Watch Grateful Dead & Clarence Clemons Give Flight To ‘Bird Song’ At 1989 AIDS Benefit Concert

The Grateful Dead shared pro-shot video of “Bird Song” featuring legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons as the latest in their All The Years Live series. The footage is from GD’s May 27, 1989 appearance at the In Concert Against AIDS benefit at Oakland Stadium.

Clarence Clemons, aka The Big Man, played with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band from 1972 up until his death in 2011 due to complications from a stroke. He also sat in with the Grateful Dead several times, as Dead archivist David Lemieux attested to in his notes accompanying the “Bird Song” video.

“From the In Concert Against AIDS benefit in Oakland, at which Jerry and Bob played an opening set as part of John Fogerty’s backing band, this was the first show recorded to multitrack tape as part of the Without A Net recordings, from 5/27/89 to 4/3/90. Saxophone great Clarence Clemons, who appeared onstage with the Dead a handful of times, makes an appearance, the Big Man contributing mightily to this mighty fine ‘Bird Song.'”

Not only does Big Man contribute mightily, but guitarist Jerry Garcia looks to be having a blast playing with Clemons as does the whole band. Watch the Grateful Dead and Clarence Clemons perform “Bird Song” in 1989 below: