When they first got together in The Grateful Dead they were amazing. Bill more than held his own when it was just him. He's more of a jazz drummer; swinging and fluid. He's no Elvin Jones or Max Roach, but a very good jazz drummer; quite versatile. Thanks for posting this!
What these two cats brought to the table, and there are thousands of drummers more talented, but i've never seen two drummers who bring the spirit to drumming like these guys....its like a breathing, living entity within each song, as a drummer myself for 30 years they constantly amaze me with their connection to the human spirit in their playing. hard to describe as they mention here, its just there. Legends.
I wonder how long they really kept up with splitting the band into a 'polyrythms' with 2 sections such as Bobby and Phil playing with Bill and Jerry and the keyboardist playing with Mickey. I never even noticed this until they said it and it now makes perfect sense.
The first time I saw the Grateful Dead (and every other time after) I instinctively was drawn to and fixated on the hypnotic and perfect synchronization of the drumming. It was as if two men were one drummer playing in perfect unison or mirroring one another. Absolutely amazing.
Yes, he does. Actually, they both do. Let's hope they stay healthy and playin' in the band, for as long as they want! That goes for Weir, too, of course.
supposedly when they first met (legend has it) some 55 years ago they were in a parking lot beating rhythms on cars and bill invited mickey to join the band..for a drummer to invite a second drummer into his band is pretty extraordinary so understandably 55 years later they might have trouble putting their relationship into words.
The band had connections & a few friends in the Hell's Angels back in the earliest days in the Bay area. Some of the Angels were at some of the earliest acid test parties at Ken Kesey's place in La Honda. You may want to read, "Electric Koolaid Acid Test" and Hunter S. Thompson's, "Hells Angels," for insight to that time period.
David B How can you not. Billy was and is precision and rhythm personified with in born kooky flow having your beats run over and unnecessarily accessed by a rhythm less, out of time, clumsy dude with no hand eye coordination. When Mickey was out after the business w his dad, Billy steered the ship much better on his own.
They complement each other. Bill is very precise like a jazz drummer. Where Mickey is like a wild man hitting more primitive beats. The great thing is that their time is spot on and it mixes. Phenomenal.
I disagree that he spent a lot of time. He was honest about the fact that Mickey's heroin habit was affecting his ability to play in 1971, and that's a big reason he left. He also admits that he wasn't immediately happy when Mickey came back, but that he was also strung out on heroin at that point, which made him grumpy, period. But then on page 207, he writes, “…eventually we worked it out. It got better. I was really thankful when it did, and also thankful to have Mickey in the band.” So basically it was more an indictment of heroin than any person.
Great video. I followed them for their summer '91 tour and just saw Bill recently without his moustache and i did not even recognize him at first. 😐 Life goes on without the handlebars, I guess. Rock on, Bill and Mickey and thanks for all the great memories.
Yeah 🎉i love youe beats,how about Bird s making noise s like whistle ing and your space jams o Miss from the old Greatfuldead days space in to carinna or crazy fingers! I love ❤ i like banging on water jugs and long live G.D thanks for all your fun musical performances captain 🐸, i love easy answers on Dec 12th 1994 your drums sounded so loud a wonderful like space or Bolero London symphony orchestra,yeah Bird s i Sing when that talk fascinating thank for so many fun shows sincerely Derek captain 🐸
Probably not considering how anti-fame he felt. Remember this is the guy who didn't show up to his induction at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame because he despised fame.
He did approve of it and made them donate the proceeds to charity. It came out while he was alive. His lawyer made him do it, so people wouldn't take advantage of his image.
it's always that way, I suppose. A dead man can't say no. Interestingly, there is a brand of ice cream called Cherry Guevara. In a sense that is even more obscene. I'm wondering, however, how many people would actually be glad to have an ice cream in their names
here's where one gets the idea of 2 drummers -Billy Higgins and Ed Blackwell each had charge of a channel in the double quartet. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-iPDzlSda8P8.html
It's not politics brother. Listen to "Alligator" on the "Anthem" LP recorded live in 1967. Smoke a big fat one or drop a little purple pill before you listen to the side. After you have done that, come back and tell us that those two drummers aren't mind-boggling and greater than the sum of the individual parts. Bill and Micky complement each other - THAT'S the point.
@@clarkewi not trying to raise an argument, I comment in peace! But just listen to some of them old tapes from the Matrix with Mickey as the only drummer. Hes not very impressive, capable but don't stand out. Then listen to some Dead when Billy was the only drummer, listen to him carry Alligator by himself. Imo opinion hes the better musician. My short thought on Mickey would be that hes more of a percussionist. But then again, what do I know...✌
@@bluecollar825 I heard Mickey when the Dead used to open with New Riders of the Purple Sage. Around 1970. Mickey was their drummer but Mickey and Bill would play when the Dead followed. I would agree that Bill is the more solid time keeper with that "magic touch" that few drummers possess. Ringo's got it. Charlie Watts has got it. Mickey not so much. But Mickey, by dialing into Bill's time keeping is able to add so much more POWER to the drumming duo in my opinion. But I think I know what I'm talking about. Check out "My My My My" by Danny & Dennis on RU-vid. I am drumming on that track recorded in LA 1970.
I get it though, Mickey eccentricity makes him more appealing to the fans who dont actually dissect what is going on in the band instrumentally and simply just enjoy the music, and there sure isn't anything wrong with that!!!
Micky you & Bill really do compliment each other. It's rare to communicate; w/ no words. I hope u r OK. All my email accs. & FB are constantly comp-rimised...virtually useless as usual. Ths is th only way I can comm-icate. Wish u luck, u no who, sweet city sue, luv u 2. You look fantastic! U R a shinning star. Sky:)@---}---}---}---Tk Cr
Butch Trucks said Mickey had no talent, but Bill and Mickey together really made the Dead sound special. I don't think Butch and Jaimoe together made a difference in the ABB sound. Could have been one drummer.
The band is much better with 2 drummers in my opinion. Yea they were still good with one drummer when Mickey was out for a while, but I have a hard time imagining the dead playing their whole career with one drummer it just seems wrong lol. I'm surprised to see comments here denouncing Mickey. Two drummers gave them such and interesting sound imo, one that you rarely ever hear or see in other bands.
