Bottom: There’s no
place like Red Rocks,
one of the nicest
outdoor venues in
the country. After
hearing about the
Dead’s shows there the
previous year, I made
up my mind to go for
this three-night run
during the summer of
‘ 79. Unfortunately it
rained like crazy after
this show, forcing the
remaining two concerts
to be moved indoors
to Denver’s McNichols
Arena. In this era of the
Dead, the drummers
Bill Kreutzmann and
Mickey Hart had a
massive percussion
and drum ensemble
known as “The Beast.”
Top: Just after the balloon drop
at Winterland, the Grateful
Dead breaks into “Sugar
Magnolia;” a nod to promoter
and impresario Bill Graham, it
was his favorite Grateful Dead
song. Middle: The show in
Binghamton was possibly my
favorite Grateful Dead show
that I attended. The band was
on fire that night.
