The Daily Nugs - December 31, 2024
From Grateful Dead of the Day
The Dead played so many incredible shows on New Year's Eve, but we finally settled on the 1972 date as our favorite of the bunch (at least for the moment). The Playin’ at the end of the first set is simply fantastic, as the greatest rock and roll band in the land lays it down at Winterland with a phenomenal combination of structure and relentless improvisation. But that is only a warm-up for the intensely dazzling Truckin'> Other One> Morning Dew that the boys conjure up in the second half. Listen to the entire show and all the other New Year's ones at Grateful Dead of the Day.
Watch the Dead put a cap on that legendary year with this remastered video of the New Year's Eve 1977 show, including a burner of a Sugar Mags> Scarlet> Fire and Truckin'> Wharf Rat, all before Drums. Fire this one up at Grateful Dead of the Day and ring in the new year in style.
The Grateful Dead closed down Winterland on this day in 1978 with a phenomenal New Year's Eve show. John Cipollina, Ken Kesey, and Dan Aykroyd were among the guests on stage as the band partied all night before an early morning breakfast. Whether you have seen the show a hundred times or never laid your eyes on it, cue it up at Grateful Dead of the Day and get in the party spirit.
Watch So Far, the Grateful Dead show/documentary that was, in part, recorded on December 31, 1985.
On the Heads' Tales podcast, Chris Stone of Grateful Photo discusses being at the 1981 New Years' shows and the joy of seeing the Dead in the Bay Area with 15000 good friends. Listen to the episode.
To celebrate the New Year in 1983, the Grateful Dead were joined on stage by Maria Muldaur. Read more about her and that incredible New Year's show.
Tower of Power joined the Grateful Dead and Etta James on this day in 1982 to ring in the new year in fitting fashion. Check out the show and read more about Tower of Power.
New Year's shows always bring out the guests, and 1981 was no different. That year, Joan Baez played a solo set and then joined the boys - or at least most of them - onstage for another few tunes. Check out the show and read more about Joan Baez and her history with the band.
On this day in 1988, Clarence Clemons first joined the Grateful Dead on stage. Read about the Big Man's time with the Dead and friendship with Jerry and Bobby, including the talk of all three moving in together.
December 31st Shows and Recordings:
1983 - San Francisco Civic Auditorium - San Francisco, California
1984 - San Francisco Civic Auditorium - San Francisco, California
1986 - Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center - Oakland, California
Join Grateful Dead of the Day on Facebook.
Until tomorrow, spread the love and enjoy the music!