Memorial Wake at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma on August 12th, 1999.
I attended this celebration of Dick's life, armed only with my cheezy Quicktake 150 and my PalmPilot. Maybe Susana will send me some decent shots, but I felt that sooner was better than later in trying to share this event with those that couldn't be there. Dick really loved you guys; I hope you know that. Thanks to Mark Portman for providing a few shots.
Wavy Gravy was the memorial celebrant, and moved throughout the crowd fanning a sage stick, all the time his nose was flashing on and off bright red.
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When I arrived, I found this small poster stapled to the side of the building.
I signed the guestbook at the door, and wandered inside the funky venue, looking for familiar faces to talk to. Bob Bralove told me that a band with him, Bob Weir, Henry Kaiser, Jeff Chimenti, Greg Anton, and Bobby Vega would be playing later. |
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A nice little shrine was being assembled on the side of the stage, with a small screen showing old pictures on top of psychedelic patterns. |
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After a while, Wavy asked everyone to form a circle, and began to speak into a microphone, asking the participants to share a memory of Dick. In typical pranksterish fashion, Dick's spirit apparently sabotaged the microphone, and the stories continued on unamplified. They were relatively short, until Mickey Hart really began to get into things and told about how he met Dick in Hawaii. Dick's Wife, son and sister all spoke as well. At one point, Wavy said "I'm channeling Dick's Spirit, and he says to be succinct and focus, 'cuz we're here to party, and listen to David Nelson play!" |
| Mark Portman, my "assistant digi-photographer," with Richie Latvala, Dick's son. |  |
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David Nelson played a nice acoustic set. He was joined by Sandy Rothman on mandolin, and Pat Campbell on bass. If you look closely at this murky picture, you'll see Mickey Hart sitting in on drums! |
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When the full band came on, Mickey sat in on the second drum set, and Kathy joined Bobby on vocals for a nicely bookmatched "Playin'" | SET 1 JAM IN A PLAYIN' IN THE BAND > QUEEN JANE ST. STEPHEN > THE ELEVEN > PLAYIN' IN THE BAND SET 2 WEST LA FADEAWAY BIRD SONG> SPANISH JAM/THE OTHER ONE > DARK STAR> FEELIN' GROOVY JAM> MIND LEFT BODY JAM> BIRD SONG |
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Henry Kaiser and Bobby jam it. | |
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Bobby, Mickey, and Bobby Vega |
| A nice side view of the stage, from in front of Dick's shrine. (photo courtesy Mark Portman) |
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| Wavy next to the shrine. the box above the Aoxomoxoa-like poster contained Dick. I'm sure he had a real good time. And we thank him back. (photo courtesy Mark Portman) |
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Caution! Pictures with Geoff follow:
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Even though this was just supposed to be a test shot, it looks like a terrified David Nelson, worried that the giant might take his pasta! |
| I'm so tired of all those pictures of me, towering over who's ever next to me, I couldn't resist forcing Bill Walton to pose with me! (photo courtesy Mark Portman) |
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