He's Gone: A Tribute to Brent Mydland.
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- čas přidán 12. 10. 2023
- After Grateful Dead keyboardist Brent Mydland passed away in July 1990, the DTV crew stopped working on several other projects in order to produce this half-hour tribute, which originally aired in November 1990. We interviewed many deadheads about this shocking loss to the musical community. We also interviewed Dave Margen who played with Brent in Go Ahead, as well as authors Blair Jackson, David Gans, and Jerilyn Brandelius. We were fortunate to sit down with lyricist John Barlow, who shared his experience co-writing Brent's last songs.
Producer: Donya Fahmy, Kathleen Watkins, Scott Wiseman.
Director: Scott Wiseman.
Editor: Darin Holwitz.
Camera: John Gammon, Jarid Johnson, Kathleen Watkins, Scott Wiseman.
IMC Camera: Darin Holwitz.
Interviews: Brian Bothun, Donya Fahmy, Scott Wiseman.
Tape Operator: Doug Sjostrom.
Photos: Gene Anthony, Jay Blakesberg, Rob Cohn, Ron Delany, David Gans, Herb Greene, Shirley Hatten, Jeff Loomis, Brad Lyman, Tim Mosenfelder, Richard Russo, Robert Thomason.
Harry & AVA Paintbox: Quinne Fokes, Darrell Adams.
D/FX Operator: Peter Holwitz.
Fractals: Fractalvision 1989.
Chyron: James Cunniff.
Music: The Henry Kaiser Band, Silver.
"We Can Run" courtesy The Audubon Society.
"Rainforest Message" courtesy Grateful Dead Productions ©1988 Directed by Justin Kreutzman
Special Thanks to Len Dell 'Amico.
Publicist: Donya Fahmy.
He was the best. Fall '89-Spring '90 was smoking.
To me, 88-summer 90 was pure fire. Summer 90 was only slightly less than Summer 89-Spring 90.
I was at his last show, and returned from that tour feeling like I’d just been at a long, sumptuous banquet - exhausted and satisfied. Hearing the devastating news of Brent’s passing so soon afterwards was like a brutal punch to the gut. I don’t know if I ever got over it, because watching this made it all feel raw again. Just like his band brother Jerry, he was too pure for this world, and it ate him alive.
Same for me. Brent was brilliant.
Though Jerry's passing affected my path forward the most, Brent's passing did feel like a gut or chest punch and was totally a surprise to me at the time. Summer 95 Jerry didn't look that ill from where I was, though he did flub often, but I had a "flash" (easiest way to downplay the actual experience) and I knew someone had "death" chasing them. So when Jerry passed, I fell apart, but no gut punch and the depth took me until the fall during a trip during and after a Phish show to grasp that Jerry was actually gone....or on a Pacific island and playing to locals and diving. Now I do wonder how it does feel so far away and I wonder if I dreamt it all. So many more have fallen since.
I will never forget the day he died. I was driving around in a work van listening to WPDH out of Poughkeepsie, NY and they teased a news bit that a member of the Grateful Dead died and they made us wait after a commercial break to tell us who it was. I shamefully admit that I was relieved when I found out that it was not Jerry but at the same time I was devastated and unsure that the band would carry on without him.
It's strange but I felt the same relief when my mother came to my door I could tell by her face that someone died, for a moment I thought it was my father because they were going through a divorce and he was threatening suicide, but then she said "did you hear yet? Jerry died". For a moment I was relieved that it wasn't my father but then the nightmare kicked in. It was so sweet that my mother drove to my house to comfort me. Immediately after my phone started ringing and my friends and I were soon meeting on the streets to be together in the shock of it all.
I miss Jerry and Brent so much
I love Brent he was a brilliant and passionate musician. The shows weren't the same for me after he died.
Jerry took it hard - a lot of wind went out of his sails...
Agreed 👍
It was the beginning of the end
@@godfreydaniel6278 Yes indeed! His Dad, his Mom, Pigpen, Keith, and Brent. Not to mention his childhood friend in that horrific crash that Jerry somehow survived.
