3. John Kahn’s 1958 Precision Bass
JGB bassist John Kahn laid down some of the chunkiest bass lines evs. For a skinny guy he sure got a fat tone. One of Kahn’s pride and joys was this 1958 P-Bass that still has most of its original parts. I’d love to rock a Don’t Let Go on this bad boy.
4. Pig Pen’s Hand Written Lyrics to New Potato Caboose
Robert Petersen wrote the words to Anthem of the Sun’s New Potato Caboose and Phil Lesh wrote the music, but this auction’s for Pig Pen’s handwritten lyric sheet. Not sure why Pig wrote down the words, but I still want it.
5. Vince Welnick’s Wersi Keyboard
This keyboard represents everything I hate about the horribly over digitalized synthetic tones Vince Welnick added to the early ’90s-version of the Dead. I’d really like to buy this digital synth so I can smash it repeatedly. No offense to Vinnie, of course. I’ve got a few friends who wants Welnick’s shirts.
6. Pig Pen’s Harmonica, Circa 1960’s
Ron “Pig Pen” McKernan’s incendiary harp playing propelled many a Grateful Dead raveup. I’d totally jam the fuck out to a Turn On Your Lovelight using one of Pig’s Hohner Blues Harps which is up for sale.
7. Paul McCartney’s hand-written letter to Vince Welnick
Back in the ’90s, Paul McCartney put together a short film of Linda McCartney’s rock-n-roll photographs from the ’60s. Macca sent Vince a copy of the film along with this hand-written letter.
8. May 8, 1977 Barton Hall Unused Tickets
The word “epic” was born on a warm spring evening in Ithaca back in 1977 when the Dead gave one of the most well-known performances of all-time at Cornell’s Barton Hall. Here’s a chance to own two extremely-rare unused tickets for that show.
9. Jerry Garcia’s Skeletons From The Closet Gold Record
This was a gold record given to Jerry Garcia to celebrate the sales record of the greatest hits package, Skeletons From The Closet. It’d be nuts to own something that probably hung in ol’ Jer’s basement.
10. Grateful Dead – Tour Itineraries
Each tour, the fine folks at the Grateful Dead offices put together a printed/bound booklet containing basic information about each stop on the trip. These booklets give a really cool look behind th scenes at life on the road for the Dead and their crew.
Are there any items from the auction that you have your eyes on? Let us know by leaving a comment below…
13 Responses
That Bel Air is just an unbelievable item. Especially if it’s still in good condition. Sweet jeebus!!
I wonder if you can still get in with those Barton Hall tix?
That case would be perfect for sneaking things through airport security.
If only some of these items could talk.
When do they auction Donna’s vocals on every Playin’ off?
Where’s JG’s middle didg?
i’ve heard it exists. kind of like a phalangeal yeti…
if i was filthy rich and slightly insane, I’d buy it.
Cornell ’77 was not a warm spring evening…….it snowed that night!
But it was a warm snow! 😉
I looked at those tour itineraries. Not only an interesting superficial peek into touring, but one of them contains a bunch of Vince’s room service reciepts with itemization of what he ordered, room that it was charged to, and of course signatures. I’ve never thought of ordering shrimp cocktail and pizza together! And they guy sure at a lot for breakfast one day (pancakes, plus eggs and bacon).
great article!
i want a black t-shirt
BERMAN?!?!??!
Have we come full circle?!?!?