Young guy meditating with a Heads' Tales tshirt on.
Old guy working out wearing a shirt that says "Have you hugged a taper today?"
Taper wearing a t-shirt that says "God Bless the Tapers!"

Dead of the Day: 08-09-1995

Everywhere

Always

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Throughout their history, the Dead played on nearly every single day of the year. There are only three or four exceptions, including August 9th. So, it is another strange coincidence that Jerry passed away on the date.

I can still recall the day that Jerry passed, as I am sure all of you can as well. My buddy Chris and I were on the water, working, when a friend alerted us to Jerry’s death. We spent the rest of our workday in a stupor, barely paying attention to what was going on while listening to the tributes and coverage on the radio. That evening we fired up some shows and kicked back, giving the man our own sendoff. But Jerry will never leave us.

Please leave your comments below about your experiences on that day. And while we don’t have a show from this day in history, we are sure you will be playing your favorite to honor Jerry.

Podcast about this show:

  • Heads’ Tales – S1 E3 Chris Todt – We all have stories of where we were when we heard the news about Jerry’s passing. On the Heads’ Tales podcast, Chris Todt discusses his experiences on that fateful day.

There are no other shows or recordings from August 9th

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Comments

32 responses to “08-09-1995”

  1. Ralph Reingold Avatar
    Ralph Reingold

    I don’t dwell on the crossing over. I recall watching the stage before the show started. Before the lights went down. He would come out quickly around the corner. Those first few tune up notes he played were always special because nobody else was paying attention…except a few of us who started whooping…knowing the whole show was yet to come….

    Reply
  2. Ralph F Davino Avatar
    Ralph F Davino

    I saw Max Creek that night at Walnut hill park in New Britain.Mark Mercier’s words soothed me on my and the rest of my tribe’s darkest day

    Reply
  3. Larry Topal Avatar
    Larry Topal

    We had tix to the Santana show at the Garden State Arts Center. When we got to the parking lot not a note of Carlos was to be heard. It was all Dead and Jerry. On stage Carlos lamented that so many of his friends had passed. To me it seemed he jammed out his songs much more than usual. You could feel the sorrow in the crowd. It was a good place to be that night.

    Reply
  4. Doug Farber Avatar
    Doug Farber

    Got out of court after a divorce hearing representing a client that was also a Deadhead….. turned on the radio and the local station played a triple shot of Dead – – not unheard of in Hartford…. Got back to office before the 3rd tune [UJB] ended, and checked my voice messages….. when the system said I had 28 messages [about 4 times my usual pre-lunch count], I joked to the guy I shared space with that someone must have died…. he said, you didn’t hear? Jerry checked out…. sure enough, all but 3 of the messages were from high school, college, law school, and other friends expressing their grief…. Was I surprised? No… In fact, one of the messages was from a college buddy that I saw my last shows with [RFK ’95]… and he reminded me that we had discussed how badly Jerry needed time to get clean and healthy, or what followed either wouldn’t be worth hearing, i.e. the worst of ’95 every night, or he was going to join Pig Pen, Brent, and Keith in the afterlife…. Anyway… listened to my messages…. Went home…. changed… went to the bar, and drank the rest of the day and night away….. Got up the next morning and returned to life knowing that the band would call it quits, but that my buddies and I still had each other, and all the music left behind……

    Reply
  5. Lisa Biasi Avatar
    Lisa Biasi

    (My memoir I’m working on )The official report was he died in his sleep of a heart attack. The nurse at the rehab center said she realized something was wrong when she didn’t hear him snoring. I smiled at that part at least. Unfortunately, it was too late. The news spread like wildfire that morning. This time when I heard it on the radio, I knew it was true. I had just seen him a few weeks prior and it was alarming. Paralyzed I called Dennis McNally. He answered and said “it’s true, I love you, I have to go.” I didn’t say a word and I have a tear writing that now, twenty-four years later. I’d never met a more talented and more flawed human being in my life. But god I still miss him.

    Reply
  6. NOOGIE 420 Avatar
    NOOGIE 420

    As we come to the 25th year of Jerry’s death. Some thoughts. I actually got into the Grateful Dead one year later (I was only 15 at the time), so I never got to see Jerry play live. There are so many different shows, I love, but my favorite era is definitely is 72-74. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t hear their music. Thank you Jerry and the boys for the fantastic music.

    Reply
  7. MJUNE44 Avatar
    MJUNE44

    On August 8th, ‘95 I caught the original lineup of Ratdog and The Band in Central Park, NYC. It was amazing. Woke up the next morning to this terrible news. We had tickets to see Santana and Jeff Beck that night. We went. The lot was full of people with their radios tuned to WNEW, who were playing all Dead. Everyone was crying and consoling each other. The show, needless to say, was a tearjerker. Carlos was clearly affected by the death of his friend and set that they played was filled with slow, bluesy numbers. Carlos spoke a little and tried the lift the spirit, but it was an impossible task. For the encore he bought out his a guest and they played the beautiful lap steel instrumental “Sleep Walk”, a perfectly fitting end to the day. Rest In Peace.

    Reply
  8. Michael Kurtz Avatar
    Michael Kurtz

    I was at an off track horse betting place. I went out to place a bet and looked at the tv that had a live news feed. I saw jerry passed. At the time the words caught my attention but did not really affect the rest of the afternoon. That evening I called a couple of deadhead friends. I was not a follower of the gd at the time other than I owned a copy of skeletons from the closet and would play truckin every now and then. However after I heard the sorrow in the voices of these two deadhead friends I was intrigued. That night I laid down in my bed early and turned on wmmr in Philadelphia and Pierre roberre had an all night tribute to jerry. I heard music I never heard before. (Morning dew, standing on the moon and those awesome mournful soul searching jerry ballads). It was then that I got on the bus. What a shame that it took Jerry’s death to turn me on to the Grateful Dead. I wish I would have taken the invitation to see the dead. But as my friends say today jerry was not what he was in 1994 and 1995. So the jerry I know is from Relisten app blistering licks at Fillmore in 1971, playing a tight long set list with the wall in 1974, musical perfection of 1977, bringing a perma smile to my face watching him and Brent loving life in 1989 and finally enjoying the multi talented man in old and in the way. So thank you Jerry for making my days better with your music and creating the legacy that has allowed me to see 20+ shows with the other ones, the dead, further and dead and company.

    Reply
  9. InformedOne Avatar
    InformedOne

    I was working for a heavy highway contractor at the time (ballin’ that jack) and I entered the shop on the otherwise uneventful day and this young kid Jay told me he heard of Jerry’s passing on the radio. I always found it fitting that just an average guy- the guy whose Jacob was basically sweeping up other people’s messes told me of Jerry’s passing. No fanfare, no saw or on tv…just a comment in passing.

    Reply
  10. disqus_zlwVzD7xNA Avatar
    disqus_zlwVzD7xNA

    i was driving with a friend/colleague who wasn’t into the Dead when I heard the news, on our way to an appointment in Colorado Springs. I cranked Europe 72 and Vividly recall driving on a beautiful day through the Garden of the Gods blasting ‘He’s Gone.”

    Reply
  11. John Avatar
    John

    Everywhere, always. This seems spot on. Hmm. I was 4 when Jerry died. I was obviously not tuned in yet. I listen to the man for hours every day. I started playing guitar 14 years ago and nothing has invigorated my playing and kept me coming back for more than listening to Jerry. I saw something about the level of Deadheadiness and one of the more severe stages involves still being genuinely upset at his passing. I feel it. With Jerry Garcia and the Dead, my love and appreciation is only ever growing. I am sure everyone who uses a forum like this can say this in a million ways and have it not do justice, but I’m so grateful for Jerry and all his music. I’m grateful to sites like this that keep the music alive. The Dead and Jerry are literally my prime support network, and they bring me immense joy, as does hearing stories about peoples experiences with the band. Thanks Jerry and you all as well.

    Reply
  12. Kevin J Pusey Jr Avatar
    Kevin J Pusey Jr

    I was extremely saddened, but not surprised when I heard the news. I had seen my last Dead show in early May 1995 in Seattle, and it was the worst Dead show I had ever seen (out of 160+). I actually walked out before the end of the show. Jerry was forgetting words, and the pace/rhythm was painfully slow. I sure miss him, though.

    Reply
  13. dwcatty Avatar
    dwcatty

    We were at the beach for a week, didn’t watch tv, didn’t read the paper, didn’t get online. Intentionally. It was nice being diconnected.Jerry died on Wednesday, and it was 2 or 3 days after, at the end of the week, that a friend came down to stay over our last night. We were sitting in the living room, maybe I said something about how we got mail order tickets for the run at MSG that fall, not sure what prompted her, but I can still hear the anguish in my friend’s voice as she turned to me, tears in her eyes and said, “Oh, you don’t KNOW?”The word ‘know’ turned like an icy dagger in my heart. She hardly had to tell me, just the way she said it, I knew. The rest is a blur; tears, sadness, anger – grief in all it’s stages.I went for a long walk on the beach with my walkman. I don’t know what show I played, but I’m sure I was gone the entire 90 minutes. Like Doug Farber, the lawyer below in this thread of memories, when I got back to the office the following Monday I had dozens of pink “While You Were Out” message slips in my in box. Granted I’d been gone for a week, but I sorted them into 2 piles, Jerry and office. The Jerry pile was three or four times as high.I miss Jerry.

    Reply
  14. Tony Lynch Avatar
    Tony Lynch

    I’ll be listening to “Weather Report Suite” from Dick’s Picks #1, as I did on that sad Wednesday so many years ago.A colleague of mine alerted us that news of Jerry’s passing had gone across the ticker on the NY Stock Exchange. It took all of the oxygen out of the office. So many of us were Dead Heads even though we were walking around in suits and ties with starched white shirts.

    Reply
  15. John Robilotta Avatar
    John Robilotta

    I was driving home from work in the evening, hadn’t heard any news all day, and St. Stephen was on the radio. I knew that was not a good sign (when do you hear that on the radio?) and got the update right after. I still remember not only the road but the exact spot I was at.Went to a friend’s house that evening and “drowned” our sorrows. Miss you Jerry!

    Reply
  16. Kent Avatar
    Kent

    I was living near San Diego working at a hospital. I had Wednesdays off so I had slept in and let my wife take care of the two-year-old that morning before she headed off to work. I got up around 9:00 and flipped on the radio and Box of Rain was playing. The station I listened to played the Dead every now and then, so I wasn’t shocked to hear it. I cruised into the kitchen to start the coffee infusion, and when the DJ came back it sounded like he was crying and he told about Jerry’s passing. I left the coffee cup on the counter and sat down at the dining room table. Not sure how long I was there but it was over an hour. Just thinking, not doing anything else other than mentally staring at the giant crater in the middle of my soul. Damned if I don’t still feel that same way.

    Reply
  17. Bud Avatar
    Bud

    I had just gotten home from a job interview and it was raining hard and heard the news on the radio. I knew Jerry would be going home for good soon and I cried and laughed from all the damn good crazy times we had following the Man, the Myth, the Legend that was Jerry Garcia

    Reply
  18. *j* Avatar
    *j*

    I was working at the Hyatt in Sacramento when my wife called and told my boss that a close family member had passed away. When my boss told me this I immediately thought of Jerry. Although I had never met Jerry before I knew what the message was. I left work and went straight home to hold my wife. We drove to the Polo grounds the next day and found about 5000 people who had the same problem as us, what do we do now. We sat down with everyone and talked continuancly about everything and how Jerry impacted our lives. By this time I noticed that 5000 turned into 15,000.I had my movie camera and recorded Wavy Gravy and Vince walking around the Plol track as others gathered behind them in a slow and cold tribute to their best friend and his passing. I felt horrible to film that for Wavy Gravy yeld out as I stood there saying “we are all our own backstage passes” I walked away feeling distant and lost. I very rarely watch this video because it takes me right back to how it made me feel. I went back and sat next to my wife and Bobby came out, fighting back the tears, held his hands up to the sky and told us all about the brother he lost and loved. As soon as the rest of the band gave their respects, everyone decided to let out a sigh and they started to dance to Scarlett Begonias to help change the way they felt. I can still feel the way it and how everything was on that day. Jerry has never left our spirit, for as long as we have the music, we know that he’s standing on the moon looking down at us.Scott Jindra scottj4031@gmail.com

    Reply
  19. Shawn Avatar
    Shawn

    I didn’t know rat dog was even a thing –
    But got the news Bob was playing at the casino
    I got tickets the night before at an actual ticket outlet at an actual mall-
    Got 4 for me and 3 other friends
    We did many dead shows together

    I remember asking the ticket guy if it ( the show) was selling quickly ,and he said there were loads of tickets available –

    Got in to work the next day and my phone didn’t stop ringing –
    Did u hear???
    Yes I did !!!