The morning we heard my best friend & I went to the “boulder” in town that everybody used to spray paint different slogans on and put a giant stealie with “We Miss You Brent” on that thing-it stayed up for months. A lot of us “Touchheads” missed(and still do) him a whole hell of a lot!❤️🌹💀❤️
Long story short - I'm a a Brent guy - was from the day he showed up. He broadened the band's musical palette, greatly improved the vocals, and let's face it - he brought a badly-needed energetic boost to a band that was running out of gas. Bottom line - I was on the bus for the entire life of the Grateful Dead - from the Haight onward. I've got over 200 shows under my belt - and the Brent band was my favorite version. A lot of good and talented people have been laid low believing they can surf the edge of multiple substances. More's the pity...
Well said. I was a Brent guy too. His run is where I got on the bus. Imho this era of the Dead was also when they were at their peak in terms of mastering their craft and their sound. Lucky to have been there because we won't see their like again in this world...🥀
Amen. I love Brent and Keith
It's bothered me since '96. No Dead arrangement ever attempted to cover a Brent song. Glad to see He is finally receiving some accolades. 70's Dead were different. 80's were Brent. Truly missed! RIP Bro. See you on the other side!
I have heard Warren Haynes cover Brent with Phil and Friends. Warren was also in one of two of the post-Jerry incarnations of the Dead, maybe Furthur or "The Dead" and I thought they did just a couple of Brent songs, or I could be mistaken and it was Bruce Hornsby in their first post-Jerry group The Other Ones.
Not enough. The Grateful Dead had some great songs with Brent.
Could have built a jam round instrumental version of Blow Away@@williamwoodall1293
I loved Brent. He pushed Jerry to new heights imo. Especially 1987 with a sober Jer. Still really miss them both, like family
Even when Jerry started using again did they soar and that seemed to have everyone climb several notches. Too long ago now.
Jerry loved playing with Brent. They shared many smiles when they played.
RIP Brent! My FAVORITE B-3 Master and soundtrack to my Deadhead life!
We love you Brent! ❤😢 You left this world too soon. I wish I had a chance to see you while you were still here, but you'll always be around in the music you left. 🎹🥲
I think a case can be made that Brent was the most underappreciated musician to ever live. This is sadly true of many fans of the band for which he made so many contributions. His voice blended so well with Bob & Jerry. Excellent pianist, wonderful organist, but I'm always struck by how appropriate everything he played was. He found his space, in a guitar band, and filled it beautifully without getting in anyone else's way. All of us can nitpick about what was and wasn't played during Fare Thee Well, but the absence of a Brent song was a tragic oversight, IMO.
Grate comment.
Brent’s energy is what got me up and dancing for the first time, Hartford ‘87.....
Dave's Picks Great buy
Give a listen to "Row Jimmy" from Dozin at the knick - the interplay between Garcia and Brent toward the end...doesn't get much better than that to illustrate how amazing a player Brent was and why he was THE most talented and perfect foil for that band. Simple divine. Heaven sounds just a little sweeter knowing they are jamming into the far and wide! RIP Brent Mydland!
🌹🌹🌹
I was there!
Always thought that was one of the best Row Jimmy's ever.
They say that Row Jimmy was Jerry's favorite to play.
Well said 🥀
Brent is definitely my favorite non-original member of the troupe. His playing inspires me continuously and his joy is obvious in live performances. He was a great counter-weight to Jerry on stage. Well missed, Rest in Roses Brent Mydland.
The longest stint of a keyboard/pianist in Dead history. "We Can Run" is epic. "I will take you home" is my song for my daughter. One of my favorite Grateful Dead eras. I also love the Hornsby era.
Brent is literally the single most sound that most easily defines the Dead through the years. Good on ya Brother!!
Through the years 1979-1990. Certainly not through the entire 30 years the band played.
I feel in love with him Alpine ‘88. I needed his heart and raw power to fully get into the band. I miss him so much.
*fell
Brent was my favorite keyboard player with the band. I loved his singing. He would always light a fire under Jerry's ass to rip it up. I cried when I learned that he died and this video made me feel the same way again. My friend wore a black armband for a month. I remember being moved to tears when he would sing Blow Away over the last couple of years. His pain in anguish would come through the air and touch your mind and soul. He was an artist. He made you feel the way he felt. Rest easy brother. We will remember you forever.
This is the best tribute to Brent Mydland, an excellent production, and one whole episode. Thank you!
I remember seeing Brent for the first time in Easton, Pa., 5/7/79, his fifth show as an official member of the Grateful Dead. A great addition to the GD in my opinion.
