

20. Rock Scully, seen backstage. He was one of the managers; I’m not sure of his status in 1974.

21. Ron Rakow, president of Grateful Dead Records and executive producer of the movie.

22. George Mundy, Mission Control electronics designer.

23. Piano tuner, seen working on Ned Lagin’s keyboard.

24. John Hagen

25-28. Unidentified crew members – some may be BGP employees, or hired hands.




29. A shot of three roadies unloading the speakers – two of them also seen above, but the guy in pink may be Richie Pechner.

30. Steve Brown of Grateful Dead Records, seen backstage near the end – wearing the Mars Hotel shirt.

31. The music recording crew taping the shows – Bill Wolf and Gene Eichelberger are listed in the credits (though I don’t know if they’re in this shot). In the movie you can spot various guys in the film crew with headphones hidden by the side of the stage, but none get a closeup.

32. Two Dead associates talking with Garcia before the shows - Steve Brown on the left, Boots on the right.

The movie wasn’t intended to document everyone who worked at these shows, so many associates of the Dead (such as Danny Rifkin or Owsley) never appear.


PART 3: BILL GRAHAM PRESENTS
 
34. Bill Graham, the promoter.

35. Jerry Pompili, house manager at Winterland, reasoning with a Hells Angel. (Here's a recent Apple podcast with him.)

36. Unknown BGP employee, manning the side door.

37. Unknown BGP employee, keeping the guest list.

38. Unknown BGP employee after the show

39. Winterland concession stand seller who likes Sha Na Na.

40. Willie, who did security at the Fillmore and Winterland.

41-43. More security guards



PART 4: THE DEADHEADS
 
This is a selective list, including mainly those with notable parts or some interaction with the band.

44. John Williams, a calm fan engaged in a discussion of the movie with…

45. Sam Hughes, who is irate about the intrusion of the cameras during this run.

46. Greg, singing on the rail during U.S. Blues.

47. “Iggy,” a fan who recites poetry about the Grateful Dead.

48. Mike Cohen, interviewed about the old days.

49. Fan reminiscing about the old days at the Fillmore.

49b. Michael Starr, trying to get his space together outside.

50. Jeff Levy, who was doing some electrical work at Bob Weir’s house and who eventually made it backstage.

51. A gal supposedly from New York with no ticket, who was not let in.

52. Tamea (Bonnie's daughter), who hands flowers to Garcia from the crowd.

53. Marty, who hands a “California Dead” license plate to Bill. (See his story here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Jz9TcrvOkbA )

54. Keith and a fan, after the last show.

And some dancers...

55. Dancer in the crowd during the spacey Other One jam from 10/17/74 (listed as “He’s Gone” in the movie credits but it is from the jam after He’s Gone, which is part of the 30-minute Other One). I met this woman near the front of the line at the Greek Theater in July of 1984. Someone asked her if she was in the Grateful Dead Movie and she said she was.

56. Onstage dancer behind Garcia during US Blues and One More Saturday Night.

57. Onstage dancer by Keith’s piano during Eyes of the World.

58. Mary Ann Mayer, dancing onstage by Bill’s drums during Sugar Magnolia.

59. And some li'l tots.

PART 5: OTHER
 
60. This guy was leading the camera crew upstairs from a party. I don’t know if he worked for BGP, the Dead crew, or the movie crew.

61. This lady is briefly seen on the stairs – she was likely associated with the Dead, since she’s wearing the Mars Hotel shirt.

62. Lady next to Steve Parish sharing nitrous with the roadies.

63. Two unknown guys backstage, talking with Scully and Garcia.

64. Lady getting food backstage – we only see her back. She ignores Garcia.

65. Another lady hanging out backstage.

66. There are some other people around the couch backstage but they’re barely seen. This first guy may be Igor, from the Olompali "Chosen Family."


67. This woman with a camera was next to Jerry Garcia during his interview for the movie. She doesn’t show up in the regular movie, but she was shown during the “Dead at the Movies” event in the bonus interview footage. She is sitting close to Jerry on the couch and taking photos of him. (Lemieux: “No idea who she was.”)          


68. "Angelo," a Hells Angel who is advised to take off his “colors” during the show.

69. Otis, Bob’s dog. He got a shout out at the 1980 Radio City run during Ripple. (Another dog briefly appears in Winterland when the crew’s setting up the Wall of Sound, but it isn’t Otis.)


Tickets for 10/20/74 had “THE LAST ONE” stamped on them (and the band was printed as “Greateful Dead”). One audience member recalls, “They handed them out as we left Winterland after the show.”

But the DVD menu for the movie includes a photo of a ticket for 10/19 also stamped “THE LAST ONE”…
 
* * *
 
GRATEFUL DEAD MOVIE SONGS
 
In an earlier project, I was having trouble figuring out which songs in the movie came from which show. And there were confusing things in the credits—for example, He’s Gone was listed, but I never recalled seeing that in the movie (turns out it was actually the jam at the beginning of The Other One, which came out of a jam after He’s Gone).
 
