Here, I am with Phil Lesh.   

Phil was the bass player for the Grateful Dead. It’s been about thirty year since the death of Jerry Garcia. Jerry died on a heart attack in 1195. Phil owns a local restaurant and music venue called Terrapin Crossroads, where he still regularly performs.  The photograph was taken in Via Veneto, a restaurant on Fillmore Street, in San Francisco.    

Massimo Lavino, owner of Via Veneto, is also photographed with us.  I have been dining regularly at Via Veneto for close to thirty years and Massimo is a good friend.  

Phil wrote an autobiography titled, “Searching for the Sound:  My Life with the Grateful Dead.”  In the photograph where we are looking at each other and laughing, I am relating a story from the book that I found entertaining and I describe it here:

The Grateful Dead was the house band for the “Acid Test,” parties thrown by Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters back in the mid-1960’s, prior to LSD being outlawed.  In the book, Phil describes an evening where the band was playing an “Acid Test,” party at The Fillmore. 

At about two in the morning, San Francisco Police (SFPD) enter the hall. They see a full house of party goers under the influence of LSD.  A microphone run through a feedback loop was available to party goers for their use.  A member of the SFPD picks up the mic and repeatedly asks, “who is in charge?”   

As I related the story, he filled in additional details from that evening and we had a good laugh! 

Coincidentally, Via Veneto, where this photo was taken is just six blocks north of The Fillmore.  I often have dinner there before walking to a show at The Fillmore.  And unexpectedly, but fortunately for me, I proposed to my wife at The Fillmore while seeing a show with the “Drive by Truckers,” headlining. 

I am a big music fan, and San Francisco is a great town to indulge that interest.  The Grateful Dead is a beloved hometown band. I have always been a fan of their music and the musical influences from which they drew inspiration as well.    

-SM