#Billy shears stuff too I’m I love with the story

[beetle-baguette]

Shambles

[thegoodenoughblogger]

With our love we can save the world

Beatles fans who have never come to terms with their break-up like, by way of a parlour game, to indulge in a spot of historical revisionism. What if the Beatles hadn’t split up in 1970? What if they had carried on for another five years? What would their twelfth album have sounded like? Put aside the fact that their early solo albums were by and large essays in exorcising the group they had lost, and I like to think it would have sounded like this:

WAH-WAH (Harrison) IT DON’T COME EASY (Starr / Harrison) INSTANT KARMA! (Lennon) REMEMBER (Lennon) ANOTHER DAY (McCartney) ISOLATION (Lennon) WHAT IS LIFE (Harrison) OH WOMAN, OH WHY (McCartney) WELL WELL WELL (Lennon) MAYBE I’M AMAZED (McCartney) GOD (Lennon) AWAITING ON YOU ALL (Harrison)

When the Beatles began to break up (or break down) is the subject of considerable debate. Only their first two albums are wholly group efforts, as they reprise their live setlist in the studio while trying to keep a straight face. By the time Beatlemania hit, Lennon was clearly the leader, taking the lion’s share of writing, singing and media duties. When his body became bloated and his mind shrunken from acid excess, McCartney assumed the mantle of svengali, motivating force and (I use this word reluctantly) genius. The White Album, Abbey Road and Let it Be are solo albums in all but name. People generally agree that the end begun when Brian Epstein died, but McCartney’s and Lennon’s romances with Linda Eastman and Yoko Ono were equally liable (not to mention, after the Filipino leg of their 1966 world tour, a morbid fear that celebrity had dealt them a death wish).

That celebrity, that entrenched feeling that the Beatles are untouchable, complicates the task of listening to their records today. To do so unmediated would be ingenuous, though having Ian MacDonald’s Revolution in the head as your companion helps the jaded fan to hear with fresh ears. The only album that I can listen to and thoroughly enjoy, the only one which transcends the notoriety and mythology, is Sgt Pepper. Marcello Carlin suggests that this is because Sgt Pepper is rooted in childhood, the hallmark of English psychedelia. That is true. But Sgt Pepper is not a childlike record. Indeed, now maligned for its widescreen production and overwrought concept, it is still blamed for stripping pop of its innocence, for canonising it, turning it into Art. If this is a return to childhood, it returns with adult eyes – by affirming fantasy and retreating from reality.

Whereas Revolver and Rubber Soul had opened with homages to black American music, Sgt Pepper begins with the nostalgic sound of an English crowd (recorded by George Martin in Cambridge). Having recoiled in terror from live performance, it seems odd that the Beatles should immediately recreate the sound of an audience. But here the audience is manipulated – it laughs and cheers in the right places, it sounds conspicuously grown-up, a throwback to a bygone colonial age.

The Beatles had intended to depict the Liverpool of their childhoods (an idea that had been knocking about since “In my life”), until “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” were snapped up for a single release. In the end, Sgt Pepper became a concept album in search of a concept, born from a band desperate to rise above its own constraints. “I thought it would be nice to lose our identities,” said McCartney later, “to submerge ourselves in the persona of a fake group.” This fake group would introduce a roster of acts: the affable Billy Shears; an LSD trip; three kitchen-sink dramas; a circus performance; a hymn; three short comedies; and a final, atonal, crescendous "orchestral orgasm".

But as the Sergeant’s first act comes on stage, the crowd mysteriously disappears and “With a little help from my friends” is unfurled. Over a Pet Soundsy drum and bass, Lennon and McCartney provide Starr with dreamy harmonies as they ask, “do you believe in a love at first sight?” Starr / Shears replies, all worldly-wise, that he’s certain it happens all the time. This is a wonderfully touching, fragile moment – there is a divine composition to the group (Roger McGuinn described them as having “combined minds”), as if (to quote Aquinas) their complexity is merely infinite simplicity perceived by the finite mind.

