12-31-1978 – Not Fade Away

The Closing of Winterland is a four-CD live album by the Grateful Dead. It contains the complete concert performed on December 31, 1978. The concert was also released as a two-disc DVD. The title derives from the fact that it was the last concert in San Francisco’s Winterland Arena, which was shut down shortly thereafter. The Dead celebrated the closing as an approximately five-hour-long party (complete with breakfast with the audience at dawn) and invited some guests including guitarist John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service and Ken Kesey as well as actor Dan Aykroyd who provided the midnight countdown. It was certified Double Platinum by the RIAA on December 15, 2003 under the category of longform video, selling 200,000 units. The New Riders of the Purple Sage and Blues Brothers opened the show.

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Video description:

“Another gem from the Classic Closing Of Winterland show, this rendition of Not Fade Away is long, powerful, and fun, filled with terrific solos, special guests, and inspired playing, despite the very late hour of the performance. Followed by another rocker, Around and Around, the Dead would leave enough gas in the tank to later play a third set that featured Dark Star, St. Stephen, and much more.” – David Lemieux

YouTube Channel: Grateful Dead

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