Recorded while the Grateful Dead were on a break from touring, the content that acts as a focus for this interview were the movies Jerry Garcia was involved with at the time – The Grateful Dead Movie and Hells Angels Forever. However, this works out nicely as Jerry and Mary Travers (of Peter Paul & Mary fame) are free to follow up on tangential conversations. For those who are not familiar with Mary’s interview style, you should be warned that it is often difficult to determine who is interviewing whom. Regardless, this is the least grating of her interviews on the site as it allows for a glimpse of Jerry’s patience, kindness and good nature.

Part 1 00:00 – Editing a Grateful Dead movie / involvement in a Hells Angels movie 01:44 – What the Hells Angels movie is about 02:42 – The roots of the relationship between the Dead and the Angels 05:08 – Being part of a group of outsiders 07:20 – Communal values of folk music / East coast vs. West coast 10:29 – The musical backgrounds of the members of the Dead 11:15 – Gigging at topless bars to hone the Dead’s chops 12:20 – Making the switch from bars to acid tests / Kesey’s parties 14:30 – Making the switch from acid tests to Bill Graham concerts 15:27 – Playing while high to an audience that was high 16:55 – The interaction between drugs and developing chops 20:06 – The changing face of the American music scenes 22:06 – “Purported”: an invisible word 22:57 – California laws designed to deter communal living

Part 2 00:00 – Socialism as an answer to financial depression 01:50 – Americans getting far out / music as a reflection of culture 03:25 – Reasons for the American re-examination of individuality 06:55 – Film as the antithesis of live music? 10:07 – Records vs. live performances 11:55 – Tape vs. vinyl 12:50 – Different art for different senses 14:36 – New directions for the Dead’s music / Blues for Allah as a new form 18:14 – Maintaining contact with other musicians / getting out into the world 19:50 – Methods for hearing new music 21:50 – Music as the international language 22:40 – Beginning work on a solo album / differences between a Dead album 23:46 – Attempting to bypass record companies 25:50 – The original impetus for falling in love with music: records, clarinetist father 27:51 – The ESP quality found in bands 30:20 – How to achieve those magical moments while playing in the band

Part 3 00:00 – Parsing out 3rd person and 1st person perspectives when in the band 01:00 – Thoughts on Rodia and Gaudi: permanence vs. impermanence 03:55 – Thoughts on responsibility for the Dead’s stance on drugs and its effect on their fans 08:30 – Avoiding preaching, sermonizing, and stage banter 09:40 – Thoughts on Altamont / the dualism of America 12:40 – Thoughts on Alice Cooper 15:35 – When performers and a crowd interpret lyrics differently 17:55 – Being in the business of fantasy 20:40 – Why the Dead were taking a break from touring 22:55 – Reminiscing about playing at Watkins Glen / keeping things manageable 24:51 – Why the Dead were making a film