DOWNLOADING WITH BOB WEIR

Fair enough... Maybe hes just making a signifiantly less amount of money than he was with the Dead? (Keep in mind the Dead was the top grossing live act for years and years...)

Bobby- Just play more shows!!!

On Archive.org backlash...
"I think for the most part that was your stock standard typical, very vocal minority. People were just not content to deal with the fact that a musician needs to make a living..."

Man...Fuck you Bob. Seriously. This "very vocal minority" are in fact the people who keep your (GD, ratdog) music out there, and circulating into the ears of way more people than you would be reaching simply by trying to "sell" them it. WAKE UP!! To say that you are "in need of making a living" is an outrageous statement. If you aren't capable of getting by, by now, then it truly must mean that every musician out there is doomed to failure when it comes to being able to create their art and make a decent living in the process. Sounds like you need to re-evaluate your expenses and accounting and make some serious changes in your own life, instead of blaming all the people who actively trade recordings of your live shows; with your express permission to do so (see taping policy).

I think that Bob seriously under-estimates just how much attention and focus he gets purely from the nets, and the results of sites like archive.org. His desire to simply make a buck off of everything and anything is sourly evident in just about any interview he has had in the last few years pertaining to tape-trading and digital distribution. Frankly, im getting sick and tired of it.

And this comment....on what he listens to (or lack thereof):
"Not a whole hell of a lot of it because I don't want that stuff in my head, what other people are doing in my ilk. It's bound to happen where if something catches my fancy it's going to come out through my hands. I would encourage jam bands not to listen to each other so that they continue to develop their individuality."

Is total bullshit. Come on Bob, seriously, don't listen to anyone else?? it's essentially his excuse for perpetually living in the past...and almost wanting to just say "why would I want to listen to anything else...." But you know what, for all those people out there who enjoy listening to Bob play the same notes every single year, will probably appreciate this comment from him and his relentlessness to grow as a musician. these are truly big-headed statements....

Of course, a political rant to end the interview.

Bobby Short Shorts is the man...Love that old fart...

I've heard older GD fans (older than me at 35) say Bob Weir is the bad apple with his music and fascination with money. NickBoeka reflects those opinions perfectly.

All I know is Phil Lesh is the one keeping me smiling, while Weir is really not on my radar. Not like I'm stiff-arming him or anything, just a fact.

Maybe it has something to do with his closed mind to new music and ill advice for other bands to also close out other music. Too much worrying about FLAC on anciet recordings?

"To say that you are "in need of making a living" is an outrageous statement. If you aren't capable of getting by, by now, then it truly must mean that every musician out there is doomed to failure when it comes to being able to create their art and make a decent living in the process. "

Why is that an outrageous statement NickBoeka? He has made as much $$ as you think he should make or need to make, so therefore you can do with his craft whatever you want, regardless of his wishes?

Lame.

MAKE BOBBY SHAVE!!!!!

wow what a rant you had there. As far as musicians not making "enough money" everybody wants to make "enough money” so, download ur favorite artist, see them live, and have a great time; is that not what we strive for?

All i know is that when artist and people make political statements like, "it is democracy only be name," or like i say, "democracy is what we make it". we should listen to the people around us; a little more closely.
We all play a tune for a purpose, bob should keep playin is tune and we should follow or own.

i haven't read this article yet, but I am just happy to finally see JamBase put out an article on something worth reading about.

WOW! I think some folks are being pretty hard on Bobby. I myself am thankful that he his still out there doing it. Free trade and recording of live music would probably not exist without the GD and Bob.

The way I see it, if you were the guy the on stage at winterland 77 playing your ass off. Playing your own song.Your passion, heart and soul. You have every right to do with it what you wish. We got alot of free music. Thanks for sharing Bob.

FYI - GD were financial ruin for most of there career.

I had intended on writing a response to blue on here, but I won’t so I don’t stir some shit up. (though, given the recent trends of comments on every other commentable link that is on this site, I think its safe to say that even if I hadn’t even commented on this interview this afternoon, the shit’s been stirred.)

"They had no respect for intellectual property whatsoever."

We live in a world where individual and corporations are successfully patenting living oranisms for profit. So given the choice between the IP lawyer's position, and the fabric of our society as we know it, I'm gonna have to put myself in the "no respect" camp.

"There's this myth that information has to be free." AND
"We may have saved our democracy in this last election."

That's funny, I'd argue democracy will never be safe until we collectively free ourselves of corporate controlled media...you know, the folks who base what they report on market considerations rather than the needs of the many.

In other news Chuck D just signed a 10 year deal to announce for the New York Yankees.

all i have to say is read "Living With The Dead" by Rock Scully. Will blow your mind and change your whole perspective on the dead and the who....

Bobby is plenty rich and he is out there every year for us.

MAKE BOBBY SHAVE!!!!! Yesss,have not heard that in a while!!!

Bobby, you have given me even more reason to dislike you as a musician and a person.
Yes the GD were in financial ruins most of their career up until hmm maybe the last ten years when they quit screwing themselves on contractual agreements, ran GD productions well and sold out basically every venue they palyed.
I have not and will not ever see Ratshit. Garcia and the boys should have canned your ass back in 71!

Thanks for your honesty Bob, and keep bringing it brother!

ratdog is the greatest band on earth right now.!!!!!!!!all U bobby haters kiss my ass!!!!!!!!!!!

I love Ratdog....Keep on truckin'.....Vibes in August,10k Lakes in July and the Beacon....SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET...

This ain't the 60's/70's people.....the times have changed and things cost more money.....people need money to do anything....Bobby is a person who plays a guitar....he needs money.....and so what if he has more of it than us.....he's a legend!!!!!
Stop cyring and moaning and groaning about this type stuff.....we live in a corporate "me-first" society, and money is a necessity.....don't bring the man down because he is trying to make a living....you know as well as i do that when you have money, you spend money.....and if you don't have money, you spend money......These comment boards drive me nuts......it's like we're on a school bus and we're saying "i know you are but what am i"

Keep on Rocking Bobby, i will catch you live until the day i die and i will pay for your shows and i will pay for your music.......It's just the way things are today!!!!

NickBoeka and poppasmurf are idiots. Don't like Ratdog? Fine. But to bash Bobby is insane. Thank God for Bob Weir - he has never sold out on any level.

2bits you have a good point. I wouldn't go so far as to say "no respect" but I agree that corporations are pushing patents/intellectual property rights to extremes to stifle creativity.

But if someone creates something that has value and if you want it, if they expect compensation, then you should pay it.

Everyone should read "Free Culture: The Nature and Future of Creativity" by Lawrence Lessig.

Then go pay $1000 to see Weir
https://www.dccc.org/contribute/events/celebration_concert

Maaan I really wanna see that show that costs 1000 bucks, i mean look at that lineup playin with bobby!

I have never been interested in RatDog and now I know why.

We should not forget the other members of RD. These guys are professional musicians trying to earn a living. Bobby is not the only one on the stage. I have a lot of respect for this group of guys. They take GD music to another level. Not necessarily better but different. They have seasoned themselves into one of the best bands on jam scene.

Thats the difference between RD and PAF. Phil uses these seasoned musicians, but they are not building anythig.They are great and I love them, but it seems they are not evolving like RD.

The GD would not have evolved without Bobby. GD would not have been without Bob Wier....Fact

Bobby aint shit without Jerry Jerry made this guy everything he was the GD is gone so move on man,because they weren t there to see u anyway this guy is stuck on himself and i hope he is getting just what he deserves

Just curious...What does one in Bobs position deserve??

Jerry: "They (GD Fans) can do whatever they want with it (music played at GD shows) after we're finished with it(playing it)."

Bob should take note of the wise man's words. If it wasn't for Jerry, Bob could very well be an insurance salesman right now. Bob has turned a lot of people off with his recent antics. He probably has more money right now than any of us will ever see in our lifetimes. And, he receieves more adoration than many others in his field. Is this not enough? I guess not for Bobby. I wonder how many people stopped purchasing officially released items & stopped going to see Ratdog solely because of the LMA situation. It probably doesn't help either, that Weir has been seen befriending people like Donald Trump & Ann Coulter over the past year. This just is not our scene & yes Bob we (GD fans) own the scene, like it or not!

It's one thing to bash Bobby because of where he stands on digital music rights and politics, but how can you let that overshadow his musical contributions?

The saying used to be: "The fat man rocks, the thin man spits" -- I guess you can now change that to: "The fat man rocks, the thin guy calls his accountant".

Who are these broke-ass people complaing about how much money Bob Weir makes?? Hows about you get off your highhorse, learn to play guitar, write some songs, tour with the Greatest Band Ever for thirty years, and accomplish something of your own. You don't have a got given right to their music, and were all reaally F-ing lucky to have been able to get as much free music as we have. I bet these are the same broke people who were complaining about $20 tickets in the 80's. Get a life, stop complaining about the boys in the band as it only makes you sound hateful, bitter, and definately NOT KIND!!

Bob Weir is the man! He has been making amazing music for decades. He deserves to profit from his art! It's one thing to trade music in a grassroots style like the pre-web days. But the world has changed, and so has his income. Let the remaining members of the dead profit from their work. Haven't we all profited from our work? All the haters should shut the F up!

Also, I agree with Bob that new jam bands should not listen to each other too much. They are sounding too much alike these days. Remember that GD basically invented jam band music. They did not do this by trying to sound like other bands. They created their own style and genre of music. This is what we need in the music community, not a bunch of copycats.

Here's to you Bob, for keeping it real, and not being afraid to argue with these A-holes! See you this winter!!!

PeAcE

Jerry: "They (GD Fans) can do whatever they want with it (music played at GD shows) after we're finished with it(playing it)."

Good chance Jerry was high when he said that. Ten years later, I'm confident Jerry would be completely in support of milking the cow (like he never took a dime, right?)to support the many families that make the whole thing run. That was always Jerry's biggest concern. How to keep it going so people coule feed their familes. Keep it real.

I lost interest when the soundboards were pulled from the archive and stopped supporting GDM. I did what I felt was right, Hey its a democracy isn't it.

I apologize for my comments yesterday afternoon regarding this interview. I guess I'm still a little upset at Bobby's actions after an extremely long and proud amount of time dedicated to advocating the tape-trading community. And being a model for practically every single other band on this website, a great deal of success can be attributed to the "tape-trading" community, which apparently has become a newfound market of interest for Bobby. Nonetheless, it was wrong of me to swear to make a point, and I blame my frustrations and lack of control.

I just hope that other bands do NOT follow suit and disrupt an underlying social fabric of this scene, simply for financial gain: being able to listen to the show I just saw, or thousands of other concerts that I couldn't get a chance to see, but can still experience at a greater level than zero.

I just bought a ticket for Jam In The Dam, thank god "or Budda" RatDog isn't on the bill.

I agree Nick, I too don't want to see taping go away, but I don't think it will. If I remember correctly, the Archive.org fight wasn't over taping, it was over allowing shows to be uploaded to computer servers for others to download.

The Dead got a huge amount of flack for wanting their shows taken off Archive and agreed to put audience recordings back up and keep the soundboards off (which is what they will probably want to sell in the future - their right). I think they are being more than generous. There are plenty of bands out there that allow taping that don't allow their shows up on Archive, that didn't get the same criticism Weir did.

I am amazed at how these old school, peaceful deadheads get so worked up over the whole Dead Soundboard issue. Lighten up!!!! Find an nice audience recording, which are permitted, sit back and enjoy. The man allows and encourages you to tape his shows. Honest to god, listen to yourselves. What other profession allows this? Movies? Plays / Theatre? Sporting Events? The answer is no!Bobby isn't being selfish (the root of all problems), you complainers are. Lighten up... Feel it, don't fight it.

bobby spit - $50 bucks a vile....comingetit!

one of the cool things about these boards is that they create a kind of accountability for artists, promoters ect. right off the bat. i find that SOME of the worst things people say about my music can also be the most helpfull to me as an artist. as long as people dont just call each other names i think this is a great place for strong ideas and opinions. god knows showbiz (including jam, these days) is a bunch of people who will sell anything that people will buy...artists often feel like they are the kings of everything and are always so smart and creative because they are doinggood buisiness. when an artist is hot people and thier personal interests gather 'round and pat them on the back - they dont come up to you at the end of a show and tell you how bad you sucked. they dont listen to your new album and say that you should have worked harder (Joe Russo excepted...that dude lives for the craft...he told me straight once and i was impressed)...honesty on the csene closes doors and people have thier interests to protect. these boards here on jambase completely change that. we can always be honest. nobody powerfull will screw us because we dont like thier new stuff (right?). i hope jambase sees it that way in the end. this scene is at a bit of a crossroads right now and these boards can have quite a positive effect even if some negative stuff comes out.

It sounds like Bob has the right idea about listening to other jam bands...people act like im from mars when i say that i think a jambands job is to go out and create thier own sound. the GD did it, Phish did it, Panic did it...now we have tons of little jambands around who are doing the same... so, im saying - being in a good jamband has nothing to do with sales, hype or the approval of the masses. this is an artform and should be respected as an art form. i think Bob is on the right track with this. there are cds i have that i cant listen to too often. i love them but i dont want my shit to sound like them. i feel like its my job not to.

By the end of GD tour i was not so impressed with bob. a few years later i heard ratdog and completely wrote bob off. recently i stumbled across a ratdog performance and was impressed. bob has stopped over processing his guitaur sound and the band sounded great. the only criticisim i have is that Karan bytes Jerry all night - i swear he was spitting more of a blues vibe a few years back with the Others. I would be happy to hear HIS voice next time i see rat dog.

fun interview - thanks!

I don't agree with everything Bobby said, but to discredit him as an artist for his opinions on downloads etc. is rediculous. He is still fucking rockin!!! Not to mention damn SEXY:)

EVILFUNK - you hit the nail on the head there. Especially regarding this scene being at a crossroads.

Also I know that political rant at the end was a little much. But he is right about one thing, REGISTER AND VOTE!!
It drives me nuts when people complain about the government and yet don't vote. If you don't vote you can't complain.

Bob Weir has built up enough credit with me (not that he needs it) to do and say whatever the eff he wants.

And his beard is fawking phat as hell!!!

Bobby may have a point about the legality of intellectual property and what he is entitled to legally, but when it comes down to it he is behaving like an ass. the soundboards that were up on archive were a minute fraction at best, a few gems kicked down for new generations to enjoy what a show sounded like in the boards. Bobby is basically telling all the younger kids who are discovering this music that now the only crispy copies are going to cost you lots of cash. He is shutting down a huge facet of what this community used to be about, which was family and generosity. he has boiled everything down to a $ value, even though he is entitled to the money, he is petty and looks greedy. The man is obviously rich already, so why not let a couple of these ciculate as a gift to the community....they were always on archive antway before and SURPRISE SURPRISE, THE DEAD ORGINIZATION DID NOT GO BANKRUPT!!! show some love Bobby. Are you now voting republican to hang on to more of your precious cash, are you going to start auctioning your short shorts on Christie's? To me this scene has been "dead" for quite some time. I'm sorry but after Jerry died I felt no reason to see a cover band with 60% original members playing the same old shit and acting like they were bringing new life to this music-that is BS staight up. Thanks Bobby for putting the last nail in the coffin in the scene. The day Jerry died is the day the music should have stopped. move on and do something new with your life you burnt out dillusioned old hippie turned republican.

All of you that use the "Bob has enough $$ so he shouldn't care" argument are idiots. Based on that logic, I say to you: "You have thousands of recordings of the Grateful Dead and you will never be able to listen to all of them in your lifetime. Quit trying to hoarde every GD recording out there any enjoy what you have".

Gee, sounds different when the shoe is on the other foot huh?

It seems to me that Bobby is as bottom-line, money-monering as the rest of this demoncracy that "needs saving"! He manipulates the exact system that he criticizes! Bobby, you'd make a good politician!
BOB WEIR FOR PRESIDENT!

yeah...how can you not dig Bobby's beard? That killer mustache really makes him look cool. If you have nothing better to do than rip on Bobby for his facial hair, you should have to pay double to buy GD music.

Also, Ratdog has really improved over the last decade. The last few years, their shows have been phenomenal! Stop hating Ratdog.

But of course it would be best to get "The Dead" back together. When will that happen again? The one thing I would like to request is for Bobby, Phil, Mickey, Billy, and everyone to kiss and makeup. You guys said it best... "Ain't no time to hate, there's barely time to wait" (or something like that).

Bob Weir is a badass. Ratdog is freakin awesome. Stop being haters. Its really easy to be a critic. This guy was in the greatest American band of all time, stop hating on him.

Contradicting all that he stands for? In it only for the money? Well hate to break it to you, but Bob Weir is helping musicians and music survive. I mean it's his fucking job, his source of income, and he is just trying to help out those who's voice won't be heard. Do you know how hard it is to survive as an independant artist nowadays? I know that Bob is a household name, but in this fast-paced rapidly developing world many bands come and go in a blink of an eye. The ones that strive are origingal, and have creativity.

Listening and appreciating someone's music is one thing, but recycling their sound and claiming that because you played in D minor not A minor it's completely new. Get the fuck outta here! Get some new ideas, something unique, you know.

And to people who attend shows: When did this sense of entitlement become so important? If you like a band go see them, don't EXPECT that they owe you something, or better yet pay them for their music! Live music is becoming the only source of revenue for many groups out there, and it's hard to play all over the place nowadays-due to traveling costs, promoters, booking agents, publicity, ect. I respect and appreciate technological advances we've made in the last ten years, but it's a double edged sword and we've yet to experience it's backlash yet.

Sorry to ramble on, but it's the end of the year and I was taken back by some of the opinions and statements people were making here. Happy Holiday's everyone and have a happy safe New Year! From Chi-Town to yours! Peace

I have to totally agree with both of joeye's comments. I think you stated it very well. Hell Yeah Bob Weir is the man!!!

I really haven't heard many rational comments on this story. Ok, Bobby took music off archive. That sucks, music should be free for all-- that's why people tape shows. Album and ticket sales are really what drive the money in this scene, not the lack of availability in taped shows. And just because it's digital, and easily transferred now, that doesn't make it any different than trading tapes. We get it. That's fine, I think we can all agree on it.

But to everyone who shit talks Bob for his difference of opinion on the subject, you're a bunch of fools. This is Bob Weir being Bob Weir, and it sucks, but deal with it. You really need to start appreciating the fact that these guys (besides Phil Lesh and his amazing regenerating body) don't live forever. Appreciate Bob Weir while he's here, because at some point he won't be. You still have the opportunity to see one of the members of the Grateful Dead. For those of us who never got to see the Grateful Dead, it is astounding to see so many stuck up fans who can't let politics be politics and enjoy the music. Bob Weir makes great music. His shows are still fun to go to. Take it in while you can. Hate the man, not the music, you are ignorant if you can't separate the two. I saw one person in this thread actually say they should have gotten rid of him in '71. It was probably a joke, but if you honestly can't handle his music because you disagree with his stand on downloading-- then I say why don't you get rid of every Dead album or show you have where Bob plays guitar-- LET ALONE the songs that he is more fully responsible for. Try it, I bet you hear a lot less music than you're losing by not being able to download shows on archive. Hey I've got news for you-- people still trade music.


Get over yourselves and appreciate it now while you still can, because I have a good feeling you're going to regret it after he's gone if you don't.

its hard to live in the shadows of the best guitar player ever. Bobby was in a band that created this sound and all of our love for this scene etc.He is a legend in his own wether or not you dont like his shorts, beard or ideas on downloading music. and any case its hard going from playing sold out arenas to small clubs. whats the last amonunt of money you spent on a Trey tickit any way.. Aint no time to hate

(Thanks Dee1...)

For those of you who are upset about what is NOT on archive.org, have you seen what IS on it? Check it out:
http://www.archive.org/details/GratefulDead

There are 2,827 recordings on there, just of GD!!! That is more than double any other band on there. SCI has 949, and Phish has 0, zilch, nada.

So what does this tell us? The Dead have been more than extremely generous over the years. There will always be free GD tunes floating around in multiple media forms. There will also always be GD tunes for sale. Honestly, I think that nearly perfect soundboard recordings are worth paying for.

I am so sick of crappy audio, free or not. This whole low budget taping thing going on right now is a fad, and it will pass. People will demand more quality, at cheaper prices. I think bands like GD deserve to make money off their work, their art, their lives.

I buy every show I attend from any band that I can, to help support them, and keep my good memories alive and well preserved with the best possible audio quality. I don't need it for free. Like the musician, I work for a living, and don't have to be that cheap for the sake of being cheap.

On the flip side, it is fun to check out new music for free, and I think it helps bands get new fans. but give these artists a break, they are not as rich as you may think. Put your $$ where your heart is.

Enough of my BS rambling...Long live the Dead!

Is archive.org the only place to find GD soundboards? Bobby rocks the house everytime he takes the stage. He puts his heart and soul into every note. You can tell by the facial expressions. People do still trade shows. So THE MUSIC is still out there. I still go to shows to watch the bands play to where the music is playing the band. Does anyone know what I mean? And every show I've seen to date, has had at least one of those moments. Bob Weir is a legend in his own right. If it weren't for him and the rest of the boys, where would the scene even be today? I read someone say the Bobby turned republican. Since when is Nancy Pelosi a republican? Dead songs at a political fundraiser, SWEET.

just listen to his own words:
http://www.squeezeburger.com/bob.mp3
This was from a Denver KBCO interview done last year, immdiately following the wake of the archive.org show removal. *please bear in mind that the only reason that there are still audience shows (now only available for streaming) is because so many of us put up a big stink. They probably would not be available if we had not reacted the way we did*

Here follows David Gan's thoughts regarding the situation, following the KBCO radio broadcast:
http://playback.trufun.com/2005/12/bob_weir_speaks.html

The saddest part is this comment he makes:
"I really hope they can stick to their guns, and boycott us, and... seeya...."

Save your bullshit negative critisism for articles on Trey and Matisyahu please. I think you all should stop putting so much time and effort into tearing apart these articles and start opening up to what the people that we follow and listen have to say. Ratdog is one of the sickest bands playing right now and we all no Bobby doesnt need the money. Hes doing it for us and if ratdog didnt pick up were GD left off in 1995 most of us would be on a whole different track right now Im sure. Give thanks

Why do people want to kiss Bobby's ass so much? the guy is making a living in the past, not making anything new or relevant (I'm sorry but different versions of the same songs for almost 40 years is NOT progressive) The amount of soundboards on archive was minute, a drop in the bucket of the dead catalog. It boils down to an arrogant attitude that he is losing money when a handful of recordings available for free. Life is not all about bottom line people, how about just doing something good for the fans who have been there for sooo long. audience taping is great, thanks for that, but this attitude of artistic arrogance stinks. He should feel blessed that he is an icon, and not mad that he is not getting his royalties off of a few shows. In any other country he would be a normal man, probably broke. I hate how artists in this country say stupid shit and people support them cause they are iconic. Bobby cares more about cash than anything and his whole archive debacle proves it. Y'all go on kissing this out of touch hippies ass....just becuase the dead was your favorite band does not make bobby your best friend. Half this article is full of arrogant statemets that if trey or anybody in a different band made the negative comments would be up to 1000.

