John Kasich Was Kicked Off The Stage At A Grateful Dead Show

Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington D.C. played host to a number of Grateful Dead concerts in the midst of the band’s famed career. The group played RFK on June 14, 1991 – a night current Republican presidential candidate Ohio governor John Kasich is likely to remember. According to reports at the time, Kasich was kicked off the stage by the Dead’s management team during the band’s headlining performance.

At the time he was Congressman Kasich, representing Ohio in the U.S. Congress and attending the concert in the nation’s capitol as the guest of opening act and longtime friend Dwight Yoakam. According to reports by The Washington Post, Kasich had been allowed onstage to watch the opener’s set, but was rebuffed and forced to exit when he tried returning to watch Jerry Garcia and the rest of the band’s two-set show.

It was reportedly the Dead’s tour manager Cameron Sears keeping the congressman from the action. The exchange may have included the candidate who came in second in last night’s New Hampshire primary trying to use his status in politics to remain on stage, a charge he denied. Back in 1991 Kasich was quoted as saying:

Oh, come on. Telling the Grateful Dead you’re a congressman is not going to get you onstage. This is way off the mark … I said, “Hey, why won’t you let me on — I can’t understand why you’re not letting me on.” I argued with him for a few minutes and then I left. I probably should not have argued with the guy. I don’t think I was angry. I’m a pretty upbeat guy.

For a look at what Kasich missed out on, below is video footage (as well as separate audio) of the Grateful Dead’s full June 14, 1991 performance at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium:

[Hat Tip – The Washington Post]