Grateful Dead Performs ‘Dark Star’ At Winterland In 1974: Pro-Shot Video

The Grateful Dead released pro-shot video of “Dark Star” as the next installment in their All the Years Live series. The footage comes from GD’s October 18, 1974 concert at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom.

The five-show run at Winterland from October 16 – 20 in ‘74 came ahead of a hiatus for the Dead and was also the stand where they filmed their first concert film, the Grateful Dead Movie. While the psychedelic jam vehicle “Dark Star” had been a staple for the Dead since its debut in 1967, as per The Setlist Program, it became scarce on setlists in 1974, as GD archivist David Lemieux attests to in his notes accompanying the video. Read his words below:

Although played more than 50 times in 1972-1973 combined, “Dark Star” became a rarity in 1974, played only six times before being shelved until 12/31/78. At the Farewell Shows in October 1974, the Dead played this magnificent, introspective, powerful rendition of their ultimate improvisational vehicle. We were thrilled to locate the 16mm film negative when we were producing the Grateful Dead Movie DVD.

Watch the Grateful Dead perform “Dark Star” from Winterland in ‘74 below: