Another interaction I had with Garcia was at the UN in September 1988, while he and Bob Weir were promoting the Rainforest Benefit Concert at Madison Square Garden. Together they sought to draw attention to the destruction of rainforests around the world, raise funds to preserve them, and inspire Garcia’s fan base.
At the end of the panel discussion, Jerry took some time to talk with some press and fans. I asked Garcia what he thought of Dylan’s latest band which was put together by Dylan and GE Smith on the west side of Manhattan at Montana Studios.
Below photo from Ray Padgett site + https://www.flaggingdown.com/
GE Smith, Christopher Parker on drums and Kenny Aaronson on bass with Dylan.
The UN event was about one year after the 1987, six show tour Dylan did with Garcia.
At one point in the UN Press Conference Room, Jerry was signing a press packet with his head down when I asked what he thought of Dylan’s latest band. He paused, looked up from beneath his glasses, and said simply, ‘Tight band.’ He seemed sensitive to the question — clearly wanting to know who was asking and why. After all, his six recent shows with Dylan and the band had received some weak reviews in the press.
“Dylan’s ‘Never Ending Tour’ kicked off in California in June 1988, with the first show on June 7 at the Concord Pavilion and another notable date at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley on June 10. Jerry Garcia wasn’t on the road with the Dead at the very beginning of that tour, so he easily could have caught one of those early Bay Area shows. As a longtime Dylan friend and fan, Garcia would have been paying attention — which makes it likely he saw the band live then and could later respond knowledgeably to questions about it.
Dylan Subterranean Homesick Blues June 1988, New York
Jerry had his own musical standards. He was probably aware of how some reviewers panned the six shows his band played backing Dylan. He himself may have been disappointed.
For example
Garcia singing Gotta Serve Somebody with Dylan in 1987 Philadelphia
Here is an oddity from one of the six show Dylan/Dead tour in summer of 1987. At roughly 52 minutes into this recording, you will see Dylan with Garcia and his band, begin Queen Jane Approximately. There was some kind of hiccup and miscommunication. (some issue with phrasing, or members were playing different arrangements)
Not every day you see this, and certainly not in front of 60,000 plus people. I believe Phil puts his hand at top of his head to suggest to the others, “lets take it from the top”. (At the beginning of Serve Somebody, somebody even tossed a book on stage, close to Dylan’s mic stand base. If I could have tossed one, it would have been Secrets of the Rosary, Book by Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort Jan 31st 1673 to April, 28 1716, the eldest of 18 children.)
Dylan is on record saying somewhere something to the effect, that having the Dead behind him was a very powerful experience…None better… I don’t have the exact quote but it was something to that effect.
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“Mary has produced, together with the Holy Ghost, the greatest thing which has been or ever will be—a God-Man; and she will consequently produce the greatest saints that there will be in the end of time.”
― Louis de Montfort,
True Devotion to Mary: With Preparation for Total Consecration
Below some quotes from Louis de Montfort