Honestly,the soundboard thing isn't that that big of a deal to me.There are enough people out there who know how to properly use programs like Soundforge(and others)that an audience recording,which is free,is good enough for me.That being said it still pisses me off to hear a millionaire complaining about a dime.
Where Phil seems ready to give it back it sounds like Bobby is still interested in getting some more.
No doubt there is some little part of him that wonders why the biggest part of the fan base doesn't support his projects or buy his CD's.I mean really,if the only way I can hear a Ratdog recording is to buy it I would just do without.The last time I saw them was years ago and the opening act was the Persuasions.They did their acapella Dead stuff and totally kicked his ass with HIS OWN SONGS.Ouch!
I have NEVER heard Phil say anything that was the least bit inflamatory or that struck me as weird,he's one of "us".Bobby has always been WEIRd.

"You know it's always a surprise to come down here to LA. We don't think that we have much of a market down here....but god this enthusiasm....."

PHIL LESH during the donor rap at the 6/24/04 Irvine, CA "Dead" show.

Point being, the members of The Grateful Dead not only are incredible musicians but they are also smart business men. 10 to 15 dollars is nothing for a crisp copy of a show. If you don't like it go hold your finger up for a "miracle" in the parking lot at a Virgin Mega Store.

I have the quote because I BOUGHT a SBD CD copy of the show for $24.95 from MunckMix. (money well spent)

Great article!

ummmmmmm, unless you so calledfans start paying bobbys or phils or anybodys electric bill or other expenses don't knock them, I pay for your burger...got it?

I purchased an extensive amount of material when soundboards were available on the archive. This has since ceased. That’s democracy for yah.

Thank God for Bobby and Ratdog. There is not a band that I would go see playing on the same night in the same city at the same time over Ratdog. That includes Phil and his revolving door of friends.

Thanks for the artical, good reads!!! Bobby, we're looking forward to you jamming on any stage, anywhere in this nation!!! Thanks for keeping it real. :)

If Bob Weir (and others) want to take his/their music completely off of Archive.org, they have every right to. It is their music. They still allow taping, but that doesn't mean they have to allow uploading of that music to servers for anyone to download. Phish, Medeski Martin & Wood, Widespread Panic, and many others don't have shows up on Archive.org.

You want a show bad enough, find someone that has it and send them blank CDs and postage. Remember those days gone by?

I totally understand Bob's KBCO comments. Were they harsh? Yes. But anyone would be angry too if someone organized a boycott against them if you didn't give them your work for free.

Some of you hippies need to take a class in Economics.

Does this scenario remind anybody of the protests during the Festival Express tour? A bunch of hippies decided to boycott & protest a tour with all the best acts at the time because they thought the show should be free. It seems the people most offended by the archive move are the people who aren't willing to buy music.

I read in an interview that Bobby has a sticker on his guitar case that reads, "You don't need a miracle. You need $37.50". Hlarious.

I am not going to see any band that calls itself RatDog when the founder of the band doesn’t look anything like a rat or a dog but rather looks like one of the three musketeers or even worse yet a civil war re-enactor.

Mr. Weir is deluding himself if he thinks that Democrats AREN'T as hungry for power as Republicans.

hey bob..ill sell you a vile of your own spit fer $37.50? (special price for you, kind brother...cause you're FAMILY)

you know, for the a fraction of the expense of raising kids in Marin Bob could bag the 'beverly hills hippy' act and move to somplace like where we all live and mabey not have to nickel and dime heads out of music. one thing about the GD is that for kind old hippies they like to drive really expensive cars around this area i live in. I mean...I saw the Lesh family rolling around in a Jag in the poorest neighborhood in SF. ironic? nobody needs theese BMW/JAG/status mobiles on the commune....i checked. bob has always been the leader in the hippy sheik rat race we all know as dead tour...anyone seen the pic of him on the hood of an expensive sports carfrom the '70s? its funny and endeering but what does this really say?

the GD's taping policy helped put them and alot of other bands on the map. i dont know the deal with the archive.org thing but it sounds like a different story than the festival express deal. those kids in the movie didnt grow up being told that they could have free ticketes. i grew up being told i could have free music. saying that the Dead dont owe deadheads at this point is like jeseus saying he doesent owe christians. would there be a christian religion without christians? would i know the word? if a tree falls in the woods and there arent 90,000 tied died ...no ill say what the news paper always said in every town ..."leigons of loyal tie-died fans" ..if a tree falls in the woods and there arent leigons of loyal fans to hear it fall did it make any sound? imagine if jesus or the GD went totally unnoticed? would this discussion mean anything? would BOB be feeding his kids the way we all do? where would he be without us? Stockton - where a working musician can afford to raise a kid in a house, not an appartment?

i had a buddy on GD tour who always bragged about the fact that he would rent a hotel suite in the same hotel and hallway as jerry "hes right down the hall..go knock" he would brag. funny, neither of the two fat cats are around any more. at all. greed kills!

OK, Bob... ill sell you 3 viles of your own spit for $100 but only because you are here every night! just like the rest of us!

I read in Rolling Stone last month that Weir is considering sending a cease & desist order to Wolfgang's Vault for STREAMING, not allowing people to download or sell, but stream recordings they PURCHASED from Bill Graham's estate. Plus, Wolfgang's Vault also pays internet royalties, treating themselves as an internet radio station. I guess that's not good enough for Bobby Trump, cause he still wants to take legal action.

HOW MUCH MONEY IS ENOUGH DOUCHE BAG??????????

for real nobody has any right to bash this man just as without jerry there would have been no dead , likewise for bobby , i wouldnt trade the years i spent planning my spring summer and fall around the tour doing whatever i could to get tickets for every show i possibly could BUT i would never crash a gate , musicians dont owe there fans anything it is more of a trade off! ps , jerry WAS the man and made most beautiful music but he was never the greatest guitat player on earth and he would have been the first to admit it! the very first!!!!

"In other news Chuck D just signed a 10 year deal to announce for the New York Yankees."

is this true?

Bob Weir:
--Raised in the lap of luxury in the ultra-wealthy suburb of Atherton, CA.
--Becomes part of the greatest band of all time, mostly by pure dumb luck.

The Grateful Dead's family operation (and all of the ideals behind it) went away when they signed up with the corporate crowd. They closed up the warehouse in Marin and fired their long term staff. Now the marketing Big Boys tell them what to do and where to appear to support their latest media issue of regurgitated dead covers. (Anyone get to the laughable DVD release party at 12 galaxies for Phil's DVD?) The surviving members of the Dead have completed their disconnect from their former ideals and values.

Bob Weir is a member of the Bohemian Club. This is the most elite collection of high power industry execs and gub-mint people on the planet. Literally the people who are destroying the world. Every year they get together for their 'summer retreat' deep in the redwoods along the Russian River. And Weir plays for them. He is the minstrel entertainment for the ultimate corporate swine--the people who are taking this country down bit by bit--and he has the nerve to say:
"The cards aren't all down yet but it was slipping away, getting beyond reach. It was becoming a democracy in name only. A lot will have to be done to remedy what has been done over the last few years in terms of gerrymandering the country, rigging voting systems, and stuff like that. A lot of attention is going to have to go back to that because those folks aren't done trying to grab power."

Is that how you really feel Bobby, or will you be back at the Bohemian Grove next summer playing 'Ripple' for Rumsfeld and the rest of 'those folks'?

It took me a while to realize it, but *everything* that was unique, special and wonderful about the Grateful Dead ended on August 9, 1995.

These guys are nothing but aging, fading musicians who have sold out to the corporate pigs to manage their legacy as they enter the wheelchair era.

I spent my last dollar on them years ago.

-greycloud

Hum, Phil Lesh and friends used to be called just Phil and Friends like 8 years ago, why the change(name recognition, money,etc.)? I give mass props to Phil for doing his thing, and the rest of the GD fam for giving kids an opportunity for a glimpse of what it USED to be like. But, here's the hard truth, the last Dead tour was 12 years ago! Stop complaining how shit's changed since than, well fucking duh! As a country we've gone through some major changes, there's much more shit out there polluting our minds than ever before, and people wonder why 'the scene' has changed? Hate to break it to ya, but there's this thing called the real world and sometimes its rough. I'm sorry that it's harder for miricles nowadays, and tour rats have it harder, but whatever-at least we're still breathing, right? There's much more important shit to worry about rather than bitch at Bob Weir for his opinions.