    So went up early to Hampton early to see what we’d see,
    It was pretty over whelming ,
    The place was slammed –

    Dead’s heads, media , police , nuts-
    Go into the show and one song I remember that was spot on ( in the moment ) was throwing stones –
    After the show walking down the back stairs and seeing above the crowd from the top of the stairs was wild-
    The day before you could have gotten as many tickets you wanted –
    Bitter sweet show-

    That’s it-
    Anyone know who was playing key boards that night
    Thanks

    Reply
  20. Jim Avatar
    Jim

    I was 18 years old and had been to my first and only Dead show a month earlier, 7/8/95 at Soldier Field. My fandom was not really formed and the scene at that show was very heavy and much of the music didn’t land for me. At that point, I was deeply into the Pigpen tunes, and it took me many years before the connection locked in, but that particular night was my in-person introduction to what he really meant. I went to the Brewers game at County Stadium, and back then we always went in really early. The team was holding a Jim Gantner night to celebrate their former second baseman. The stadium also was holding an unplanned, informal wake for baseball fan Deadheads. I saw so many people wearing Dead shirts, hugging each other, talking closely with a hand on a shoulder. Simply being together in the moment and going through that initial grief. One older guy with long white hair pulled back into a ponytail stands out in my mind. He had on the Air Garcia shirt that mimicked the famous Air Jordan logo, with Jerry jumping in silhouette and holding a guitar over his head. The sadness among these pockets of Deadheads around us in the stadium, it went through me. I had not yet come to appreciate how good the music was, but the vibe it created among the people was made crystal clear. A signature memory of my late teen years.

    Reply
  21. Colin Avatar
    Colin

    I was in Chicago, driving on the Kennedy Expressway on my way home from my first job. WMMR was no stranger to playing the Dead so no big surprise, then they said it, I vaguely remember them playing China Cat. Got home, poured myself a stiff one for Jerry. My last show was only 40 days before in Pittsburgh. In 40 days, I graduated college, got a job and Jerry died, wow things change quick. Thank You Jerry – for a real good time.

    Reply
  22. Bill Griggs Avatar
    Bill Griggs

    I remember waking up very early that morning, not knowing what was going on, but with a profound sadness. I smoked a cigarette and went back to sleep. My sister called me to offer her condolences. I called in sick to work and my friend Michelle and I went down to the park in Richmond, VA with a bunch of other deadheads and sang songs, cried, hugged, and listened to the music that had profoundly affected all our lives. Also, my friends and I across the country co-ordinated a 2am “SMOKE A FATTY FOR JERRY” and all smoked big fat joints at exactly the same time.

    Reply
  23. Kevin McArdle Avatar
    Kevin McArdle

    Like many others, I still remember exactly where I was when I heard about Jerry’s passing… and I also remember many of the great times my friends and I had at shows over the years. I still listen to The Boys on an almost daily basis – THANK YOU TAPERS – via the Internet Archive, and I’m eternally GRATEFUL to have taken my ride on The Bus~

    Reply
  24. Paul Herrera Avatar
    Paul Herrera

    The Spirit in the Sky, Gave Me Merle Saunders & Jerry told me I Am going to REMEMBER THIS FOREVER
    Live at Keystone Berkeley for my 16 Birthday February 13, 1976.
    My Dad, King Freddy gave me the Keys to the front door
    I Always Wake & Bake with a
    Cherry Garcia Shake
    Just call Big Steve Parish Hour
    Be Safe
    My Dead Head Friends

    Reply
  25. JAMES IVERS Avatar
    JAMES IVERS

    It was a very sad day for me. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. I was on the road as a backline tech with the “godfather of Goth” Peter Murphy. I heard the news at the load in from some local stagehands and after we got set up and before sound check, I went around the corner from the theater we were at in North Tonawanda, New York to a record store and bought some steal your face and grateful Dead stickers and ask Peter if he was okay and if the band was okay with me putting some stickers around the stage. Peter was aware of the Grateful Dead and he said sure go ahead, and that it would be a good tribute. I don’t know if anybody noticed, but myself and the other American crew member thought it was a good idea. Some of the stickers were visible on some of the gear for the remainder of the tour and other local crew noticed when we would load in.