Thanks, Joel, we worked a few months on this tribute.
@@dreamswedreamedyou’re doing great and very appreciated work. Thank you
Agreed, tremendous work - great summation of so many aspects. This conveys the spirit of Brent so well. Thank you. 🙏✨
@@dreamswedreamed You really captured the essence of Brent! ✌
Brent was rocket fuel for an aging band he bought so much energy . So underrated he was on the same level as Jerry in my world . I felt like my best friend died when he died. I went to a few shows after he left but I for me the band I loved so much would never be the same. I'm just glad i saw all the years he played .
There's nothing like Phil and Brent doing keep on growing
Yeah that was great. I heard it at Merryweather Post Pavilion in Columbia MD. The crowd went wild!
saw those two open with Do it in the Road, Philly 1985
Brent was my era loved him. He did play w a lot of emotion. Its a shame he never felt he fit in as he was loved by many. All the deads key players were great no one should forget pigpen he was an incredible performer
Thank you for this. Started touring on Brent’s watch in 1985. Always thought he brought great energy. Some unreal moments shared. Wish he was still around. That wasn’t his calling.
Wow, I had no idea he thought so little of himself, then again all of us addicts are broken in one way, or another. He was the best and my favorite after Jerry.
All downhill from here was an appropriate name for that Dead DVD concert. RIP Brent RIP Jerry
Brent was one of a kind. A diamond. Always love listening to his work.
Brent songs weren't my favorites but I liked Tons of Steel and some others. But his vocals and organ sounds overall were the Dead I grew up with. He could sing the hell out of a song. Dear Mr Fantasy, Hey Pocky Way, his section on the Weight, Gimme Some Lovin. He could light the place up. Other than a few Hornsby shows, like others have mentioned below, it just wasn't the same after he was gone. My last show was in '93. Brent was my era and I loved it. Forever Grateful.
Ya didn't miss too much from 94 and 95 except Unbroken breakout
My very first Grateful Dead show was July 23, 1990. I was just a kid… They opened with my favorite tune: Cold Rain & Snow. It was so incredibly weird and sad finding out a day later that he had died that very night. I can tell you he played with more heart and fervor than anyone else in the band that night. Like he was so intense on the keys! I was so taken by that. He stood out for sure. Anyways- He’ll never be forgotten and he’ll live on forever in their music. Beautiful tribute!
I remember all too well the details surrounding that time in my life. A big part of my heart broke that day and shows were never as good again , I said it , NEVER !
...very grateful to have seen the whole 1990 Summer Tour...I wept when I heard the news after I got home...
Miss that SOB ,damn he was good!! 88-90 were some banging years 👌 Thank you for posting this
Not a day goes by that I don’t think about you Brent. Your songs, playing and fire were and are so profoundly appreciated. I wish I had had the confidence to say more when you walked up to say hello. For years I sang your tunes to my young daughter at bedtime. She gets it all now. Blessings.
Hating on Brent is like hating on your awesome step parent. Yea sure, they weren’t there at first, but they brought you as amazing as amazing could be as long as you let them. Pigpen and Brent are my favorite years. So completely different, and that’s okay. I know one day Brent will finally take me home to where in belong.
Brent was so great, wrote many awesome tunes and his on stage play and interactions with other members, particularly Jerry, were wonderful
Thank you Brent! I will always LOVE My Dancin’ @Winterland with Brent
Playing ‘Just a Little Light’
Naomi Radtke
R.I.P Brent Mydland. I am a hard core deadhead and he was one of my all time favorites. A truly talented amazing gifted wonderful amazing musician and human being. Super underrated.
I will miss all of the Gratefuldead members that have left us but especially Brent + Jerry so much ! ♥️🐰🐇💧🕊️🪽💀☠️👽🪐🛸🚀🌈🌟✨⭐️☄️🪭♦️😥🥲love to u y’all ! ❤❤
Such a sad day when we lost him. The last show I saw with him at Orchard Park he was on fire. Feel lucky I was around to witness such amazing music.
