A proud Deadhead since 12 years old when my older cousin Bob turned me on and took me to a series of shows during the late 80’s including a weekend in Saratoga Springs that still plays in my head from time to time like an independent film, I was never one to give Grateful Dead rhythm guitar player much thought.


With all the hoopla over the Chicago 50 year anniversary shows, the media frenzy to provide a glimpse or snapshot of the unique and strange music community the Grateful Dead created has turned sour on me.


The other night I was mildly amused by Billy Kreutzmann’s tale of what happened when the Grateful Dead appeared on Hugh Hefner’s Playboy After Dark show.  Drummer Billy is hocking his book about his many years in the Grateful Dead. He seems like a simple fun guy, who is doing what he should, but frankly most Deadheads have already heard all the stories.  The media ooze is really for the curious not the faithful.


When is the Phil book coming out?

I view Bob Weir’s documentary “The Other One”, which was released on Netflix this week, as part of this whole 50th anny cash-in.  BUT, it was better than watching Sportscaster or Food Network’s Chopped, but not something I will revisit, as I do with many other rock documentary films.


Deliberately avoiding any articles about the film, which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival last year, I sat with a blank pad intent on writing an article on the film.


I found the film a bit thin with content and perspective, but short enough (85 minutes) to finish it with a smile.  Interestingly enough, after I had my notes completed, I Googled the movie to see what others thought about the film.  I was surprised to see it was so well received, but laughing inside that Rolling Stone had the same quotes as me highlighted as the meat of their story…


They are great nuggets and meaningful to Deadheads (old-school and fair-weather the same).


1. “What we had was thicker than blood.” That  was cool to hear Weir say with conviction about his relationship with Garcia.


I can resonate well with Weir’s idea that he and Garcia were such good friends that they didn’t need to talk about what the other was feeling or thinking, they just knew, which left talking as a vehicle to amuse each other with.


Kudos Bobby.  You are a better man for it.

2. Sammy Hagar said Bobby was “the best #2 guitar man in the world.” Most guys egos would not stand for second fiddle, but Weir embraced the role behind Jerry Garcia almost as good as Scottie Pippen did with Michael Jordan.

The movie needed more quotes from others close to Weir and the SF scene, like how about Phil Lesh?


Hearing Mountain Girl say that “Everyone loved Bob” was not enough fur me.


The movie could have added another 20 minutes of footage of Weir in action behind the scenes as the “heartthrob” and friendly face they depicted him as.  I’m sure there are lots of home movies that no one has seen from parties they had. Even the Ratdog backstage stuff was nonexistent.  


The video of Jerry and Bob scuba diving in Hawaii was lackluster.


I guess the folks at Grateful Dead Inc. are saving those for a rainy day…maybe the 60th anniversary.


I do though have a better appreciation for Weir, whose reputation the last few years has been less than stellar.  

I REALLY like the fact that he truly lived a “in the moment life”. He talks about this specifically when he discuss the impact visiting Egypt with the band in 1978.  


Weir said “time went away; there was no past or future, just the today.”  


Although my perception of the guy was different, I did walk away from the film believing that he really was not looking for a pat on the back or fame. His love of yoga and that “what me worry” style lends itself well to being an egoless man. I would think having Jerry Garcia as a “big brother” can make that way of being self-satisfying. 

Weir had the best front view seat of Jerry Garcia’s burden of fame. Weir’s comment struck a chord with me about the year’s with clean Garcia (after his coma before he started using again) as being the most fun they had since they started the band.


Weir said Garcia talked about heroin as a simple way to wrap all his worries and pressures into one neat and tidy package… getting his next fix. Scary.


A few other items I found of interest and you might too:


1) Much has been written about their participation in the Acid Test, but I liked the way Weir summarized the way they got involved.  After going to one of these events and realizing the party needed music, the Grateful Dead set up their gear at the next Acid Test event and became the self-appointed house band.  He says some nights the Grateful Dead were awful and couldn’t play at all, while other nights “we played like demons” (I love that phrase!).

2) Neil Cassady’s impact on the young Bob Weir was significant. He says Cassady always knew how to be in the right place at the right time… especially when driving.


Not many people still somewhat sane and alive today can say they knew the original crazy man so well.


3) I liked seeing how complete his family life is now (although the finding the biologic parents was too much of the film considering how much else was missing.) The storyline about meeting his wife on tour was a good one.


Watch for yourself…its only 85 minutes.


Peace.


F.Y.W.