yes Jerry could be masterful even up to the last show, but even the most jaded of GD apologists cannot hide the fact that Jerry had preciptious decline, with some peaks, over the last 10 years of the band.

Jerry himself admitted that the GD felt like a weighted yoke around his neck, and a source of tremendous pressure. I think this led him to darker corners and also to just run through the motions.

Given the tremendous amount of fantastic songs busted/broken out over the past 10 years or so, I ask the question did Garcia's apathy hold the GD back in the last few years?

No.

It happened the only way it could have happened.

This was not your brightest idea young jughead.

No it was vince

Shit, I was at shows in 1995 that Vince carried the band pretty much.

uhh yea, Vince carried the band. He carried their bags.

pittsburghgary wrote:


Have to strongly disagree here. While I'm not going to touch the original question, I believe Vince was a cheerleader at a time when the band needed one the most. He was responsible for egging the band on to try old songs, new covers, etc. Track down any late era soundcheck. Vince's enthusiasm shines through the general apathy that would otherwise dominate these affairs.

No way. I think he enjoyed doing his thing more in the latter years with Grisman and JGB.

<<No way. I think he enjoyed doing his thing more in the latter years with Grisman and JGB.

well, exactly that's my point
he enjoyed his other projects
with the Dead he showed no enthusiasm and tended to retreat into Persia during tours

but he wasnt gonna bust out Cosmic Charlie with Grisman