Deadheads are TOXIC 

I worked with the Dead in the 90s on tour as an all-around tech. I spent a lot of time on stage setting up/breaking down the guys gear. Mr. Garcia's main focus at that point was keeping the entire team employed even though he was not feeling very well and was not enjoying the burden of protecting his privacy at all times. It was a rather lonely existence with extreme segregation from other people at times. He didn't need the money or enjoy touring but felt he was responsible for all the families that relied on the Dead for their jobs. He was very concerned with the well being of the fans as there were a lot of casualties, dysfunctionality, legal liability and security concerns. He never pigeon holed the deadheads as any one kind of person and was proud that the music created affinity with a vast cross section of people from all walks of life all around the world. He was a basic good guy, very bright, who liked drinking coffee and practicing guitar, who was at that stage doing his job as part of a vast profitable company that he never planned to create. He made sure that the crew was taken care of with simple things like good pay, good healthy food and we felt appreciated. In hindsight I am sure many of us wish he had gotten off the road and taken care of himself. But it was juggernaut that developed massive momentum and the money was huge. I vividly remember Bill Graham backstage with a huge smile on his face sneaking out of the venue after the shows with few grocery bags stuffed full to the brim with merch cash. Money like that night after night is hard to pass up. Modern day pirates for sure. Thanks for the awesome music Davvy.

So, i have a dead story. It was the early 90s and i was a sophomore in high school. The Grateful Dead were coming to town and i really wanted to go, it was gonna be my first concert and i really liked the music. My mom bought me tickets and a new dead t-shirt to wear to the show as a present. I was really excited and my mom drove me out to see them. Out in the parking lot, tons of people walking around, vans selling food and shirts and jewelry, it was really amazing. I was looking around, and this group of people came up and just started making fun of me and my new grateful Dead shirt, just calling me names and saying i know nothing about the dead. As a 16 year old, it was really discouraging and ruined my experience. Then, an old couple came up and started giving them trouble and calling them assholes and to leave me alone. When the group left, the old guy offered to trade shirts with me, probably seeing that i was upset about it, and I did. My mom was pissed when she picked me up, but it was a good memory that i am thankful for and i still have the shirt today. Yeah, some deadheads are toxic and assholes, but others are pretty good. My mom would say that no matter where you go in life, there will always be assholes.

I'm currently homeless. Started busking after the pandemic hit. I play mostly Grateful Dead. There've been many times that I pulled myself out of a funk by reminding myself that Jerry probably had plenty of moments in the eighties & nineties when he would've loved nothing better than to go back to living in his car & surviving on peaches with Robert Hunter, playing coffee houses & stuff. I'm a lifer. Signed on for the full tour, baby💀

Great video and discussion about dead culture. I appreciate the perspective on different generations getting into the music, and how future generations will have their own story with the music, but ultimately keep the flame alive. Its built to last! Make more content like this!

Stumbled across this in my home feed. So glad it was. I subscribed to your channel and gave this a thumbs up. I am 50 years old and got turned on to the Grateful Dead in 1985. I got into trading tapes and have a great collection. So refreshing to hear the message we can agree to disagree with out getting all mad about it. Today communication at times seems to be a lost art and people forget being cool to others is cool. Look forward to enjoying this channel. Thanks again Davvy!

Awesome video man! I connected with the Dead more after my father passed and we played He's Gone at his service. People like you helping share content and positivity is what this is all about and learning through your videos connects me not only with the music I love but my own special memories with my own Dad.

I just found this channel, loved your crazy fingers tutorial and also loved your jokes and goofy antics. Really enjoyed your commentary on this video as well! Keep it up!

All I wanna say is that the first time I saw Bob Weir and Wolf Bros, we all hugged and all I could feel was love for every being in my life. THAT to me is thee root of it all.

Excellent take and the points you bring up all ring true. Video editing is on point too, as always.