Peace to all and Happy Holiday's from Chi-Town!

Let us not forget we live in a very successful society based upon capitalism. If we didn't, we probably wouldn't enjoy the limited freedom that we do.

Oh, and those who say they don't want more money, too much of everything just ain't enough, are either liars or self-actualized. The former being the unfortunate rule and the latter being the exception which would obviously keep them off of tour and especially comment boards.

Keep on rockin' in the not so free world!

namaste

Nah I was just joking with the Chuck D line.

Look, if you like Weir, more power to you. Not one person on this board is in a position to knock what he has done musically. He has brought joy to many for decades and deserves praise.

However, there is a difference between liking the music a guy puts out and blindly pledging allegiance to the words that come out of his mouth. I disagree with the opinions Weir expressed in the interview, which I feel was a good interview nonetheless.

Pheelalrights, capitalism and democracy are not synonymous. If you take a broadview of the world you will see nations that are incredibly poor, yet democratic (Costa Rica), while also finding nations where capitalism is thriving, but the people live under regimes of fear and intimidation (Saudi Arabia). So please spare me the idea that intellectual property rights should share the same value as say, right to assembly.

I also think that we can live in a capatalist society, while still valuing certain items (news, art, common waters) so much that we decide that they work best when not being bought and sold on the free market.

Even with that said, I think there is a strong case to be made for the idea that the remaining members of GD will actually make MORE money in the longrun off shows and merchandising by giving away more of their shows. Don't beleive me? Look up the price for authographed memorabilia from athletes who are known for refusing to sign autographs for free, and compare them to the going rate for athletes who have a great reputation for doing so. You'll see that, on average the nice guys really do finish first.

I wish Chuck D. did do the Yankee games. That Susan Waldman is horrible. Its hilarious that people are dissing Weir for clamping down on soundboards. You are probably the same folks who bitch about the free food in the local soup kitchen.I know his moustache looks like Yosemite Sam's and his shorts would make Richard Simmons blush, but the amount of free music he and the dead have put out is almost incalculable. Even the medium its recorded to (hard drive, IPod space)is now free. Blank CDs are 25 cents a piece! We used to by Chrome Cassettes for 3 bucks a piece and nobody bitched. They sounded crappy and you had to flip 'em over every 45 minutes. Who cares how much money Weir has? He also has the sack to say he doesn't listen to jambands. If you read carefully you'll realize he's actually acknowledging it may actually influence him.

Mark,Kenny,Jay,Jeff and Robin are also people that have bills.Stop the whining and stay home.I can't wait until Ratdog tours again.I be kind of glad to dish out $50.I've done it for the Allmans,Phish,Phil,Trey who f@ckin cares.Just enjoy it while we can before Iran blows us up.

Please let me know when RatDog comes to Amsterdam. I will avoid them like the plague.

I'd rather see "Zoo Animals on Wheels" than RatDod.

Hey Now!!!

I'll echo Knibbs~~~ WE LOVE YOU BOB!!!

Hum, Phil Lesh and friends used to be called just Phil and Friends like 8 years ago, why the change(name recognition, money,etc.)? I give mass props to Phil for doing his thing, and the rest of the GD fam for giving kids an opportunity for a glimpse of what it USED to be like. But, here's the hard truth, the last Dead tour was 12 years ago! Stop complaining how shit's changed since than, well fucking duh! As a country we've gone through some major changes, there's much more shit out there polluting our minds than ever before, and people wonder why 'the scene' has changed? Hate to break it to ya, but there's this thing called the real world and sometimes its rough. I'm sorry that it's harder for miricles nowadays, and tour rats have it harder, but whatever-at least we're still breathing, right? There's much more important shit to worry about rather than bitch at Bob Weir for his opinions.
Peace to all and Merry Christmas from Madison Wisconsin!

2bitstoomuch...polisci majors don't ever produce intellectual property that's of any value, i.e. i have new found perspective on your position.
peace and good will to all!

Screw off you self absorbed douche bags. Bob Weir has just as much right to make money as the rest of you assholes. I suppose you thought it was okay when the cops swooped down on your ass in the parking lot and told you that you couldn't sell your heady grilled cheese sandwiches, or were you angry with The Man because he wouldn't allow you to make a living? Is it okay to walk into a record store and stuff a CD down your pants? Why do you fucking people feel so Goddamned entitled when it comes to Grateful Dead music? He wrote it. He played it. It's HIS! He can sell it, he can give it away, or he could license it to Kenny G if he wants to. Being a musician and making a good living are almost mutually exclusive. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it because let's face it, you don't get a lot of groupies in the accounting department at Sears. None of you seem to give two shits that huge bands like U2 and The Rolling Stones charge money for everything they do, but when it comes to The Dead, for some reason you feel that just because they allowed you the privilege of recording them live, unlike almost every other successful band in the Universe, they should now give you complete unfettered access to their legacy. Before you start criticizing Bob Weir and calling him a sellout, maybe you should open your eyes and ears to the reality of the music business in the 21st century. Record sales are down in huge numbers, concert ticket sales are down in huge numbers, and the radio is filled with crap. Over the past 5 years, the top selling albums of the year have not been made by creative artists like Eminem, Jay-Z, U2, or Green Day, they have been made by American Idol contestants. Doesn't that tweak your pathetic little brain into realizing that the music business has become an impossible place for a real artist to make money? It's not just about "making a living", Bobby Weir has just as much right to maximize his earnings playing music as you do being a plumber, or laying brick, or selling cheesy weenies on the street corner. My advice to you is to get off your high horse and get down on your knees and Thank God for artists like Bob Weir who are still out there, bringing it night after night, making music that actually matters. Just for the record, if you don't like Ratdog, or you are one of those lame Bobby haters, just stay home. That will make it easier for real fans to get a ticket to see a band that not only stands on its own two feet for 12 years of great music, but also happens to be the standard bearer for Grateful Dead music in the post Garcia era.

Please lets not forget that virtually every single Grateful Dead show is still available for free. Just instead of pressing "download" you have to actually interact with humans forming a community (a word that use to exist in the Grateful Dead world). No community is formed from archive.org, however the free tape (or yes I know, CD) exchanges (or if your just starting blanks and postage deals) on etree.org or other amazing sites are very much alive. Along with many other reason, tape trading is what helped make the grateful dead community so strong. Archive.org is just as impersonal as iTunes. How many friends have you made through archive? Try CD trading and you might make a nice relationship and learn from some one who can offer more, still for free, than a fucking website.

oh by the way, the guy who commented below me, hookahfree420 made more sense than anything i've read this whole year.
wow.

To all the cry-babies:

First of all, GROW UP!

It's apparent that some of you have way to much time on your hands. The level of emotion I am sensing should be saved for deabting how we should combat world famine and infectious disease. Instead your more concerned with having to fork over some change to have the privelage to listen to an artists music.

I suggest you appreciate what Mr. Wier has done as a musician and allow him to make a living off of his success. Let the man live the "American Dream" that we all have the right to live. This isn't a communist country or a socialist global economy. Nothing is free and everyhting has a price. If you want handouts I suggest you move to Cuba, North Korea, China or Vietnam and tell me what it's like living in a communist state.

Music is like any other commodity. I know that music is art and therefor it can be considered a little more important to our culture than light bulbs and industrial grade alluminum. Still, it took an indicidual personor persons time to create, produce and distibute it.

I suggest you pay the man and stop your far left hippy liberal whining!

Merry Christams Everybody and do your favorite starving musician a favor and by one of his or her CD's as a gift for a friend.

Splurge

***** MIRACLE UPDATE ******
I've spent this holiday season touring the parking lots of such retailers as Virgin Mega Store, Tower Records and Best Buy. My finger has been held up high seeking a miracle. Can you whiners believe that not one fellow music lover graced me with a CD or a crummy giftcard?

