One From The Vault

Anyone reading this probably knows I'm a big time deadhead. It's hard to believe it's been this long, but Tuesday August 9, 2005 was the 10th anniversary of Jerry Garcia's death.

It was also a day I will never forget -- as I got a guided tour of "The Vault" from Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux. You may have seen the article featuring David and GDP mixer Jeffrey Norman in the New York Times on Wed. 8/9.





It borders on cosmic that this was the day I went to Navato to see this amazing space.





This whole thing came about because my friend Jian had interviewed David last year for his radio show on CBC. David offered to give him a tour of the studio and the vault whenever he came to San Francisco. As Jian was in town this past week, he asked if I wanted to come along.





Above is a picture Jeffrey, Jian, and me in the mixing studio. Jeffery was in the process of re-mastering the 1969 Fillmore shows which will be released in a big box set later this year. Amazingly, these shows were recording in 16 tracks. Apparently only two 16-track Ampex machines existed in 1969, and the Grateful Dead used one for that Fillmore run.





The vault contains every piece of Grateful Dead (both audio and video) material that exists. There are analogs, DATs, reels, film, 1", 2", you name it. Truly an amazing experience for someone who loves the Dead as much as I do.





Now, if I can only find a way to see the video hilighted in green above :)