I could not find any online resource for determining which songs are from which night, so I used the DVD and the setlists to figure it out. In some cases, a song was only played on one night, such as Morning Dew on 10/18. But other songs were played on multiple nights. Hence, some detective work was required!
 
The biggest clues come from Bob Weir's clothing, which varied from night to night. Also some songs are distinctive: Johnny B. Goode was played on 10/16 and 10/20, but the 10/20 performance has Mickey Hart, who is shown in the movie on that song. Thus, we know that the song is from 10/20 and we also know what Bob Weir is wearing that night.
 
I made a key to the songs that identify which show each song is from. Note that the extra songs on the DVD disc 2 are labeled in the credits.
 
Key, based on clothing: 
 
Jerry Garcia wears a black T-shirt and jeans for all five shows.

Bob Weir has a tucked in white shirt on 10/16/74; blue shirt on 10/17/74; white shirt with loose sleeves on 10/18/74; white shirt with a loose collar on 10/19/74; and a long-sleeve white shirt on 10/20/74.

Phil Lesh has a pale blue T-shirt on 10/16/74; a white T-shirt on 10/17/74; a pale blue T-shirt on 10/18/74; an orange or rust-colored T-shirt on 10/19/74; and a white T-shirt with a design on it on 10/20/74.

Bill Kreutzmann has a dark shirt on 10/16/74; a blue shirt with short sleeves on 10/17/74; a long-sleeve blue shirt on 10/18/74; a gray shirt on 10/19/74; and a blue T-shirt on 10/20/74.

Donna Godchaux has a red shirt on 10/16/74; she's not shown on 10/17/74; a Skull and Roses tank top on 10/18/74 and 10/19/74, and a white tank top on 10/20/74.

Keith Godchaux has a gray shirt on 10/16/74 and 10/17/74; a gray shirt with blue shoulders on 10/18/74 and 10/19/74; and a dark blue long-sleeve shirt on 10/20/74.

Mickey Hart only plays on 10/20/74.

Ned Lagin is shown during Morning Dew and Dark Star on 10/18/74 and during Johnny B. Goode on 10/20/74.


Songs From Each Show:
 
10/16/74: Playing in the Band. Identified based on the clothing choices of Donna, Bobby, and Keith that they only wore this day.

10/17/74: Casey Jones, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, He's Gone jam, The Other One, Stella Blue, Sugar Magnolia. Identified based on the bonus disc and Bobby's blue shirt.

10/18/74: Dark Star, Morning Dew, and Sugaree were only played on that day. Also, Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad, Weather Report Suite, and U.S. Blues (close-ups only). At this show, Billy has a long blue sleeve shirt and Bobby has a white shirt with loose sleeves. 

10/19/74: U.S. Blues (band shots), Uncle John's Band, Scarlet Begonias, Eyes of the World, One More Saturday Night, Sunshine Daydream, Truckin’. Bobby's shirt has a floppy collar, Billy has a gray shirt, and Phil has a rusty orange shirt.

10/20/74: Johnny B. Goode. Only show with Hart. Billy has a blue T-shirt, Donna has a white tank top.


Interesting facts: 
 
U.S. Blues uses footage from both 10/18/74 (the close-ups) and 10/19/74 (the band shots). Look for Phil's shirt changing color from white to rust colored. Supposedly the audio is from 10/18/74, based on the DVD commentary.

Sugar Magnolia is from 10/17/74, but the Sunshine Daydream that typically accompanies it is from 10/19/74. Look for Bobby's shirt changing from blue to white.

The Sage and Spirit (at 24:50) is likely from 10/16/74 soundcheck based on Bobby's shirt.

Phil's demonstration of the bass and the feedback from the camera is also likely from 10/16 (or possibly during a soundcheck the day before?), based on the fact that they are tuning the piano and setting up the Wall of Sound for the first time.

Greg, the shirtless pony-tailed guy with denim overalls, is on the rail during 10/19/74. (He can also be spotted in a scene on the sidewalk outside.)

There is a woman dancing in front of Keith's piano for several songs during 10/19/74. The side of the stage could be crowded with fans and guests...

Song list:

The Grateful Dead Movie contains full or partial performances of the following songs:
 
  • "U.S. Blues" October 18 & 19, 1974 (7:20) (1)
  • "One More Saturday Night" October 19, 1974 (11:15)
  • "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad" October 18, 1974 (17:20)
  • "Truckin'" October 19, 1974 (29:35)
  • "Eyes of the World" October 19, 1974 (38:25)
  • "Sugar Magnolia" October 17 & 19, 1974 (51:40) (2)
  • "Playing in the Band" October 16, 1974 (1:06:50)
  • "Stella Blue" October 17, 1974 (1:27:45)
  • "Casey Jones" October 17, 1974 (1:35:36)
  • "Other One Space” (miscredited as “He’s Gone”) October 17, 1974 (1:42:02)
  • "Morning Dew" October 18, 1974 (with Ned Lagin) (1:50:02)
  • "Johnny B. Goode" October 20, 1974 (with Mickey Hart & Ned Lagin) (2:06:10)
 