“One way or another, this darkness has got to give” new speedway boogie is my melodic mantra to bring me back. The kicker - I hear it in my head as your voice.. as first time I heard it was on your stream with that great reverb vocal. ❤ cheers brother.

Great video. I agree 100%. I am 61 and started seeing the Dead in 74 and hope to keep seeing this music celebrated for generations in all its forms. Keep it up dude. I support you 100%, even if i keep bugging you about that Love in the Afternoon intro. 😂

I think the 'headier than thou' thing comes from a lack of otherwise having a strong personal identity. I think most people who are like this are probably a bit lost / don't have a whole lot going for them outside of the scene. The dead and its scene is a source of a lot of their strength and purpose or, at the very least, filled some kind of personal void (if it genuinely helps them thats great). When it becomes part of identity it becomes part of ego, and many many people become quite defensive / imposing when it comes to their ego. The gate keepers are the worst and in opposing spirit to what the music is all about. - a big fan

Really incredible video, Davvy. Thanks for your hard work!!

Dude, your hilarious. You got the gist of it for sure. Old head here, seen all of what your talking about. For me it has always been about family, the tribe, coming home & the music is home. Be kind, do no harm. Being at a show was always the one place where I felt accepted to be my authentic self. That is rare in mainstream human society. Being at a Dead show was the greatest experience this old boy has ever been blessed with. NFA ⚘💀☇

Davvvy laying it out! The music never had constraints and it will continue to evolve. If heads aren’t happy… go listen to your maxell 90’s. All the new ensembles and addition of “couch tours” via online stream & even the app relisten are all part of the growth. Everyone needs to, yes listen to your favorite years, but also be thankful for what ya still get! Keep truckin brothers & sisters!! (PSA. I have no connection to anything. Just point out the current options for access)

Great talk Davvy. Sending love bro

Really dig what you are doing. You are a great teacher- I've learned a lot from you. Rock on my brother. Thank you.

Dig your stuff and way, Davvy. I need to sign up for your Golden Road lesson. Keep it up, bro! Aloha🤙

loved the video! im 17 rn in high school and il admit Mayer brought me to this music. if dead and co mission was to spread the music as much as humanly possible it worked I think. cause now I listen a ton of old dead shows, phish, goose, billy strings, allman brothers, and all that and now it’s all I listen too and it’s a lot of what I play when I play guitar. i completely understand why someone would not does not like Mayer but he definitely brought people to the music. I mean now I go to so many shows each tour. I love your channel cause I love learning about the stuff I wasn’t alive for. and for that I thank you for.

This is incredible dude. All the love

Great stuff. I always try to learn one thing per day - you passed on three things I did not know. I am good for two days

Love this video! Love your honesty! Thanks man 😊! This is good stuff ❤️

I love the notion of "owing something to the song." I always felt that way about lots and lots of songs from Dylan, Garcia/Hunter, Nanci Griffith and for some reason the Moody Blues too. I'll use that line now. I owe a lot to those songs.

Great talk as this all needed said...Your killing it bro.

I'm really happy to have found you on here. The good parts are always harder to remember. But there have been a lot of good parts. I was never a dead head, my friends were. They dragged me to so many shows. You remind me of the people I loved. That's good enough.

Ripple brings much of the essence of the dead front and center, “if I knew the way, I would take you home”. Home in this sense is whatever universal energy deadheads and the band identify as “the magic” of the GD. The band can’t take us home, they’re just as confused and frustrated as we are, you will have to walk the road alone. They aren’t gods, they’re imperfect humans who are reaching for the same things the OG heads were/are reaching for.

Brother you just summed up every feel i've ever had about our family. ❤

Bay Area born, this was the music of our youth, for free in the park. You pretty much nailed it... I dig what you're doing.

Thanks for posting this. It exists in other band communities, too, such as Phish where folks fight about fandom like there are tiers. I appreciate your POV of just focus on the music and the love, we're all in this together and all are just trying to live while we can :) Why not choose kindness?

