Happy Birthday Keith Godchaux: Grateful Dead In West Germany In 1972

Keith Godchaux became a member of the Grateful Dead in October 1971, joining Ron “Pigpen” McKernan on keyboards until Pigpen’s untimely death in March 1973. Godchaux then solely assumed the role of keyboardist in the Dead, with his wife Donna Jean Godchaux joining in 1972 and the couple remaining members of the iconic band through February 1979. Sadly, on July 23, 1980 Keith died in a car accident just days after his 32nd birthday.

Born in Seattle on July 19, 1948, today would have been Keith’s 68th birthday and in honor of the late keyboardist here’s a look at a Grateful Dead appearance that occurred just months after he and Donna joined the band during the group’s famed European Tour in 1972. The concise performance featured below was filmed on April 21, 1972 for the German television program Beat-Club.

Guitarists Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir, bassist Phil Lesh, drummer Bill Kreutzmann, Pigpen and the Godchauxs gathered at the Beat Club in Bremen, West Germany to tape an episode of the live concert series. The Dead open with Garcia leading “Bertha” followed by Weir helming “Playing in the Band.” A visibly ailing Pigpen then takes the band through “Mr. Charlie” before Jerry takes control of “Sugaree.” Weir then sings lead on “One More Saturday Night” during which Keith particularly shines.

Following a break in the action the group then runs through “Playing” again (after a false start and Jerry giving Donna advice on microphone placement) and then plays “Beat It On Down The Line” and “Truckin,’” before turning it over to Kreutzmann for a “Drums” improvisation. The segment ends with an expansive take on “The Other One.” High quality video of the entire TV taping can be viewed below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Uu57h7H18

Setlist

Bertha, Playing In The Band, Mr. Charlie, Sugaree, One More Saturday Night, Playing In The Band, Beat It On Down the Line, Truckin’, Drums, The Other One