Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images Nine days after the deadly tornado that touched…
Phil Lesh Gets Help From Chris Robinson, Others for 70th Birthday
- Posted on Mar 16th 2010 6:38AM by Benjy Eisen
Founding Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh turned 70 on Monday but he celebrated it over the weekend with a little help from his friends. At the sold-out Bill Graham Civic Arena in San Francisco -- site of many historic Grateful Dead related shows -- Lesh anchored a three set, six hour spectacle which included a Mardi Gras style parade and balloon drop. The evening was billed "Furthur and Friends" with proceeds benefiting Lesh's Unbroken Chain Foundation to help funnel relief funds to Haiti.As was hinted at in advance, a number of Lesh's musical friends came out for the party. Chris Robinson from the Black Crowes may have been the biggest surprise; a near-constant on stage, Robinson took lead on many tunes, singing his way through material from not only the Grateful Dead's catalog, but also Bob Dylan's. One of the evening's highlights came when Robinson led the band through 'Hard to Handle,' the Otis Redding cover that both the Black Crowes and Grateful Dead adopted into their respective repertoires early on in both of their careers.
Other special guests included singer-songwriter Jackie Greene and Particle keyboardist Steve Molitz. The rest of Lesh's band for the evening was the current incarnation of Furthur, a group featuring founding Dead members Lesh and Bob Weir, joined by Joe Russo (Benevento/Russo Duo) and Jay Lane (Ratdog) on drums as well as keyboardist Jeff Cimenti and "Jerry Garcia fill-in" John Kadlecik. Ironically, the latter two were plucked from Grateful Dead tribute bands.
Next stop for Furthur? A just-announced festival that will take place during Memorial Day weekend. The location, near Angels Camp, Calif., is sacred ground for Deadheads. But instead of looking back at history, Lesh and co. are still bending their heads into the moment. As the motto of the festival reads, "Little bit 'furthur' than you've gone before." No additional or, um, further details available at this time. Happy birthday, Phil.
- Filed under: Concerts and Tours, News
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eric2040
Cheers Phil,
We always thought that you had not lived until you had gone to a "Dead" concert! We miss those day's, the best concerts of our lives. As we sing along, and toast to you with some "Ripple." Also, Jerry's smiling down on all of us. Eric and Deb
James Shaff
Please don't forget Vince Welnick for all the best wishes
March 16 2010 at 3:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
JIM STUTSMAN
RIGHT ON PHIL! BET JERRY AND RON WERE SMILING FROM ABOVE.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM A FELLOW BASS PLAYER......KMUD WILL BE PLAYING SOME OF YOU WORK THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS IS GONNA MAKE ME SMILE....WELL....EVEN WITH THE HUMBOLDT CRUD, GOTTA LOVE IT!.....THANKS!......
March 16 2010 at 2:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Jack Straw
OUTSTANDING SHOW!!!! My bros took me for my 50th and it was a blast. Jackie's version of Brokedown Palace was the sweetest and most heartfelt version I have ever heard..brings a tear to your eye...lol Some Dead traditionalist like myself might feel like it was too much Chris Robinson,not enough fake Jerry,or for that matter not enough Bobby.However no complaints who can argue? 3 sets a Happy Bday sing along and a St.Stephen.....
March 16 2010 at 2:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
gangakris
1 reply to gangakris's comment
Happy belated birthday Phil! Can't wait to see you again! Last time was "Phil and friends" with Dylan opening a few years back. Lots of "Ratdog" shows 'tween then and now. Howe this past weekends show is posted on archive.org. For you heads that don't know about it, thanks to napster (and the more recent p2p programs) charging money and putting on adds), archive came out to put all the "taper" tracks in one place and (as demanded by the taper agreement) 100% free. Over 100 dead shows, quite a few Phil and friends, early Ratdog (before Ratdog Live), and over 1000 other bands.
March 16 2010 at 1:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
gangakris
That was suposed to say over 1000 dead shows. I'm just the king of the typos today. lol
March 16 2010 at 2:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
YummyMummy
Sweet! Wish I was there. Loved seeing Further Fest years ago and LOVE Chris Robinson. Happy BDay Phil! YOU ROCK!
March 16 2010 at 12:21 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Victor C
1 reply to Victor C's comment
Will the FUTHUR FEST have Warren Haynes as front man>
March 16 2010 at 12:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
evan
no....it's John Kadlecik from Dark Star Orchestra playing with Furthur on the summer tour, same lineup as this winter/spring tour !
I think he does the best job of all the lead guitarists playing Grateful Dead material with post-Dead bands.
Thomas R Morgan
Thanks a lot.
March 16 2010 at 11:56 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Barbara
regardless of what Grace says, rockers over 50 rock! thanks, phil, for more than 4 decades of outstanding music...happy birthday!
March 16 2010 at 11:27 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Diggity-dave
Keep on trucking that golden road...You and the boys have changed ours lifes for the better,and for that we can never thank you enough...Greetings from Nola,Happy Iternal Irth day.
March 16 2010 at 11:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
15 Comments