If the head fits, wear it

when i discovered the dead, i was searching for something my whole life; and didn't know it.

I was thinking about this throughout the day... In reference to the idea that people, such as Shakin, are no longer Deadheads because they've 'moved' onto something else... I kinda look at it in teh same vain as the self actualization theory in psychology. Each person must take certain steps and acheive certain milestones in life to really find themselves. Some complete the journey, some never really start. Alogn the way there are different 'phases' people go through. For me, part of the end phase is being a Deadhead. For people like Shakin, that's not where their journey ended. Their end phase was taking it 'furthur', if you will. Instead of jsut listening to music, shakin, you decided to make your own music, thus your end phase was 'musician'....

But, in the end, its still all pointless labels. I tend to use them to make it easier for others to understand my existence. Tis why we do generalize so much... its hard to really get to knwo people before judging. So much easier ot base it on stereotypes.

Just a human being...

Everything else is irrelevant...

Olompali wrote:


To a point but I think you also have to look a bit deeper and make part of the definition being able to fully connect with the music at every level. Each of the 100's of different versions of the 1000+ songs they've played have defined a specific vibe, emotion, mood and energy at the time it was played.
Wearing hoodies, sporting stickers and tattoos and claiming driving that train and I will get by are your favorite songs only makes you a poser and a DooSh. Live it and feel it.
Remember, there's a lot of lawyers, doctors, ceo's and politicians etc. who are proud Dead Heads but their one hitters don't need to have a Stealie on it.

4hours 20 since last post

Amen to Olompoli!

When your wife and kids say Dad can we listen to something else other than the Grateful Dead... and you don't hear it or care.... Yes, you're a DeadHead!

Shakin Nagan wrote:


I believe the term is Funkateer.

As for being a Deadhead, for me it's always meant just being very deeply into the band's music. Plenty of other attitudes and life choices can arise from this association but I wouldn't say they're common to all Deadheads. For every quality in me that I see as a result of the music, I can find a Deadhead who's had the exact opposite reaction. And I do mean "every".

Just look at this board.

Abba wrote:


I agree with you Abba, sometimes i feel, to be perfectly honest that i missed it, that i am hanging on to whats left, never getting to see Jerry, never getting to see the true Grateful dead. i have been to over 100 shows, Dead, P&F, the Dog furthur, but i still feel like i am chasing something i wont ever fully grasp. that is being a deadhead, i hate to admit this point. For me to admit it makes me feel like all those nights i spent waiting in the lot, fighting for dancing room and being completely enveloped in love from the band is all in the pursuit of being able to call myself a head. When is it enough? My week's, my emotions, run on energy of the excitement of waiting for the next show, hoping, praying i will see them again sooner then later. When is it enough to call yourself a Head? i seriously ask you all. I have wanted a dead tattoo, something of my own design, a bolt maybe, for the longest time, my first show was 2001... but i feel somehow unable to get one for the fear of being considered a fake, a wannabe. I feel like i have earned it, i feel like i can stick it out on a 5 night run with the best of them, i can sleep on the floor of a friend of a friend of a friends hotel room surrounded by more people than the fire code allows 4 fold. i wish i could let that feeling go, so, badly. I want to be able to say it proudly "I'm a deadhead" people i know consider me as much, but they don't know what the life is really like. How do you tell them what it means to YOU. How the music makes you feel. having no state to really call home, when i walk into that theater, feel the electricity, feel the energy, the love, i feel more at home then anywhere i have ever "lived". Is it self serving that i seek some sort of recognition for my deadication? Maybe, maybe i am far to worried what other people think of me. Maybe i need to let that shit go. let the four winds blow me where it may and worry less about who i bump into on the way or what they think of me as i pass by. I have had a hard time, finding my own identity within this collective identity, we all call the Grateful Dead Family. So many people have come before me, i only wish to join there ranks. i want to be a welcomed recruit, even if i feel like a veteran thanks for listening, was that a rant or what? this thread more than any other struck a cord within me. much love to you all

velvet thunder wrote:


Get your tattoo!! How do you explain yourself to others....It just flows from me...Can't stop talking about the dead. People stop us and ask what show we are from or going to...answer "Going to a Dead show" Yes the GD are still touring..they just call it Furthur now. We recruit folks everywhere we go. We let them know that yes there is a traveling circus that still exsist, people are still selling handmade clothes and good food..and give me the chance I'll hand you a show. So how do you explain that you live everywhere?? A quick reply of here now works sometimes but not always..

I certainly don't hide it. on my desk at work i have two crystals and the only picture, framed, is jerry. But i feel like calling myself a deadhead, pins me, into their idea of what that is, not what it actually is, to me. Abba, thanks for the reply my man, i might just get that tattoo... ill fill ya in on it if it comes to pass!

velvet thunder wrote:


If ever in the CT/RI area we know someone that tattoos GD family for 20 an hour