The Grateful Dead as a whole are the best band to walk God's green earth...don't diss on Bob, you probably get in your car and listen to let it grow or New Minglewood, why you gonna hate on someone that has brought you memories regardless of what he has to do to make money! By the way PEACE OUT! DEAD FOREVER

With all the abuse Bobby has been taking I think he should rename his band "Boot Kick Dog". That is if he can call what he does "a Band".

Playing live music is dependant on fresh songs and musical ideas, otherwise why continue to tour and play-out?? The GD suffered for the last 15 years of their career because they relied on the same songs (Lame ass songs often). Bobby go the distance and break the GD pattern of the same old BS all the time! New music kicks ass, old music is stale and boring. Listen to POP music and wake up!!

wow the douchebag below me wants bob to listen to pop music that is the exact reason why playin quality music does pay as much these days.

Hello all-

First of all let me just Thank Jambase for this wonderful forum and the opprotunity to talk about all of the issues on our minds and for this one in particular, Bob Weir.

That having been said I don't feel like this discussion is even about the Bob Weir interview that I just read. I'm not sure what all the anger is about either. Maybe someone changed the subject somewhere that I missed. It seems to me that many of you are fixed on blaming Bob Weir for all this controversy about ownership and the right to charge money for shows.

On that note I would respond: It stands to reason that music is loved by most people and for music to continue it seems that money makes the world go around. I can't see tapers charging for live taping (although I have seen that on E-bay, while tapers do deserve to make something for their efforts, I'm sure that donations would be appreciated, enough said). But, anything that is coming from the band I.E. the soundboard or a matrix and so on why not try to make a little money with that. If the band makes a buck or two for a show that they have played they will have more money to create more good stuff down the road. They are not all going to do it. But if the amount of money is small enough, why not.

Do you want musicians to continue to barely make it or not make it at all. Being forced to travel in vans or on old school buses like Moonshine Still does. For some it's a lifestyle that they have chosen, for others it's a necessity. I know Bobby has been at this for a while and by now he should have made a fair amount of money, but he is still doing it, and if you/ we still want him to keep doing it, it's going to take a little bit of cold hard cash to keep that vibe going. Why not give a little to get more and more and more. If he feels like selling this stuff you don't have to buy it. I'm sure that every little bit will help, not just him but the rest of the band, and all the other bands out there struggling to make it. It's sort of like television, if you don't like porn, don't watch it. Certainly don't tell me I can't watch it.

Over the past ten to fifteen years the entire music industry has gone down the tubes, and I would gather to say that pirating music has been the biggest reason for that decline. Not to mention some of the money grubbing record labels and producers and so and so on. Why shouldn't we pay for the right to hear this music. If it didn't cost money to tour and record then there would not be a need for paying for this stuff, but it does cost money, and sometimes you have to pay for things that you like. As Bob mentioned in the article: " We haven't really figured it out yet, but we're going to have to do that soon."

I for one am not afraid to part with some of my cold hard cash to down load or purchase some of the shows that I have attended. String Cheese Incident has there Open Road Tour downloads that I am happy to purchase. I also download shows from tapers that I did and did not attend. I don't buy all of them but I pay for as much as I can, because I want them to keep playing. They are now breaking up??? but that is a totally different story at this point. I'm sure that it's not because of the money.

Jambase is a great place to make some suggestions on what would feel good or right and how to proceed on these issues in the future. For now I feel like many of you have focused in on this one issue and obviously there are some very strong feelings about how this is playing out. Hopefully Jambase can continue this conversation in another forum. Take it away from Bob, I feel like this has become a personal attack on him and I know that it's not just him to feels this way. I feel that we are a lucky bunch to be hearing from a man that has been playing for as long as he has been playing. He has seen the changes in how the music industry works, oh hell, he helped change it. He has played with the one of the greatest bands ever, The Grateful Dead, enough said.

I leave you with one thought

"Turn On Your Lovelight" 1969-2-11 Fillmore East Live

LA Jammer

The Dead, nor any of the other bands that have allowed "tapers" at their shows, ever GAVE away their soundboards. I distinctly remember the days that tapes were actually traded, as opposed to digital files, and people were jumping for joy when they came upon a "crispy 'board" tape. It was a big deal. It still should be. Boards are the property of the musicians. Audience recordings are the property of the person who recorded it to trade and share with anyone they would like to share with.

We need to be more thankful for the soundboard recordings that we have been able to get for free. Nobody really planned on having the Internet blow up into a method in which people could take copywritten materials and share them for free online. It is just like everything else that we find or have found on the internet. We are given an opportunity and we abuse it. Then, when it is taken away, we scream that it is our God-given right to have these. TOTAL BULLSHIT!!!

Get your heads out of your asses and quit feeling entitled to anything and everything. If you want something bad enough, go and get it. Why should these bands put FLAC Boards up for everyone to take at will? Why am I paying for cable TV and high-speed internet? I feel like I should only have to pay for one and get access to both. I want to watch whatever TV show, concert, news report or movie via the internet for FREE whenever I want. Doesn't sound too unreasonable to me......

Now we know why most painters never make a dime while they are still alive. People's artistic talents should be free to everyone until they die, right? Hmmmmm, Jerry died and now everyone is making money off of his legacy of music. Sounds right to me. Jimi made more money dead than alive, so did Morrison and Joplin.

I'm going to go down to the Shell station now and petition them for some free gas for my free car, then head to the grocery store for some free food for my family.

While I LOVE Jambase for allowing us all to give our opinions, lately it sure seems like most of the posts are being made by the people who are featured in the MTV Show: My Super Sweet 16 (i.e. very, very spoiled) - I'm sorry if this offends some people out there, but this is not directed at most of the music fans that frequent this site. Those who this is directed towards are most likely the ones who are going to get all bunched up and and reply that I'm an asshole. Oh well... progress is great ain't it!

The dead broadcasted a low level FM signal for parking lot dancers for many shows. That is until the democracy that Bob likes so much stopped them. These FM brodcasts were soundboards and were broadcast free to the nearby public.

Fact...I think

CycleTrash, your jealousy towards Bobby is so bad that I can smell it here in my living room. Your world is sooo fixed on Bobby bashing that it leads me to believe your highly jealous of him and all that he is to our family of Deadheads... Prove me wrong.

Here's something to ponder.
If the Grateful Dead had never existed (bobstar obviously being an integral facet of the entire touring circus), would jambase, for that matter, the whole concept of touring and dedicating (deadicating)your existence to the pursuit of musical indulgence exist now?
Bobby was velveeta and always has been, but that's was part of the charm.
peace

Tim, what you don't understand is that I am just conversing through a message board and that you can't actually smell me. Maybe you need to take out the recyling bin. Or take a shower.

So, by being silly, you can't prove me wrong. Then, your reason for being here, and stating your opinions, is in fact, jealously...

We love you Bobby!!!

Jealous or not you know I’m right. Tell me how I feel again Tim. I can't figure it out for myself.

Well, let me help you figure it out,ok. First, most kids your age can't begin to figure out anything about the Grateful Dead, let alone Bob Weir. So, you tend to be jealous of him because hes there, and your not... So, whatever you tend to say, makes you look jealous. It is, what it is...

Spoken like a true Hillary fan. Tell the fans what they are thinking and feeling. Truth is not only do you smell like an unwashed dog, you are my trained dog.

Sit Tim…..Stay Tim…..Now type a reply Tim.

pheelalrights - that's a great point ... if it wasn't for the GD, we wouldn't be having this discussion, on this board, on this website, etc.

The real tragedy in all this is that some of you don't think Weir's beard is phat. I can only dream that my facial hair will look as rad when I'm 60.

With tongue firmly planted in cheek ... Let It Grow!

Relevant:

Very relevant and in no way offensive to this guy.

This is a great topic discussing a serious issue in our nations economy, society and politics. The impact the internet and the trading of free information will have is unkown and in many ways it is frightening and very concerning.

The digital information and technological revolution has begun. My question to all is: Where will it take us? Not only as a nation and as a world, but what will happen to the cultures and political systems of the world over time. I'd like to be optimistic but we live in a postmodern society. Unfortinately, nowadays Murphy's Law applies to everything.

Here's to progress in 2007.

Happy New Year!

My congrats to the last two posters. I am feeling the love.

Jam On.

Amen, hookahfreak420, I could not have said it better. There are a lot of "self absorbed douche bags" that post here. I agree with you and other posters like relevant.

It's cool to listen to crappy audience recordings for fun, just to get a feel for what the show was like. But there is nothing like a true soundboard recording. They should make as much money as they can from them, because that is some of the best music ever created in history. It has real value.

The crappy audience recordings have little value, because they suck. They are annoying to listen to, so nobody will pay for them. So, it does not bother me if people do what they will with them. This is not the issue, I believe.

Personally, I do my fair share of trading music for free with friends on a small scale; even soundboard quality music. I don't see it is a big deal because I spend way too much money already on live shows, albums, live recordings, etc. I feel that I pay my fair share; I am happy to pay for most of the music I demand.

What do y'all think? When does sharing music become theft? Is it a black and white issue? Or are some gray areas no theft? Hmmm..... I think there are gray areas. There are some CD's that can't be copied. That's ok with me, but if a CD can be copied, then the artist should know that it will be. They should encode the digital data if they don't want it copied, otherwise they are fooling themselves.

I'm with you Bobby, but it is hard to not share some music for free. I am not a millionaire, so free muic is great sometimes!

PeAcE

I love all you hippies, freaks, phisheads, deadheads, philheads, Moerons, HoBo's, muleheads, cheese heads, happy brigaders, yuppies, soulsearchers, dreamers, wonderers, tour heads, tour kids,hillbillies, biscoheads, LET BOBBY LIVE AND PLAY.........

Right on GRATFULGABE~~~

Don't forget "Fishheads"!

Thanks to all who have gave support and positive call outs for ol beardy bob his influence on all of this (scene) is quite legendary................. This web site might not be for everyone, haters seem a little sad and pathetic and will find just about anything to gripe and bitch about. Remember, DONT DOMINATE THE RAP JACK IF YOU GOT NOTHING NEW TO SAY

Spent a little time on the mountain, have ya' pickens?

This has been the most interactive board yet, I think. It's very interesting to see what everyone has said, and the bickering between peeps is kinda funny.

Let Beardo do his thang! Merry New Year!

sharing music becomes theft 1. when an artist or thier management/label says so? 2. when the man kicks your door in and arrests you for trading music?

it seems silly that bob is activlly pulling these recordings. There is a special sound and energy to 'boards like Hershey Park '85 or anything from spring tour '77. this is the energy that made Bob a rock star!

I got an idea, Bob...if you want to earn new money, work harder to build your new band Rat Dog! if you are an artist and a worthy rock n roller you will have no trouble doing so!

awesome discussion! thanks, folks!

Bob didn't just form his own band, he skated on the coat tails of his former band of which he was the least musically talented. His passion to have everyone vote like him got in the way of his gitar pratice.

You gotta give him extra credit for that.

hey dudes everyone talking about the free music stuff man you can get great Grateful Dead, some Ratdog, and some Phil Lesh and friends for free off of iTunes podcasts man. Just click podcasts on iTunes and search John henrickson man or jsut Grateful Dead man and look for one by John Henrickson man and he has terrific live dead for FREEEEEE its really great stuff thanks to that podcast i have over 30 hours of free live dead man and it all is in really gooooood quality too man and its mostly audience recordings so if you searching for some dank ass Dead do that man you wont be dissapointed at all man.

Booby bitches about he makes needs to make a living. Here is an idea, why don't you release more than two GD shows a year. Why is it taking so long to get some these SBDs released? There are so many good quality boards that wouldn't take too much engineering to release. Also, they are the ones that leaked out all the SBDs from the past. You can't trade a bunch of coke for a SBD patch and then expect people not to trade those SBDs.

hey redsub, maybe if you got a clue and realized that musicians are fucking people who need to make money like anyone else you wouldnt be such a naive asshole. dont come on jambase and fucking bash bob weir dude because thats just not cool. do you think he just gets money out of the sky to drive around the country to play shows. or maybe that cd they made didnt cost anything either. OR, maybe everything is free and we just dont know it. before you open your mouth and cry about something you dont know, fucking think about yoru saying, and get a job so you can pay for something. im sure hes a real big coke head with his kids and all too.and then go listen to some dave matthews

redsub we all know you are right,

Ignore the booby kissers and state your opinion. If Booby would pratice more and get off the political kick his band would be worth hearing.

Hey, but thats my opinion. I think I'm entitled to that.

ha thats perfectly fine man, i love bob weir, im a "bobby kisser" but thats only because not many other people are coming remotely close to doing half the things hes done. im with you that its a little lame, but but the dog doesnt play the venues the dead did man, i know they dont bring in the same cash. and how do you know how much rd practices, does bobby call you to tell you how little they practice on weeknights while theyre at home not practicing?? everyone is entitled to their own opinion, mine is that is that bob weir is the best rythm guitarist to ever play and is not even close to slowing down, and if you think ratdog isnt worth seeing then who is??

touche, fifteen love, play through

interesting to think of bob weir in his studio, surfing itunes

WOW...I'm reading these posts and my jaw is on the floor. First off, CycleTrash - you're OBVIOUSLY just trying to stir shit up, as you're making no sense whatsoever. For example, by saying Bob was the least musically talented is assinine. They were all pretty hot. Seperately, Jerry was the best of 'em all as a SEPERATE performer. But, put 'em all together and magic happened. It didn't happen WITHOUT Weir. As a previous poster suggested, stop listening to every GD recording you have. If you can, great. Then you are a supreme being.
Another poster had it right by saying that the music these guys made is simply just another commodity. By saying "music should be free" is as stupid as it gets. Music is like milk. If you were a milk fanatic, and you just loved it and stared at a full gallon all day, like it was the greatest thing in the world, should then milk be free? Grow up.
This man (even if you think he's talentless, and I'd just LOVE to hear the music YOU make, you fuckin' hack) deserves to earn money from his music. He made it. He wrote it.
He hasn't put anything NEW on the table since the GD disbanded? Hah. Good one.
Anyone who is dissing Bob Weir because of money is moronic. Anyone who is dissing Bob Weir because of his musical talent (or lack thereof in their "expert" opinion), probably never got to see him play.
There was, nor will there ever be, NOTHING (anything) like a Grateful Dead show. Jerry is missed IMMENSELY. Phil has done wonders with the old music (and new), Mickey and Billy are still making music and making it beautifully, Bobby is tearin' it up.
In my opinion, he was (and still is) the greatest rhythm guitarist who ever lived.
Listen to "Music Never Stopped," "Feel Like A Stranger," "Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance," "Lazy Lightning > Supplication," "Victim Or The Crime," "Playing In The Band," "Weather Report Suite (all 3 parts)," "Black Throated Wind," "Looks Like Rain," "The Other One," and "Estimated Prophet," just to name a FEW - and REALLY LISTEN TO THEM - and tell me he's "talentless." These are some of the greatest tunes you'll ever hear. Taste is subjective, of course...but puh-lease.

pappy, listen up...I stopped listening long after I saw JGB at the Tower and realized that booby wasn't required.

Just for the record (& there is no other place to post it, so I'll put it here) STS9 (who has destroyed what used to be killer music) has also taken all of their SBDs off of the archive. Bobby earned it at least! Nothing is free anymore..........

Exactly the point....whatever that is.

