BOB MATTHEWS OFFERS DEADHEADS MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
Fillmore, May 8 2004
I brought my video/audio recording truck to the Fillmore to record my old friend, Donna Jean, for the fun of it. I was more than a little disappointed that her set was limited to 25 minutes because the headline act required 3 hours to play their music. As the crew started tear down between sets, Betty Cantor-Jackson and Don Pearson both asked me why I wasn’t recording the rest of the evening. I responded very emphatically and intensely, "Why would I want to record a copy band when I recorded the original?" Standing their ground, they both said, "You really should record this band."
While my experiences as a longtime DeadHead allowed a level of participation and enjoyment that was not equally available to all, my insistence of clinging to my personal memories and definitions of the sanctity of the holy order seems to be a universal statement of preservation and solidarity considered inviolate to all DeadHeads. My unequivocal dismissal of DSO as being unworthy of my tympanic membranes finely tuned over the years to the nuances and pleasures produced only by the Grateful Dead is the assumed response of the committed DeadHead.
A funny thing happened after 5 or 6 seconds into their set: Doing a quality control mix off of the 24 track machines, I glanced up at a video monitor. Major alarms went off in my head! What is wrong with this picture? I suddenly realized that my sub-conscious was listening to the music and expecting to see the band I had listened to and recorded 20 years ago. In that brief flash, I became a major DSO Head (Star Head?)
The fact that DSO was able to gently and sweetly let me want to enjoy their music within seconds of their first song amazed me most joyously. That joy was made even more pleasant given my extreme absolute knowledge that such an event was not within the laws of probability, statistics, and my November stubbornness.
Dead Heads: I understand your reluctance to let some interloper violate your visions and memories of Grateful Dead shows so near and dear to you. I offer my experience of being dragged kicking and screaming and forced to endure the humiliation of a Grateful Dead copy band as an encouragement to you who are similarly inclined to defend and protect against all invaders the sanctity of your Grateful Dead personal paradigm. While I am suggesting you might consider my "expert witness" testimony, as a DeadHead you need to make up your own mind. To do that you need to watch and listen to the “Live at the Fillmore” DVD/CD release. If you give yourself the respect to make your own personal decision about DSO, you will either be thankful to discover it can still happen, or you could actually not appreciate it.
If you as a DeadHead don't feel the DVD gives satisfaction, send it back and I will refund your money!
Love, Peace and God Bless You All
Bob Matthews