Davvy, found your channel within the past couple weeks and really enjoy it. I’m 66 and started playing the guitar two years ago. It’s a blast and I’m all over the board with it: blues, country, rock, funk, jazz, folk. The Dead check all the boxes and do it so well. Thanks for the great lessons among other things. You seem to be in a good place right now and that’s good. Subbed. P.s. Wondering if there is a Toby. Peace.

U don't even need a resume to convince people ur a "deadhead". If u know another song other than Casey Jones and u like it...congrats ur a deadhead.

Great video - thanks for making it

Thanks for this. I can't remember anything. Just love the music.

The longer I listened to this video the more I dig your talking. You’re real

Good talk Davy. Thank you

I like you stuff man. Thanks for the rant. I love what you said about how the dead songs are becoming the new ‘standards’ - I’ve felt that way for a while as well. I do what I can to play the music out here in China cat land (yes, I live in China). Rock on bro and keep making vids. I learn a lot from you.

I just came here to say thank you for this video (and all your other Play Deads). The message here is solid and applies to all walks of life. I thoroughly enjoyed the message and am glad you did it. I never liked the dead coming up and had so many people telling me how great they were, like trying to convert me to baptist or something. I think I heard some of those terrible shows and often thought these guys are playing two different songs at the same time. It wasn't until I started playing guitar with others that it began to click. Eventually I was in the right place to receive. That said, I still remember where I was when I heard Jerry died 20 years or so earlier. This past year I went to my first show, seeing Wolf Bros at The Kennedy Center. It was the most "joy" and "communal joy" I felt at a show, ever. Everyone I met was on the same wavelength. The orchestra took it to a whole other level, too. This stuff can evolve and will evolve. So thank you again -- and also for the Golden Road Course! I had been playing lead for many years now and your approach and charts helped me see something I never saw before, opening up another level of playing and I really appreciate that. So thanks for kicking off my weekend and hope yours is equally good!

well said my brother, so happy I found your channel

It's okay I'm glad you're coming to the point of understanding the flow of this culture

Davvy, you rock from the toes on up dude and you know it!! Don't take it the wrong way. Sadly, there are some strange people out there who like the taste of puke in their mouths. We are all weirdos. Me and many others appreciate you sharing your weirdness every week. (Expanding on the idea. Somewhere out there is someone who loves the smell of a skunk. Like if something is rotten they like it. Our tastes vary so much. Our kindness should not). I couldn't have said it better myself- Oh wait, I just did. Muchas Gracias Davvy. Your life is all your my dude!

Rad Davvy. Looking forward to seeing you on tour at an ancient amphitheater on an endless summer

Love it! ❤

That was nice and valid and necessary. Thank you very much.

Very insightful ❤

As a gen z head(zoomer) i entered the scene online seeing people talking shit about anyone, it didnt make sense. As ive grown into the scene the past two years I respect each player of all jam bands. Its good to see homies show to show, especially fellow students who love the music. Personally i mix the drugs but not much because i feel as if some “drugs” can really enhance your senses.

Im relatively new to the dead. I never had a chance to see Jerry play, just listened to the live albums. Now that im am adult and can afford tickets have seen dead and co a few times and it was an incredible experience. The music, the crowd everything was amazing. I never cared much for john mayers solo stuff myself but i love the energy he brings to the show. I don’t care how many comments I read of a bitter person saying if you didn’t see Jerry you aren’t a fan. I’m going to enjoy this version of the dead and will probably enjoy future iterations.

That’s what it’s all about man! Been playing with a gd/jgb cover band for about a year and I’d say I also have a complicated relationship with preforming the guitar solo as well/overall performance.

Bobby never left the band. He and Pigpen were fired, but they never left so it didn't stick. Also Tom Constanten was an original member, he came with Phil, but he quickly realized that it wasn't for him. Mickey left for three years, 71 to 74, because his father, Lenny, who was the band's money manager, imbezzled $155K and disappeared.

Preach Davvy!!!

