Forty-eight years ago this week, the Grateful Dead kicked off their debut run at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. The two-night stand marked the genesis of one of the most iconic connections in music and sports history. Fresh off of his 1978 NBA MVP season with the Portland Trailblazers, Bill Walton was finally able to meet his heroes backstage, crutches and all. Big Redhead would go on to attend an estimated 850 Dead shows and become one of the bandโs most beloved friends ๐น
Photos by Keith Stieduhar and Charley Boden
@30MinMinistries So do ignorant "god" cucks like you. You live a pathetic life and try to make everyone miserable like you. Do better at life sweety you're losing.
Talkin' 'bout, Hey now! ๐
Right before JFK Stadium was condemned and shut down for structural decay, the Grateful Dead took it around for one last spin on this day in 1989. Just hours before the show, inspectors had reportedly found piles of combustible materials and endless electrical problems. Nonetheless, the love of jamming propelled the show forward and closed out with an ironic โKnockinโ on Heavenโs Door.โ
You can find this performance of โIko Ikoโ in 'Crimson, White, and Indigo,โ captured at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia on 07/07/89, on the Grateful Dead YouTube channel.
Flagstaff 2026 premieres this weekend ๐ฒ ๐ง Watch both nights, originally recorded on June 5th and 6th, exclusively with a @nugsnet subscription. Night one airs on Saturday, followed by night two on Sunday!
New to nugs? Sign up to watch at https://t.co/NmCS0JrnUp