“Lucy in the sky with diamonds” is the only blemish on the record – like “Across the universe,” it is a poorly recorded dirge, a trip that goes nowhere. Its lysergic overdrive sounds (peculiarly for a psychedelic record) out of place here. The real heart of Sgt Pepper – and it is a hard heart – is to be found on the next three tracks, three of the greatest songs Paul McCartney ever wrote. “Getting better” is, in a way, typical of McCartney, all clever unorthodoxies and crotchet beats. His bass comes out of nowhere, underlying a brutal lyric which belies the typecasts of McCartney-the-blithe-formalist and Lennon-the-hardnosed-realist (though it must be added that Lennon had a hand in writing the lyrics and, in the midst of an acid trip, singing them). 

In “Fixing a hole,” we are presented with a more ambiguous second act to this drama. Beginning with a descending harpsichord, the song is a slow-march made interesting by McCartney’s bass arpeggios, Harrison’s double-tracked guitar solo and the expression of a desire to be hermetically sealed off from the distractions of reality, so that the mind is free to wander. 

Perhaps this escape is what the protagonist of “She’s leaving home” has in mind, but we are never told as much. Over strings which in anybody else’s hands might be mawkish, Lennon and McCartney tell the story of a girl running away from home from the point of view of her mother. That in itself is extraordinary – who else would have taken up this position? An extraordinarily detailed and laconic lyric (the use of the word “clutching” has been much remarked upon) stops short of moral judgment, the mother blankly accepting (via McCartney’s artless vocal) that “fun is the one thing that money can’t buy.” This is, as Ian MacDonald says, “represents, with ‘A day in the life,’ the finest work on Sgt Pepper – imperishable popular art of its time.”

The curtain closes on Act / Side One with a trip to the circus, but this is the most bilious of light reliefs. Listening to the whirls and swoops of the carnival feels something like being churned around in a washing machine. Abruptly, the music stops and we are regurgitated, hosed down but soiled from what we have just witnessed. It is therefore fitting that Act / Side Two opens with a hymn: George Harrison’s “Within you without you.” This is didactic stuff, but performed with a grace and buoyancy that is rarely found in Harrison’s songs:

We were talking about the love that's gone so cold and the people, Who gain the world and lose their soul They don't know, they can't see; are you one of them? When you've seen beyond yourself, then you may find peace of mind is waiting there. And the time will come when you see we're all one, and life flows on within you and without you.

The Beatles have redeemed us, even if the audience is too stupefied with laughter to realise it. Thus rescued from the casual violence of Act One, we are ready for a comic trilogy: “When I’m 64,” “Lovely Rita” and “Good morning good morning”. If the first is winsomely nostalgic, the second and third sound like nothing else produced in 1967. Bulging with automatic double-tracking, heavily compressed and distorted, both shimmer in spite of their hollowness, and both are remarkable for their instrumental solos. “Lovely Rita” has a piano played by George Martin which is sped up and subjected to ruthless vibrato; “Good morning good morning” features drums so high in the mix that they might as well be soloing, and a searing guitar from McCartney. Fatuous doesn’t get any more thrilling than this.

A last hurrah from Sgt Pepper’s band brings us to – well, let’s just call it the most analysed pop record of all time. You know “A day in the life” as well as you know your own mind, and I’m loathe to say anything that has been said better elsewhere. Better to quote Ian MacDonald...

Made in a total of around 34 hours, “A day in the life” represents the peak of the Beatles’ achievement. With one of their most controlled and convincing lyrics, its musical expression is breathtaking, its structure at once utterly original and completely natural. The performance is likewise outstanding. Lennon’s floating, tape-echoed vocal contrasts ideally with McCartney’s ‘dry’ briskness: Starr’s drums hold the track together, beginning in idiosyncratic dialogue with Lennon on slack-tuned tom-toms; McCartney’s contributions on piano and (particularly) bass brim with invention, colouring the music and occasionally providing the main focus. A brilliant production by Martin’s team, working under restrictions which would floor most of today’s studios, completes a piece which remains among the most penetrating and innovative artistic reflections of its era.

...and to draw your attention to two further things. First, the moment at around 2.45 when McCartney sings “somebody spoke and I went into a dream” and Lennon then apprehends his friend’s innermost thoughts and sings his dream (this, for me, is the moment that encapsulates Sgt Pepper). Second, you have not heard this song until you have heard how it was put together. It’s a rough, brutal manner in which to end a piece about this painstaking masterpiece, but what better way to finish?

