Today in Grateful Dead History: RIP Pigpen 3/8/73

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Nice tribute by Furthur in 2011, show included Easy Wind, Operator, Hard 2 Handle, Smokestack,  Lovelight, He's Gone

Band's soundboard source....https://archive.org/details/furthur2011-03-08.sbd.official.113042.flac16

Original song Empty Pages performed only twice, the last 2 shows of the Core 5 before Pigpen's health break and Keith joins.

Debut 8/24/71  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Os2Zov4bI

I was thinking of starting this post, but Pig was before my time and despite his obvious contributions I'm just not that big a Pigpen fan.

But in honor of him, the Grateful Dead and also our own Jammin' Joel, who seems to have left the black screen but who nonetheless reveres McKernan, this is a good post.

Pigpen Was And Is Now Forever One Of The Grateful Dead.

Far out.

Pig's soulful vocals provided a great counterpoint to the psychedelic explorations of the band. I'm glad I finally got the chance to visit his grave a few years ago when I was up at the Frost for a show.

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Wow, has it been that long.  Seems like yesterday we were watching this young band.  Hope he's R I P.

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Pigpen's remains are at his grave, but his spirit is still on the wing as long as people are still listening to his music.

I remember reading it in the Chronicle while riding the Muni to work.