Thanks davy for all you do also, the laughter's as my family is drinking gnarly Head winery ~ namaste ~

Yeah I've found alot of narcissism with Dead Fans. For me it's all about the music and it being a lifestyle of love,compassion and kindness. Preach brother 🌹⚡️

So I am totally new to the Grateful Dead scene and I really appreciate the lex I love the soulfulness I love everything about it and I listen to various jam bands on Pandora while I'm driving my 18 Wheeler so thank you thank you I've discovered something that has already been in front of my face for a long time.

Good job!

I really appreciate the lessons you give on the Dead. I have been a Deadhead since the mid 80"s. I have also been playing guitar and writing for 30 years. I always wanted to be in a band that plays all Dead, and recently I got the chance. I figured no problem, I'll start learning the songs and bam! Well start playing live. Stop! I never realized how complex and different their songs are, even though I've been a huge Head forever. I was learning by eat but what I was coming up with was missing a lot of the nuances in their songs. When I found you on utube, I instantly was able to pick up on your teaching. In most cases after 1 viewing. Just want to thank you. After the 1st week I went to rehearsal and the guys were blown away. My soloing was no issue but I showed up playing the songs the way they actually sound. Forever grateful brother.

Speaking of toxic fans....you got me through Corona....thank u for teaching us

Amen, brotha! Be kind

I'm 67, listening since I was 15. My favorite thing to see at a Dead show is kids and families.

Funny you show Vegas, that's where I found myself in the 90s. going through the motions.

I dig your charisma Davvy

I would totally hang out with you and jam. Really dig your vibe broski.

"I traded a Jerry Garcia Tshirt for a Bob Weir." -- that bro with the "stolen face"

I have always felt like I have not earned my keep being a dead fan. Although I personally have never felt directly intimidated by more experienced or knowledgeable fans... I definitely have an almost subconscious guilt about not having put in enough time and effort studying the music or experiencing the culture. Its a weird thing to explain. Basically, I think with other musical acts.... Lets say the Stones and the Beatles.... someone could easily consider themselves a major fan even if they only had a couple albums that they loved. But with the Dead, it almost feels like you need to know every single song name, all the best live bootlegs, need three concert tees and 50 stamps on your passport proving that you left the Universe and understand. lol I do, however, realize that this is largely just my own perspective.

Thanks for the great video lessons Davvy. Just finished David Gans' 'Playing In the Band' and a lot of what you said here about the music being the core of all of this effort and energy related to Grateful Deadness, with everything else being secondary at best, was voiced by the members of the band. They were just in it for the collective-spontaneous-adventurous musical creativity. That's it because that's all there is. Peace and would love to hear more about these Deadhead Cartels in a similar video from y'all (though I think I know what you mean there).

very well said Davvy.. I agree the bottom line is just to be kind to everyone even if they like dead and co lol. like u said it's all about the MUSIC. inclusion, not exclusion.

Very well said, I really enjoy the current DSO lineup with Jeff Mattson and I also really appreciate Dead & Co. (I’ve been to many shows and will be there this summer for the final tour). I’m excited to see what project Bobby will continue with next, his shows with the Wolf Bros this past fall were amazing. It’s like you said, it’s up to us to carry the music on, to steward it into the future for the next generation of fans. And your 100% right about that we shouldn’t hate on new fans for how they come to enjoy the music.

davvy knows goose :D Drop the LESSONS broski

Davvey.,,..🥳🐿️.…….. I'm glad you do spit out like that……. I was already on the same page but I love to hear your heart and voice ❤️🥰

Exactly my point! Be kind! Please don’t blow out another bands candle in an attempt to make yours brighter!

Great take. You hit home

As a good friend pointed out, It’s cultural suicide to push away young heads. I was on tour as a teenager in the early 90’s and still go to shows and dance my ass off. I’m so excited when I see young people digging the music. We gotta keep it alive in the youth or it will die with us old heads.