300 under my belt and I agree Brent was as special as they come talent beyond talent much videotape has Jerry and Brent looking and playing off each other with a big smile on Jerry’s face. Long live Brent
Hey now ! This is just awesome ! What a great tribute to Brent. I saw over 150 shows from 1981 to 1990 with Brent . He elevated the music to new heights and more of a Rock N Roll sound. Garcia and Brent fed off each other with dueling solos and crescendos ! Watching this video I cried and got Goosebumps ! This is just beautiful 🤩 Peace ☮ from Hawaii 🎸🎸🎸🙏🙏🙏🤙🤙🤙🌴🍄🐬🏝🏄🏻♂🌹🌋🦑🐙🌊🌺🌸🍺🐳
Brent has such passion and soul and thats hard to find these days.
Comparing different musicians is ridiculous on its face but if we're gonna do it Brent was my favorite by far. Not even close imo. Garcia fed off him tremendously. Outta 220+ shows (without JGB) I can't tell you how many times Jerry was draggin and Brent pulled him out of it and got the band going. It's plain to see as Jerry was never the same after his passing. He went right back to bad habits which led to him taking poor care of himself that eventually killed him. Their relationship was undeniable. Brents passing killed The Grateful Dead. End of story.
brent was awesome. the dead werent the same after he was gone. sucked when he died.
I didn’t live through his era, but Brent was my favorite member of my favorite band. A tragic loss but I’m grateful that people can still appreciate this beautiful music and keep his memory and legacy alive
Thanks for sharing this. What a gifted musician that left us way too soon. I will never forget how his talent and energy exploded off of the stage and the way it made me feel. As a fellow musician, he was truly an inspiration to me. RIP Brent, you are dearly missed.
I sat almost on top of him at my first show 3/31/87 couldn't take my eyes off him the whole night love u Brent
Amazing! Well done. Thank you
Beautiful tribute. Trying not to tear up. Thank you so much.
Glad you enjoyed it
Brent is definitely my favorite GD keyboardist. His harmony singing on so many songs were amazing. His back-up vocals on Playin in the Band were the best in my opinion - Donna and Vince couldn't touch that type of harmony. Love you, Brent.
Brent Myland was a badass keyplayer and twice thrice the singer of The rest.
The Dead were never the same after that. It was the beginning of the end.
Brent was the ultimate compliment to Jerry imo. They played off each other so well!
I appreciate all the work you put into this. My time with the Dead started 6/21/84, so he was as much of the band as i knew. This was very informative and enjoyable, thanks.
He was the best.
Everyone of us who LOVED Brent, knows where they were when we heard the tragic news.
Thank you for doing this
Miss Brent so much. Rip sweet angel
I was in Greece when I heard this devastating news.
Hopefully Brent and Jerry are jamming together for eternity miss them very much
Happy Birthday Brent
Brent years were my favorite miss both the boys really bad god's luv to all
Thank you so much for this! Loved it.
Thrive in peace Brent 🙏🏼 God bless the good ol' Grateful Dead (~)};)
In the interview man said he felt like an outsider in beginning truth told he felt that way till the end which was so sad because I LOVE HIM AND MANY OTHERS DO TOO
What a wonderful tribute! All I can say is he tickled my monkey bone in a huge way. Brent and Jerry connected in a soulful way. Rest In Peace Brent. 💔✌🎹
Brent told me that he didn’t feel a part of the band so I told the boys in the band that so Jerry was the one who he looked up to + was very happy to c Jerry bring him his smile that they ended up sharing !
Im going to be looking for you in Heaven, Brother Brent ❤️🔥
Chill bumps
I met Brent once and what a fitting video to tell the story.
I got on the bus in '88, a greyhound bus, out of the Midwest with a one-way ticket to Monterey, CA. My destination was Laguna Seca Speedway and a Grateful Dead concert. This was my 1st show and it fit like a glove. Only 21 years old I still wondered why I didn't find them sooner. I never wanted to leave and absolutely had to be to the next show. Dozens of shows later I found myself on Bourbon street in New Orleans. Me and some friends were on the southern fall tour "88 and this day we were in town early for the show at UNO Lakefront Arena (venue?).
After walking around for awhile we ducked into an alley to smoke a fatty. About the time we were walking back to Bourbon street I had a bad case of cottonmouth and was digging some change out of my pocket when I dropped a bunch of quarters as I was picking them up when I noticed one and rolled about 10 feet away, as I went to pick it up someone stepped on it. I just froze for a minute and looking I didn't really recognize the shoe. So I stood up slowly kind of saying "haha get off my quarter" expecting it to be some prankster. But when I stood up I was face to face with Brent and it was him who put his foot om my quarter just as I was about to pick it up. We just stared at each other for about 10 seconds, him with a straight face waiting for me to recognize him and me with like a haha look until I did recognize him. When I did my eyes got really HUGE and he then just giggled and walk on with his entourage leaving me stunned. After about another 10 or 15 seconds i grabbed my quarter and my friends tried to get it from me saying "man that was Brent, THAT WAS BRENT".
