Remembering Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan: ‘Hard To Handle’ In France In 1971

Today we remember the late great Ron “Pigpen” McKernan who passed away on this date in 1973 at age of 27 after a battle with Crohn’s disease. Pigpen was an integral influence on the Grateful Dead’s sound and character during the band’s formative years. His command in the role of frontman helped define the band, an example of which was his singing lead on their often played cover of Otis Redding’s “Hard To Handle.”

Pigpen was buried at at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, California and there his tombstone states: “Pigpen was and is now forever one of the Grateful Dead.” On June 21, 1971 the Dead played an impromptu set at Chateau d’Herouville in Herouville, France after a planned festival appearance nearby was canceled due to flooding. The band was staying at Chateau d’Herouville, which was at the time owned by a film producer who captured the set on video. Portions of the performance were later aired by French Radio and Television Broadcasting.

One of the highlights of the set was a lively take on “Hard To Handle” that showcased Pigpen’s prowess as a lead singer. There’s also a blistering Jerry Garcia guitar solo (though the video cuts out during it) which can be heard in the video edited and posted by Kevin Tobin below: