Grateful and Dead in Philadelphia – A brief history of The Grateful Dead and Dead and Company in their second home, Philadelphia.
The first time I had ever witnessed the Grateful Dead in action, spirit and vibe, I’m not entirely sure what I witnessed. Coming home from a long spell and flight back from Los Angeles, whisked away from the airport by my best friend dangling a bag of mushrooms at me for my first trip – just barely off the tarmac – everything from the show (I think it was Veterans Stadium) and the hang (Shakedown Street at the Swedish Museum at the Lakes) was magical. Now, with the Dead and Company coming through Philadelphia – legendarily, their “second home” – for Philadelphia’s first over-sized live concerts at Citizens Bank Park, this Saturday, August 21, it is time for a little history lesson regarding all things Dead and Grateful in the City of Brotherly Love. Besides, you already missed Phish on the shore in Atlantic City – now the Dead and Company show is a double must.
dosage MAGAZINE’s good friend, Ike Richman, is the wise one regarding all things Dead and Grateful and has prepared a full and lustrous list:
The Grateful Dead, who first appeared in Philadelphia on April 26, 1968, would eventually make Philadelphia a second home, with numerous three-show stops in either the fall or spring Truckin’ to a record-setting 53 appearances at the Spectrum (plus four more after the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995). No other artist comes close to the number of performances by the Grateful Dead at the Spectrum. (A history of live Grateful Dead shows in Philadelphia is below).
First Philadelphia Appearance:
April 26 – 28, 1968 at the Electric Factory with the Amboy Dukes, Edison Electric Band and Beymont.
Last Philadelphia Appearance (with Jerry Garcia):
March 19, 1995
Most Recent Philadelphia Appearance:
November 16, 2017 – Dead & Co. at the Wells Fargo Center
Shows at the Spectrum (53 with Jerry Garcia):
December 6, 1968 with Iron Butterfly/Steppenwolf (Quaker City Jazz Festival)
September 21, 1972
March 24, 1973 (released as Dick’s Picks 36)
September 20 – 21, 1973
April 22, 1977
May 13, 1978
January 5, 1979
January 12, 1979
November 5 – 6, 1979
August 29 – 30, 1980
May 2, 1981
May 4, 1981
April 5 – 6, 1982
April 25 – 26, 1983 (April 26, 1973, released as Dave’s Picks 39)
April 6 – 8, 1985
March 23 – 25, 1986
March 29 – 31, 1987
September 22 – 24, 1987
September 8 – 9, 1988
September 11 – 12, 1988
October 18 – 20, 1989
September 10 – 12, 1990
March 16 – 18, 1992
September 12 – 14, 1993
October 5 – 7, 1994 (Banner lowered on October 7 to commemorate 50th show)
March 17 – 19, 1995
Additional Configurations of the Dead at the Spectrum:
November 23 – 24, 2002 – the Other Ones
May 1 – 2, 2009 – the Dead
*NOTE: The Spectrum is the only venue where the Grateful Dead/The Dead performed in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s.
Shows at JFK Stadium:
July 10, 1987 with Bob Dylan
July 7, 1989 (Released on DVD/CD as Crimson, White and Indigo) – Final Concert/Last Event at JFK Stadium
Shows at Wells Fargo Center:
November 5, 2015 – Dead & Company
November 16, 2017 – Dead & Company
Shows at Temple (Football) Stadium:
May 16, 1970 –with Jimi Hendrix, Steve Miller Band and Cactus
Shows at Irvine Auditorium on the campus of University of Pennsylvania
October 16, 1970
Shows at the Tower Theater:
June 21 – 24, 1976 – (Note: June 24, 1976 live on WMMR)
Shows at the Civic Center:
April 20 – 22, 1984 – (NBA Playoffs at the Spectrum)
Shows at the Electric Factory:
April 26 – 28, 1968 – with Amboy Dukes, Edison Electric Band and Beymont.
February 14 – 15, 1969 – with Paul Pena
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