[music-of-silence]

REVELATIONS about the REVOLUTION Imagine this--some old hippie has just bought the house next door to yours. It turns out to be Billy Kreutzmann from the Grateful Dead. The two of you become best friends, and Billy tells you all the intimate details of his entire life, stuff he's never been able to tell ANYBODY before. You get to hear everything. He shares tales about his childhood, how his dad sold Jerry his banjo, years before Billy ever knew Jerry himself, about losing his virginity, and how he fell in love with drumming. You're privy to all the biggest secrets, which nobody knows except you, Billy, and the other band members. You find out that Mickey didn't leave the Dead because he was embarrassed his father stole all their money. Actually, Billy divulges that the band fired him for being too strung out on heroin to drum properly. And when Mickey wanted to rejoin the Dead, Billy didn't want him brought back. He loved the freedom of being the only drummer. Of course you'd be shocked. Imagine your new best friend and neighbor confiding in you, that the Grateful Dead were into drugs. Geez, d'ya think? No, we're not talking about LSD and pot, we're talking about heroin, pills and coke. Billy says how he liked Donna as a person, but as far as her vocal harmonizing, Billy didn't think she belonged in the band. Most deadheads are aware of the basic history of the Dead, since so much had been written, for example Rock Scully's book (Living with the Dead). But Billy's book provides a first hand perspective. Billy lived in the various communes, with the other band members and their extended family, culminating in the famous 710 Haight street house. He doesn't hold back about anyone in the Dead. He tells the story how Pigpen and Janis Joplin were caught shagging each other on the Festival Express Train. Janis forgot to close the window blinds. You get the dirty details about Altamont, Woodstock, Monterey Pop, and the Human Be-in. (The Dead always blew the big gigs.) Of course, there's all the crazy rock god hotel destruction stories from the 70s, when they'd be all wired after a show, and would blow off steam by shooting fireworks. Or how Bobby thought it was funny, to pull out a snub nosed .38 revolver in an airport and start shooting it. (It was only a cap gun, but he did get arrested.) Billy tells you about the ugly fights between Keith and Donna, and how the two of them destroyed two cars, during an impromptu demolition derby in the hotel parking lot. Billy talks about the Europe 72 tour, and his favorite Grateful Dead gig of all time, performing before the Egyptian pyramids in 1978, surrounded by Bedouins on camels. Or imagine your surprised when Billy relates his crazy times with John Belushi, and their coke fueled parties. Ever hear of Rolling Thunder, the American Indian that Billy and his old lady lived with, in the desert? Its the part of the tale, where Billy confides his feelings on spirituality. He tells how the Dead almost broke up in 1974, from shear exhaustion. How the band tried to fund their own record company, and lost money. How Jerry overspent on the Grateful Dead movie, and lost money. How signing with Arista, led to their MTV hit "Touch of Grey", and made them LOTS of money. Billy lets you know how much he hated the cover of GO TO HEAVEN, and detested their last studio album, BUILT TO LAST. And how the band never were able to record their last album of new material. Fate intervened. Go to Amazon

Very conversational, highly recommended One of those books you don't put down. Like an old friend telling you a bunch of crazy stories over a couple of brews. An old friend that happened to be in the Grateful Dead from the beginning. I'm reading it for the second time. It is very much about Billy and his experience in the group and he doesn't spend more than 1-2 pages on any particular story/event. Doesn't get too in-detail about the others. I'm a huge Jerry fan and don't think I learned too many new things about Jerry here, for example. Go to Amazon

Bill the drummer... So glad Bill wrote this book. I'm a huge Deadhead and really enjoyed the book. It's an easy read . My only complaint is that there weren't more stories told...seemed like it had been edited pretty heavily. But definitely worth reading. Go to Amazon

A Fresh Perspective on The Grateful Dead Bought this book as a gift for for my husband, and he is absolutely loving it! He said what he appreciates most is that it offers a fresh perspective on the band, rather than repeating the stories that have been told over and over again in other books on the Grateful Dead. He said the only problem with it is that he's enjoying it so much, he's reading through it more quickly than he would like! I am very pleased with this purchase. Go to Amazon

Quirky and engaging. This book is like nothing else that I've ever read. Kreutzmann's writing style is idiosyncratic and folksy, as if the reader is listening to tall tales spun by a witness to history. There is very little sugar-coating here, and by the end of the book, I had gained some additional respect for the author as a musician, but I must say that I had lost some love and respect for him as a person. Quirky and engaging. If you love the Dead, you'll love the book. Go to Amazon

Great DEAL!! I very much enjoyed taking the 30 year long, strange trip with Bill the Drummer. It's surprising that he can recount all of the detailed stories contained in Deal considering how much FUN they had along the way. I especially appreciated Bill's candor as he spoke about recording studio experiences, their songs, the concerts they played and tidbits about other members of the band. A must read for a dead head looking for insights into the band, their music and the overall experience of being a Dead Head. Go to Amazon

Conversations with Billy appreciated Wow, It was filled with moments that made me laugh out loud and moments that made my heart ache. There continues to be so much love in my heart for the band members who live on in body and spirit and the extended family I have come to know over the past 45 years of going to shows. I appreciated Billy's point of view and story telling.....it was like Billy was sitting there and talking to me....very conversational. Thanks for sharing. Go to Amazon

My sons loved this My 2 sons loved this book. They are crazy about the Grateful Dead Band. I have ordered many things from you and this was a big hit. Thank you Go to Amazon

Pass on the audio if you can - read the book for sure. Enjoyed every minute highly enjoyable Honest Very entertaining and great history of the band and their shenanigans over the years! a grateful reader Five Stars Very fun read Awesome. Straight from the source Five Stars

[music-of-silence]

REVELATIONS about the REVOLUTION Imagine this--some old hippie has just bought the house next door to yours. It turns out to be Billy Kreutzmann from the Grateful Dead. The two of you become best friends, and Billy tells you all the intimate details of his entire life, stuff he's never been able to tell ANYBODY before. You get to hear everything. He shares tales about his childhood, how his dad sold Jerry his banjo, years before Billy ever knew Jerry himself, about losing his virginity, and how he fell in love with drumming. You're privy to all the biggest secrets, which nobody knows except you, Billy, and the other band members. You find out that Mickey didn't leave the Dead because he was embarrassed his father stole all their money. Actually, Billy divulges that the band fired him for being too strung out on heroin to drum properly. And when Mickey wanted to rejoin the Dead, Billy didn't want him brought back. He loved the freedom of being the only drummer. Of course you'd be shocked. Imagine your new best friend and neighbor confiding in you, that the Grateful Dead were into drugs. Geez, d'ya think? No, we're not talking about LSD and pot, we're talking about heroin, pills and coke. Billy says how he liked Donna as a person, but as far as her vocal harmonizing, Billy didn't think she belonged in the band. Most deadheads are aware of the basic history of the Dead, since so much had been written, for example Rock Scully's book (Living with the Dead). But Billy's book provides a first hand perspective. Billy lived in the various communes, with the other band members and their extended family, culminating in the famous 710 Haight street house. He doesn't hold back about anyone in the Dead. He tells the story how Pigpen and Janis Joplin were caught shagging each other on the Festival Express Train. Janis forgot to close the window blinds. You get the dirty details about Altamont, Woodstock, Monterey Pop, and the Human Be-in. (The Dead always blew the big gigs.) Of course, there's all the crazy rock god hotel destruction stories from the 70s, when they'd be all wired after a show, and would blow off steam by shooting fireworks. Or how Bobby thought it was funny, to pull out a snub nosed .38 revolver in an airport and start shooting it. (It was only a cap gun, but he did get arrested.) Billy tells you about the ugly fights between Keith and Donna, and how the two of them destroyed two cars, during an impromptu demolition derby in the hotel parking lot. Billy talks about the Europe 72 tour, and his favorite Grateful Dead gig of all time, performing before the Egyptian pyramids in 1978, surrounded by Bedouins on camels. Or imagine your surprised when Billy relates his crazy times with John Belushi, and their coke fueled parties. Ever hear of Rolling Thunder, the American Indian that Billy and his old lady lived with, in the desert? Its the part of the tale, where Billy confides his feelings on spirituality. He tells how the Dead almost broke up in 1974, from shear exhaustion. How the band tried to fund their own record company, and lost money. How Jerry overspent on the Grateful Dead movie, and lost money. How signing with Arista, led to their MTV hit "Touch of Grey", and made them LOTS of money. Billy lets you know how much he hated the cover of GO TO HEAVEN, and detested their last studio album, BUILT TO LAST. And how the band never were able to record their last album of new material. Fate intervened. Go to Amazon

Very conversational, highly recommended One of those books you don't put down. Like an old friend telling you a bunch of crazy stories over a couple of brews. An old friend that happened to be in the Grateful Dead from the beginning. I'm reading it for the second time. It is very much about Billy and his experience in the group and he doesn't spend more than 1-2 pages on any particular story/event. Doesn't get too in-detail about the others. I'm a huge Jerry fan and don't think I learned too many new things about Jerry here, for example. Go to Amazon

Bill the drummer... So glad Bill wrote this book. I'm a huge Deadhead and really enjoyed the book. It's an easy read . My only complaint is that there weren't more stories told...seemed like it had been edited pretty heavily. But definitely worth reading. Go to Amazon

A Fresh Perspective on The Grateful Dead Bought this book as a gift for for my husband, and he is absolutely loving it! He said what he appreciates most is that it offers a fresh perspective on the band, rather than repeating the stories that have been told over and over again in other books on the Grateful Dead. He said the only problem with it is that he's enjoying it so much, he's reading through it more quickly than he would like! I am very pleased with this purchase. Go to Amazon

Quirky and engaging. This book is like nothing else that I've ever read. Kreutzmann's writing style is idiosyncratic and folksy, as if the reader is listening to tall tales spun by a witness to history. There is very little sugar-coating here, and by the end of the book, I had gained some additional respect for the author as a musician, but I must say that I had lost some love and respect for him as a person. Quirky and engaging. If you love the Dead, you'll love the book. Go to Amazon

Great DEAL!! I very much enjoyed taking the 30 year long, strange trip with Bill the Drummer. It's surprising that he can recount all of the detailed stories contained in Deal considering how much FUN they had along the way. I especially appreciated Bill's candor as he spoke about recording studio experiences, their songs, the concerts they played and tidbits about other members of the band. A must read for a dead head looking for insights into the band, their music and the overall experience of being a Dead Head. Go to Amazon

Conversations with Billy appreciated Wow, It was filled with moments that made me laugh out loud and moments that made my heart ache. There continues to be so much love in my heart for the band members who live on in body and spirit and the extended family I have come to know over the past 45 years of going to shows. I appreciated Billy's point of view and story telling.....it was like Billy was sitting there and talking to me....very conversational. Thanks for sharing. Go to Amazon

My sons loved this My 2 sons loved this book. They are crazy about the Grateful Dead Band. I have ordered many things from you and this was a big hit. Thank you Go to Amazon

Pass on the audio if you can - read the book for sure. Enjoyed every minute highly enjoyable Honest Very entertaining and great history of the band and their shenanigans over the years! a grateful reader Five Stars Very fun read Awesome. Straight from the source Five Stars

[music-of-silence]

REVELATIONS about the REVOLUTION Imagine this--some old hippie has just bought the house next door to yours. It turns out to be Billy Kreutzmann from the Grateful Dead. The two of you become best friends, and Billy tells you all the intimate details of his entire life, stuff he's never been able to tell ANYBODY before. You get to hear everything. He shares tales about his childhood, how his dad sold Jerry his banjo, years before Billy ever knew Jerry himself, about losing his virginity, and how he fell in love with drumming. You're privy to all the biggest secrets, which nobody knows except you, Billy, and the other band members. You find out that Mickey didn't leave the Dead because he was embarrassed his father stole all their money. Actually, Billy divulges that the band fired him for being too strung out on heroin to drum properly. And when Mickey wanted to rejoin the Dead, Billy didn't want him brought back. He loved the freedom of being the only drummer. Of course you'd be shocked. Imagine your new best friend and neighbor confiding in you, that the Grateful Dead were into drugs. Geez, d'ya think? No, we're not talking about LSD and pot, we're talking about heroin, pills and coke. Billy says how he liked Donna as a person, but as far as her vocal harmonizing, Billy didn't think she belonged in the band. Most deadheads are aware of the basic history of the Dead, since so much had been written, for example Rock Scully's book (Living with the Dead). But Billy's book provides a first hand perspective. Billy lived in the various communes, with the other band members and their extended family, culminating in the famous 710 Haight street house. He doesn't hold back about anyone in the Dead. He tells the story how Pigpen and Janis Joplin were caught shagging each other on the Festival Express Train. Janis forgot to close the window blinds. You get the dirty details about Altamont, Woodstock, Monterey Pop, and the Human Be-in. (The Dead always blew the big gigs.) Of course, there's all the crazy rock god hotel destruction stories from the 70s, when they'd be all wired after a show, and would blow off steam by shooting fireworks. Or how Bobby thought it was funny, to pull out a snub nosed .38 revolver in an airport and start shooting it. (It was only a cap gun, but he did get arrested.) Billy tells you about the ugly fights between Keith and Donna, and how the two of them destroyed two cars, during an impromptu demolition derby in the hotel parking lot. Billy talks about the Europe 72 tour, and his favorite Grateful Dead gig of all time, performing before the Egyptian pyramids in 1978, surrounded by Bedouins on camels. Or imagine your surprised when Billy relates his crazy times with John Belushi, and their coke fueled parties. Ever hear of Rolling Thunder, the American Indian that Billy and his old lady lived with, in the desert? Its the part of the tale, where Billy confides his feelings on spirituality. He tells how the Dead almost broke up in 1974, from shear exhaustion. How the band tried to fund their own record company, and lost money. How Jerry overspent on the Grateful Dead movie, and lost money. How signing with Arista, led to their MTV hit "Touch of Grey", and made them LOTS of money. Billy lets you know how much he hated the cover of GO TO HEAVEN, and detested their last studio album, BUILT TO LAST. And how the band never were able to record their last album of new material. Fate intervened. Go to Amazon

Candid Autobiography I've been a huge Grateful Dead fan for most of my adult life. I saw them about a dozen times and have most of their CDs. I was drawn to their live improvised music style and how they believe the music is what is most important. “We used to play for silver now we play for life.” For me the band has always been a celebration of the culture of the 1960's with hippies and psychedelics, and really good live “happy” music. Go to Amazon

and easily most underrated drummer of all time) is that he ... I've read several books about the Dead, as they are such a fascinating story--long, strange trip! My only gripe with Bill (despite being one of my favorites, and easily most underrated drummer of all time) is that he strayed off the Dead too much. I liked his insider stories of the band, their music, etc., but lost interest quickly with his stories of he and his wife(s), of him hanging out with Native Americans, etc.. Just my take--sorry, Billy! Definitely a good read, and highly recommended for Dead fans, especially fans of drumming (as Bill will offer insights to the craft, as it applies to the Grateful Dead's music, live performances, etc.) Go to Amazon

Reading this book is like sitting in a room with Bill Kreutzmann as you ... Reading this book is like sitting in a room with Bill Kreutzmann as you throw back a few drinks together and he tells you stories from his past. It's such a personal, intimate account of his life and years with the Grateful Dead. This book isn't made up of quotes from many people sewn together into a story like many biographies are - not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just good ol' Bill telling you story after story - both funny, heartwarming, and tragic. I loved reading it, I think it took me a week to read this fairly large book (I bought the paperback right when it came out). I'm sure in a few years I'll read it again. Thanks for such an enjoyable read, Bill & Benjy! Go to Amazon

Pass on the audio if you can - read the book for sure. Enjoyed every minute highly enjoyable Honest Very entertaining and great history of the band and their shenanigans over the years! a grateful reader Five Stars Very fun read Awesome. Straight from the source Five Stars

[music-of-silence]

REVELATIONS about the REVOLUTION Imagine this--some old hippie has just bought the house next door to yours. It turns out to be Billy Kreutzmann from the Grateful Dead. The two of you become best friends, and Billy tells you all the intimate details of his entire life, stuff he's never been able to tell ANYBODY before. You get to hear everything. He shares tales about his childhood, how his dad sold Jerry his banjo, years before Billy ever knew Jerry himself, about losing his virginity, and how he fell in love with drumming. You're privy to all the biggest secrets, which nobody knows except you, Billy, and the other band members. You find out that Mickey didn't leave the Dead because he was embarrassed his father stole all their money. Actually, Billy divulges that the band fired him for being too strung out on heroin to drum properly. And when Mickey wanted to rejoin the Dead, Billy didn't want him brought back. He loved the freedom of being the only drummer. Of course you'd be shocked. Imagine your new best friend and neighbor confiding in you, that the Grateful Dead were into drugs. Geez, d'ya think? No, we're not talking about LSD and pot, we're talking about heroin, pills and coke. Billy says how he liked Donna as a person, but as far as her vocal harmonizing, Billy didn't think she belonged in the band. Most deadheads are aware of the basic history of the Dead, since so much had been written, for example Rock Scully's book (Living with the Dead). But Billy's book provides a first hand perspective. Billy lived in the various communes, with the other band members and their extended family, culminating in the famous 710 Haight street house. He doesn't hold back about anyone in the Dead. He tells the story how Pigpen and Janis Joplin were caught shagging each other on the Festival Express Train. Janis forgot to close the window blinds. You get the dirty details about Altamont, Woodstock, Monterey Pop, and the Human Be-in. (The Dead always blew the big gigs.) Of course, there's all the crazy rock god hotel destruction stories from the 70s, when they'd be all wired after a show, and would blow off steam by shooting fireworks. Or how Bobby thought it was funny, to pull out a snub nosed .38 revolver in an airport and start shooting it. (It was only a cap gun, but he did get arrested.) Billy tells you about the ugly fights between Keith and Donna, and how the two of them destroyed two cars, during an impromptu demolition derby in the hotel parking lot. Billy talks about the Europe 72 tour, and his favorite Grateful Dead gig of all time, performing before the Egyptian pyramids in 1978, surrounded by Bedouins on camels. Or imagine your surprised when Billy relates his crazy times with John Belushi, and their coke fueled parties. Ever hear of Rolling Thunder, the American Indian that Billy and his old lady lived with, in the desert? Its the part of the tale, where Billy confides his feelings on spirituality. He tells how the Dead almost broke up in 1974, from shear exhaustion. How the band tried to fund their own record company, and lost money. How Jerry overspent on the Grateful Dead movie, and lost money. How signing with Arista, led to their MTV hit "Touch of Grey", and made them LOTS of money. Billy lets you know how much he hated the cover of GO TO HEAVEN, and detested their last studio album, BUILT TO LAST. And how the band never were able to record their last album of new material. Fate intervened. Go to Amazon

Candid Autobiography I've been a huge Grateful Dead fan for most of my adult life. I saw them about a dozen times and have most of their CDs. I was drawn to their live improvised music style and how they believe the music is what is most important. “We used to play for silver now we play for life.” For me the band has always been a celebration of the culture of the 1960's with hippies and psychedelics, and really good live “happy” music. Go to Amazon

and easily most underrated drummer of all time) is that he ... I've read several books about the Dead, as they are such a fascinating story--long, strange trip! My only gripe with Bill (despite being one of my favorites, and easily most underrated drummer of all time) is that he strayed off the Dead too much. I liked his insider stories of the band, their music, etc., but lost interest quickly with his stories of he and his wife(s), of him hanging out with Native Americans, etc.. Just my take--sorry, Billy! Definitely a good read, and highly recommended for Dead fans, especially fans of drumming (as Bill will offer insights to the craft, as it applies to the Grateful Dead's music, live performances, etc.) Go to Amazon

Reading this book is like sitting in a room with Bill Kreutzmann as you ... Reading this book is like sitting in a room with Bill Kreutzmann as you throw back a few drinks together and he tells you stories from his past. It's such a personal, intimate account of his life and years with the Grateful Dead. This book isn't made up of quotes from many people sewn together into a story like many biographies are - not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just good ol' Bill telling you story after story - both funny, heartwarming, and tragic. I loved reading it, I think it took me a week to read this fairly large book (I bought the paperback right when it came out). I'm sure in a few years I'll read it again. Thanks for such an enjoyable read, Bill & Benjy! Go to Amazon

Pass on the audio if you can - read the book for sure. Enjoyed every minute highly enjoyable Honest Very entertaining and great history of the band and their shenanigans over the years! a grateful reader Five Stars Very fun read Awesome. Straight from the source Five Stars