Happy Birthday Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan: Fronting The Grateful Dead In ‘72
By Andy Kahn Sep 8, 2016 • 11:40 am PDT
“Pigpen was and is now forever one of the Grateful Dead” reads the tombstone of Ron “Pigpen” McKernan who was born on this date 71 years ago. A founding member of the legendary Bay Area rock band, Pigpen was just 27 years old when he died following declining health from Crohn’s disease.
An early leader of the group, he fronted the band on many blues standards notably taking the ensemble through lengthy excursions on his signature “Turn On Your Lovelight.” Below is footage from the band’s famed Europe ‘72 Tour – the last substantial run of shows Pigpen would be part of – filmed for Danish television on April 17, 1972 at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.
The pro-shot clips showcase McKernan singing lead and playing harmonica on “Next Time You See Me” as well as a take on “It Hurts Me Too” that also features a searing slide guitar solo by Jerry Garcia. Pigpen also takes the lead vocals and plays keys on his Dead original “Chinatown Shuffle.” Though not the primary vocalist, he, Garcia and guitarist Bob Weir, drummer Bill Kreutzmann, bassist Phil Lesh and keyboardist Keith Godchaux can be seen sporting wacky masks in the final video of “Big Railroad Blues” – featuring Pigpen at the keys.
Pigpen last appeared on stage with the Grateful Dead a few months later on June 17, 1972 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. He was found unresponsive on March 8, 1973.