Don't know what ever happened to that quarter I know I kept it in a special place for a long time and was probably so broke I spent it on a grilled cheese sandwich.
Just so happens that my last grateful dead concert was Brent's last show at the World Amphitheater in Chicago. He moved on the the next show in the sky and I just moved on. RIP Brent.
Grate story
RIP you legend.
"Heroes get remembered, but legends never die."
- Unknown
37😢❤️🔥
I loved Keith so much. But if anyone could fill that spot it was Brent. I remember the day he passed. My heart sunk driving down I 95. I could tell immediately that Jerry loved playing with Brent witch made it more fun for Jerry and that being said made it more fun for everyone. Jerry loved Brent. He brought new life to the band. Little Red Rooster!!! Come on what more do I need to say..
6/27/85 SPAC
Midnight Hour opener
Mydland and Weir dueling vocals, Garcia noodling
Sheer, unbridled joy
And then Hershey PA the next day, another awesome concert, everyone in the band was at their best. 1985 was a hell of a year.
Michael Bloomfield actually crafted that combination of Hey Jude and Dear Mr Fantasy in the late 60s, there is a great version right here on CZcams somewhere
Jerry never got over Brents death,it was a downhill slide from there
Thankfully Townshend got over Moonie
Barlow says it better than me of course he was John Perry Barlow. Met him at Msg as well poor guy back in my uhh psychedelic days I hugged him from behind he was like SECURITY!!!! No but was taken a back by it. Then saw him in the village talking to the guy from Facebook played by Justin Timberlake forgetting his name but he’s big time. Sean Parker that’s it
Only saw him with them one time but you knew you were in the presence of a master.
Many of us saw something wasn’t right that fatal summer tour 1990. He looked very disheveled although his playing was unreal. He was understandably very depressed he couldn’t leave America for Europe and went into a funk among a painful seperation from his wife having 2 young daughters
Lisa❤
If you listen to Fall and Winter 79 he really added to the jams.
i got to see Brents last show in 90 chicago, also saw Jerrys last show in chicago 5 short years later.
Band doesn't slow down,that much! They had to add another gear , overdrive!😂
Never got to see Brent with the Grateful Dead. But I wish I could have. 88-91 is PEAK dead imo...
That's why I didn't go to his room went He asked Me. He was married with kids. I'm not a groupie and I don't date married Men. But, something in me wishes I did!
1:27 is that caveman Sam Losco?
He's gone is about mickeys father not brent
Pig Pen???
drugs
I always felt that the keyboards in the dead were supposed to be supporting the rhythm and enhancing Jerry's leads.Brent played like a solo artist and I felt he took up too much space in the mix and made it sound crowded. It didn't help that Bobby wasn't content to be just the rhythm guitarist lol.
They were all lead players, imo
Never hear of him
Drugs are bad kids, mmkay?
I’m not saying anything negative about anyone but personally, I will never understand why people are borderline psychotic about these guys.
Cuz you don’t “get it” and you aren’t mean to obviously so why you commenting
Grateful Dead shows were practically guaranteed to become epic moments that would become epic memories of good times in your life.
Mine started 6/21/84. Summer solstice show from Kingswood, Ontario.
There was a nearly spiritual comeraderie amongst their fans and followers. A traveling community of peace, music and the release it can bring.
Did you ever get to any of their shows?
I never got Brent. Don't like his voice. Thought his songs were not Grateful Dead enough. All these Heads loving the crap out of him made me feel mystified to say the least. He was a heck of a player but his key board sounded like a Fisher Price toy.
Are you confusing him with Vince Welnick? Because, no offense meant to anybody, but Vince's keys and vocals often sounded like circus music. He used way too much synthesizer, for one thing. After Brent died, the few shows I saw with Vince were 100% better those times Bruce Hornsby Sat inm
Brent and Jerry where so tight together
foxboro ‘90 was my last brent show ⚡️