Bobby is the best rhythm guitar player in the universe. What made Jerry a great guitar player was what he didn't play. Jerry said that in a rolling stone interview. Jerry danced around the melody instead of hitting the note right on. Bobby filled those spaces with incredible accuracy,awesome riffs, all the while being subtle about it. Some people seem to take his subtleness and misconstrued it for a lack of skill. The Grateful Dead would not exist without Bob......

right on gabe,

No one can tell me that Bobby is hurting for money. The grateful Dead always said that there live music was free for all to trade. Taking the shows off the archives was akin to god taking the sun. Bobby will continue to be successful weather he goes into the studio or not. Think about the length of time from the Dead's last studio effort until Jerry's untimely demise. Their following only got stronger. What I want to know is the real answer why the fuck there was no 40th aniverary tour. Bobby has to do what he has to do. I would never boycott Dead merchandising or shows like some did. But it hurt all the same.

Bob is cool.
But I didn't realize that the conspiracy theory that voting has been rigged was proven, or maybe Bob knows something the rest of us don't. Which is possible.

Oh if we could only know one tenth of what Boob knows. Boob was at Nancy Pelosi's swear in and got a good look at her. Now Boob knows what a bad face lift looks like.

I'm not here to rag on anyone, this is only my point of view:
Bobby is not HURTING for money...and that has nothing to do with anything. It's his RIGHT to collect money off of what he EARNED. He wrote the songs.
As far as not listening to the Dead after you saw JGB, well - I guess I'd say, "More power to ya." I loved them both, seperately, as they were two completely different animals. JGB was a tight ship that had wonderful improv jams intersperesed with less frequency than a Dead show. ALSO, you could tour JGB and see, relatively, the same show 12 out of 15 nights. Even if a Dead show had a similar list every 5th or 6th show, the tunes were played with a greater degree of change. I loved both bands - a LOT.
CycleTrash is, apparently, just trying to piss people off w/ his posts...obviously not a musician (or at least one who is any good).
No harm done.

pappy,

You are obviously old and possibly forgetful, maybe one too many trips down the neon highway. You didn't address the real issue. That boob's preaching has not only blinded you but is getting in the way of his gitar practice (thats "gitar" for you folks from pennsyltuckie).

If there is one thing that boob is giving us is too much audience interaction. At least the fat man put a gag on that. Now go back to your room and practice your boob tunes, but be quite your mommy might complain.

Hey Now!, I know you are aging but that is before your time.

First off to all you haters, Bob was in the band for many reasons, not only talent, but Jerry respected and chose to play with him for 30 years and if Jerry respected and loved the way he played, that is good enough for me. Its not easy to take the back seat to a master like Jerry but he did it for years, and personally I like Bob. Lets not forget he was Jerry's student and entered the band during his teens. He deserves to do what he wants. of coarse it would be great to have unlimited Live Dead, but Im tired of all the bitchin hippies who start cryin when they are refused a handout. Bob along with all of GD busted their ass performing, lets not forget all those years he stood right next to the man and created timeless music, and trust me If Jerry didnt think he deserved to play with GD he wouldnt have. If you can remember he kicked Phil down a flight of stairs bc he thought the music wasnt to his standards, he was a perfectionist and Bob played his role. Besides that quit being so damn hateful towards an artist who, by making this little extra money, has done nothing but kept touring, that is love for the true heads, somthing that folks like cycle trash know nothing about. Hey bro, come to Phil or Ratdog lot and talk that shit and see if you dont get the shit kicked out of you, ill guarantee ive seen it done to people for less. I just dont understand why you can have so much bullshit hate about someone making money off what they produced. You wouldnt want someone to take your pay check on fri after you worked all week for that shit, but now imagine that week being 30 + years of pay checks. Stop hating bro, its bad for your health.

This one is for the most rediculouse statement i've ever heard, Yeah Factory, Im talking to you. I think you mistaked this web site for Justin Timberlakes fan club or was it Micheal Jacksons, either way your in the wrong place. First off live music wouldnt have been what it is without the dead. They vary rarely played the same song, the same way twice live. If you can rock people with the same great songs for 30+ years that is more of an accomplishment than playing different shit every show. There is an old sayin, "If it ain't broke, dont fix it" that is a little tryth for you. The only thing I hate about music is Pop liking idiot fans like you. Why dont you and all your tiny boppin friends stay the hell away from our scene, because your stupidity is needed elsewhere like Dave lot or something. Hey I hear Rod Stewart is playin soon that sounds more like your scene, people who dont know jack shit about music.

Hey Native I think you should change your name to Naive. And you should be ashamed of yourself being so hateful and violent.

Besides I know more than you.

Great interview on Bob. Ratdog has been on point and touring all over over the place. Don't see the problem
everyone has with RD not wanting people to be able to
download free shows that they are trying to sell SBD's of.
They do put a lot of time and energy into touring which
does not yield a lot of money. Keep on goin' Bobby. We love ya.'

Cycletrash, I was not implying that I would do that nor do I agree with that type of behavior. I am going on what I saw go down last spring on Phil tour, and if you have been on tour with Phil in the past few years you would understand. In Jersey I saw a guy get stompped by al least 7 supposed peaceful dead heads, and the fucked up thing is it was all set up and plained. The ghetto lot kids have no respect for the way lots recycle money within itself to enable a steady income so they can keep touring. This takes a collective effort from everyone involved, but lately these ghetto kids are only worried about themselves, and gettin ripped off or even robbed is not uncommon. This is not how it was suppose to end up, and it sucks for Phil. I also saw more "boy" in those few weeks than I care to see for the rest of my life, which also dissapointed me.

Weir's got some classics tunes- Estimated, Let It Grow, Music Never Stopped, Playin'... and his rhythm guitar is top notch. However, his 1st Set blues thing leaves him open to attack. They should re-name "Walkin' Blues" "Walkin'to the Bathroom". Little Red Rooster and Minglewood prove you can play slide guitar for 30 years and still suck at it.

Keep it up Bob! Looking forward to the Feb. 07 tour.

I understand that everyone needs money. I have a hard time accepting the fact that the sbd's are gone. My only beef w/ the topic is that Jerry was not consulted on the topic and if he's not here to give his oppinion it should remain open. I feel sorry for anyone who does not appreciated/understand bob's role in the dead

I love the Bob, but I hate his stance on Archive.org - Archive.org is one of the greatest things to happen to the community surrounding his (and other) bands.

Phil Lesh >>>>>>>>>> Bob Weir

Always has, always will.

A voice of reason? Bob has a wife and kids and a right to protect his intellectual property so they will have some funds after he is gone. If you think Mr. Weir is bad and worked up over his current cash flow, check out Jimmy Buffet's track record. He will have his team of suits sue your ass in a New York minute,if he thinks you are abusing his intellectual property. Thanks,Bobby and keep on keeping on!

Bobby bashing has been fashionable for as long as I can remember. I had to chuckle at guitardave's comment, because there was in fact a collective cringe when the slide came out. Jerry attempting to solo over Bob's slide was, well, problematic. (Side note- ever hear Jerry play slide? He was a gorgeous slide player). In Mr. Weir's defense, if you ever saw him trade vocals on Estimated with Donna Jean, it could be very lovely indeed.
I also like that this interview touched upon Lowell George, who was simply brilliant and is not well known among the younger audience. Check him out. Above all, have fun!!!

Bobby fans are people, ease up kids-

Bob has to have money, if not he is on crack or some shit, has some type of problem. But he does have a right to do what he wants with what he creates. But that was the beauty of the grateful dead, they didn't own what they were creating because the crowd was a major part of it. The crowd, the deadheads those who followed this band around for generations are the soul reason for this music exsisting today. that being said he does have the legal right to do what he wishes with recordings. now is that going to stop any of us from getting the damn things? i doubt it! just because i'm not supposed to have something rarely stops me from having, just see in 19 days and you'll understand. as far as bob's contributions to the music, anyone who says he was shit should be shot. mexicali blues should say enough. shit man while jerry outshinned him no doubt but who the fuck wouldn't be outshinned by jerry? please tell me who?

also bob's voice is perfect for so many fucking tunes like el paso, the promised land, me and my uncle, cassidy. just like jerry's voice was perfect for all the rest, ha. so again anyone who says that bob didn't do anything for the dead is honestly insane.

shave.