Grateful Dead & Ken Kesey Appear On Tom Snyder’s ‘The Tomorrow Show’

This week it was revealed the Grateful Dead will soon launch a reissue series that will coincide with the 50th anniversary of all the group’s studio and live albums. Starting on January 20 the legendary band’s 1967 self-titled debut will be released as a two-disc deluxe edition and limited edition vinyl picture disc edition. For Sunday Cinema, here’s a look back at an interview with members of the Grateful Dead and Ken Kesey discussing the era around the time The Grateful Dead was originally recorded and released a half-century ago.

Filmed on May 7, 1981 for NBC’s The Tomorrow Show, the first part of the clip below features Kesey and Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia being interviewed by host by Tom Snyder. The pair of longtime friends talk about their experimentation with LSD in the 1960s and the Merry Pranksters-hosted Acid Tests that the Dead frequently performed at. The second half of the clip features Garcia and fellow guitarist Bob Weir recalling plans for playing Egypt, and later they’re joined by The Rhythm Devils – drummers Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann – as the interview turns to the band’s notorious appearance at Woodstock and more. Here are the two interview segments edited together by LoloYodel:

In addition to chatting with the host, Garcia, Weir, Kreutzmann, Hart bassist Phil Lesh and keyboardist Brent Mydland also performed four songs at NBC Studios. The acoustic set featured “On The Road Again,” “Dire Wolf,” “Deep Elem Blues” and “Cassidy.” Watch the four song set in the videos below:

[On The Road Again]

[Dire Wolf & Deep Elem Blues]

[Cassidy]