    Reply
  26. IrieDeby Avatar
    IrieDeby

    I just happened to stay home from work that day. I felt like crap, but couldn’t identify why. Ymthen at like 9:30 a.m., the CA local ABC station broke in and said Jerry was gone, it was the end of my “vacations” of weekends taking LSD, drinking wine, all while enjoying the most touching, fun, spiritual band that ever was. I’m thankful I saw him for 21 years, in Oakland, the Shoreline in Mountain View, and other NorCal venues. I actually loved him as a good friend, even though I never met him. I know many share my feelings. The last time at the Shoreline, it was obvious he needed help. I guess it was too late. I tried going to The Other Ones, Further, Anniversary show, etc., but it just wasn’t the same. Not only was Jerry gone, but the attitudes of people attending were terrible. Many weren’t happy or kind, which was just part of the show. Everybody was happy, now many to most have never seen Jerry live, have attitudes, and just not kind. We should all appreciate the time we had with him-
    a weekend Deadhead since 1974’s Wall of Sound show.

    Reply
  27. Pearly Baker Avatar
    Pearly Baker

    I was house sitting in Aspen Colorado. My mom called me and asked if I heard the news. She said you better sit down. What? Just tell me. After, I told her I had to hang up. I cried and cried. I was so lost in a nowhere land. I had no other deadhead friends around. There were a few gathering in a park. I thought about going to San Francisco. But I didn’t go. I was so alone. I never went to any memorial. But I cried and cried thinking about Jerry for years and years, over 10 years. Crying right now. And then I remember all those great great times. All that love. How special. How cool can Jerry be? Not just a great guitar player and band. We couldn’t help but love him.

    Reply
  28. David Safian Avatar
    David Safian

    I remember where I was, what I was wearing and the people around, when I heard the news. NW Tennessee at my best buds house, and Mom’s home. My best bud’s Mom got him into the dead at an early age. We were both 16 yrs old, downstairs in the game room playing pool as his mother opened and walked in, tears falling from her eyes
    She said “stop what you’re doing, look at the news”. It was around noon early afternoon. His Mom just cried, grabbed & held her son, as she heard it for a second time. I joined in the hug, beside ourselves, lost. She was around 43 yrs old at the time, deadhead for a long time then. My friend Adam and I continue to cry and hugged each other. We left the pool table as is, and went outside not speaking much but both lit a cigarette, followed by joints through the evening. I was wearing my jeans with yellow bear patch, sneakers, & white T w/ Jerry & *Merle Saunders*. I loved those jeans, wore em every day but the T changed. My friend was in his blue grateful tye dye and patchworks, sandles. The details we remember when this happened, it’s one of those memories that never fade. One of the saddest days for us all. He was special to so many, for so many reasons. {⚡}; 🌹

    Reply
  29. trippin n dreamin Avatar
    trippin n dreamin

    packed up and driving on a family vacation. driving out of town heard a triple play on the radio. during the first song didnt think it was odd since they boys were in town in june. second in a row i thought maybe it was a two for tuesday. third one was a sign something was wrong. as crazy as it seems my first thought was they called it quits after the horrible issues surrounding the tour. never thought Jerry had passed until the dj told me….

    Reply
  30. Scoobie Dew Avatar
    Scoobie Dew

    I was working when I heard about his death. My ex-wife cruised over and we hugged each other. That evening we went to Ocean Beach in San Diego and joined others grieving and celebrating at the same time. Sad but uplifting! Glad we got his stuff recorded. Happy Traiiiiiiils!!!!

    Reply
  31. DC Avatar
    DC

    I remember the day. The local commercial radio station played more GD than ever. We were in the Krispy Kreme drive-through and The William Tell Bridge came on with, “Wonder who will water all the children of the garden.” Couldn’t stop sobbing. ❤️

    Reply
  32. Jerry S Avatar
    Jerry S

    My friend Charmaine called to tell me so I wouldn’t hear it on the news. My husband played He’s Gone and we sat silently listening, knowing this were so different now. Met us with a bunch and friends in Buffalo and celebrated Jerry with music, mushrooms and community.

    Reply

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