My first concert was 87 Capital Centre. End of summer tour. Incredible!! I'd catch them every year thru 95 where ever i may be.. Im with ya.

Much love davvy! You fucking rule 🙌♥️⚡💀🌹

Its all good man I love yr stuff don't let the bastards grind ya down...keep on truck n

The MUSIC!!! Loved every word. ⚡️♥️⚡️

I just picked up a bluegrass book on Amazon, just flipping through the pages I can’t believe how many tunes that are in there the dead covered and JGB , it’s unreal

I do agree just let people enjoy what they want as all are different. PERIOD! To each their own.

Best lesson ever!

Definitely heard of St Owsley!!!

Cool video. Reminds me of the phrase.....You can tell a Deadhead, but you can't tell them much! My "not Jerry" is John Zias, currently in the band Unlimited Devotion out of central Florida. A truly inspiring player!

It's not okay Davvy

Davvy, Right on Bro🎶🕊💚🥀😎

The shit was all over when Brent passed!!❤️🥂🚬

Davvy...dead and co’s number one fan!!!

Great video, Davvy. I have been a 'Head since the late 80's and I have seen everything that you talked about. I remember one incident on just-off-Shakedown-Street when a guy said that I didn't play the right chord on a borrowed guitar for UJB. It was the right chord, just not the right inversion... The BEST thing about this video is that you, of a younger generation than I, are saying - mostly about perhaps your generation - let it go! let it slide! If only those of the same generations can expand that into all other areas! It seems like the point of everyone nowadays is to divide. It should be to accept. You think differently than I? OK! Let's coexist!

Good stuff

I’ve grown up second generation dead head and having listened to this music for so much of my young life lol when I saw it was popular I immediately started to not like that. Learning not to hate keep is the most essential part of enjoying any artist or any music I feel and it goes for so many different genres and artists. The more people who enjoy the dead the longer the music sticks around. When it’s gone we’re all gonna be real sad.

I've shared a lot of these same thoughts, man. It ain't about us, it's about the music. Fuck the headier than thou bullshit. Keep on doing you, dude. I appreciate it. 🙏

Toby, I've been following you when you started that stuff

Workin on Cassidy while listening to you Davvy... What is the view on people singing along at shows? I love singing along, but sometimes I know I gotta dial it back.... The sound of an arena or theater singing along makes me very happy...

I'm picking up a guitar for the first time this winter, with the soul intent of playing dead. Is there a place with your content you would recommend I start? Or is there somewhere completely separate from your own content you'd think I'd be better of beginning?

Heady Hazing… I love it!

😂 trail kid!!! grateful dead has been off in the distance for a long time throughout my life I’m 37 years old. I remember seeing the album on my cousins floor with the middle finger cymbal holder. That stuck with me, but I’ve never gotten into it. I recently check them out it seems alright.

I was 16 in 1989, when Touch of Grey and Hell in a Bucket were getting AirPlay. I had no idea that these guys had a dozen or so albums from the 60’s and 70’s. I found some tunes they played that I liked, but I put the GD on the shelf for two decades. It reignited for me when I started listening to whole shows on RU-vid. Songs I had never heard from the albums, long succulent jams (cat sunshine/I know you rider, terrapin station, “don’t murder me” song, turn on your love light, etc, etc. Zi also love the short-lived Brent Midland era the best. What a unique, raspy, high tenor, and strong voice he had.

Your Bobby's A Wonderland!

I am 52 years old and I have been a Lover of the music and a Dead Head since 1983. I understand the division and dilemma but I don't even like talking about who's who and what's what. How many shows have you seen blah, blah, blah! I loved the Grateful Dead then and understand them and Love them even more now! Thank you Boys for the music and may it never fade away.

All I can say is NRPS. New Riders were incredible, we referred to them as Grateful Deads little brothers.

Preach my guy

Damn dude i was just in nashville and almost went to a st. Owsley show. Had no idea it was you

I admit that I was a little offended by the title but I loved the content. Lol lots of truth

Bobby never left the band