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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!mtuxo!mtunh!mtung!mtunf!ariel!vax135!petsd!pesnta!pertec!felix!fritz!john
From: john@fritz.UUCP (John Gilbert)
Newsgroups: net.music.gdead
Subject: Mr. Mydland
Message-ID: <3347@fritz.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 22-Jul-85 19:38:13 EDT
Article-I.D.: fritz.3347
Posted: Mon Jul 22 19:38:13 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 25-Jul-85 06:10:37 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: FileNet Corp., Costa Mesa, Ca.
Lines: 38

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The other day at the Ventura shows I found myself in a discussion regarding
Brent's status as a "real" member of the Grateful Dead.  I must say that
this is not the first time I have heard such conversation.  It does seem that
some fans have trouble accepting Brent, and I am still not sure why.

I personally like the influence he has provided for the band.  His keyboards
are really colorful and round the music out nicely, a positive step forward
from the almost exclusive piano riffs of Kieth.  I also like his voice a lot.
It backs up the others (Weir espcially) well, and I look forward to his
lead vocals.  It seems on the recent east coast swing he sang little or not
at all of the "Brent" tunes.

From what I can gather, most of his critics seem to have the
most trouble with his own material.  Songs like "Babe, I don't Need You"
seem to go against the Grateful Dead grain with a negative approach to
life.  "Tons Of Steel" fits right in, and has become a pretty regular
tune.  On the other hand, I listen to Garcia's effort on this tune, compared,
say to what he does for "Dear Mr. Fantasy", and I do find that Jer puts
less energy into "Tons".

Nobody seems to think he needs to be replaced or anything like that, but
I really wonder why some have trouble fully accepting him.  After all,
how can you not fit in with a bunch of "misfits"?

Any constructive comments out there?  I suppose this could become a sensitive
issue, but it seems valid enough for discussion.

For what it's worth, if your watching the net Brent, you got my support!

John Gilbert
3533 Elmwood Dr.
Riverside, Ca.  92506

..!trwrb!felix!john

"Sometimes the songs that we hear are the songs of our own"