The DVD bonus disc includes the following full performances:
 
  • "Uncle John's Band" October 19, 1974
  • "Sugaree" October 18, 1974
  • "The Other One"> October 17, 1974
  • "Spanish Jam"> October 17, 1974
  • "Mind Left Body Jam"> October 17, 1974
  • "The Other One" October 17, 1974
  • "Scarlet Begonias" October 19, 1974
  • "China Cat Sunflower"> October 17, 1974
  • "I Know You Rider" October 17, 1974
  • "Dark Star" October 18, 1974
  • "Weather Report Suite" October 18, 1974
Song notes:
(1)  Close-ups and audio from October 18; wide shots from October 19.
(2)   Most of the song is from October 17 but the "Sunshine Daydream" coda is from October 19.
 
David Lemieux: “They didn’t shoot all five nights complete. They shot a couple of songs the first night – the Playing in the Band is a notable one, it’s in the movie. And then the second, third, and fourth shows, they filmed quite a bit, probably about 50 or 60% of each of those shows, and then the final night, they shot about half as well, maybe a little less than half. The focus was getting at least – if they were doing, let’s say China>Rider, they played it twice during this run – they got a really great one in the can, filmed on October 17th the second show; when they went into it on the fifth night on October 20th, they didn’t film it, they just shut the cameras off, because they already had a really great version of China>Rider in the can.” (from “Office Chat: The Grateful Dead Movie Turns 50”)

Lemieux has said, "There is enough footage that at least two hours of songs could be edited into another DVD... There was a huge amount of backstage footage in dressing rooms, etc, that would make another great 30-40 minute documentary...plus longer chunks of the Garcia and Weir interviews."
 
* * *
 
SETLISTS

Shown in movie
Shown in bonus clips
 
10/16/74

Set 1:
Bertha, Jack Straw, Deal, Mexicali Blues, It Must Have Been The Roses, Beat It On Down The Line, Scarlet Begonias, Me And Bobby McGee, Tennessee Jed, Cumberland Blues, Row Jimmy, Playing In The Band

Set 2:
Seastones > Jam > Wharf Rat > Space > Eyes Of The World, Big River, Ship Of Fools, Truckin' > Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad > Uncle John's Band, Johnny B. Goode

Encore:
U.S. Blues
 
10/17/74

Set 1:
Promised Land, Mississippi Half Step, Black Throated Wind, Friend Of The Devil, Jack Straw, Loser, El Paso, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me And My Uncle, It Must Have Been The Roses, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1  > Let It Grow

Seastones

Set 2:
Scarlet Begonias, Big River, Ramble On Rose, Mexicali Blues, He's Gone > Jam > The Other One > Spanish Jam > Mind Left Body Jam > The Other One > Stella Blue, Sugar Magnolia

Encore:
Casey Jones, U.S. Blues
 
10/18/74

Set 1:
Around And Around, Sugaree, Mexicali Blues, Peggy-O, Beat It On Down The Line, Brown Eyed Women, Cumberland Blues, El Paso, Tennessee Jed, Jack Straw, Row Jimmy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow

Set 2:
Seastones > Jam > Dark Star > Morning Dew

Set 3:
Promised Land > Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Ship Of Fools, Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad > One More Saturday Night

Encore:
U.S. Blues
 
10/19/74

Set 1:
Mississippi Half Step, Me And My Uncle, Friend Of The Devil, Beat It On Down The Line, It Must Have Been The Roses, El Paso, Loose Lucy, Black Throated Wind, Scarlet Begonias, To Lay Me Down, Mama Tried *, Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Big River

Seastones

Set 2:
Uncle John's Band, Big Railroad Blues, The Race Is On, Tomorrow Is Forever *, Mexicali Blues, Dire Wolf, Sugar Magnolia > He's Gone > Truckin' Jam > Caution Jam > Drums > Truckin' > Black Peter, Sunshine Daydream

Encore:
One More Saturday Night, U.S. Blues
 
10/20/74

Set 1:
Cold Rain And Snow *, Mama Tried, Deal, Beat It On Down The Line, Loser, Jack Straw, Tennessee Jed, El Paso, Brokedown Palace, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Around And Around

Seastones

Set 2:
Playing In The Band > Drums > Not Fade Away > Drums > The Other One > Wharf Rat > Playing In The Band

Set 3:
Good Lovin' *, It Must Have Been The Roses, Promised Land, Eyes Of The World > Stella Blue, Sugar Magnolia

Encore:
Johnny B. Goode, Mississippi Half Step > And We Bid You Good Night
 
* only 1974 performance
 
* * *
 
OTHER LINKS:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uu_XC4j03Y (Steve Parish reminisces about the movie)
http://www.musicbox-online.com/sc-int.html (Susan Crutcher interview about editing the movie)
https://web.archive.org/web/20050121101038/http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-rgbtcspd/reviews/20041207/grateful_dead_movie.html (Lyndsay Planer, “The Saga of the Grateful Dead Movie,” interviews with Crutcher & Lemieux)

For more crew information: 

For alternate screenshots: 

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