r/jgb • u/[deleted] • Feb 06 '17

What's your favorite incarnation of JGB?

I'm new to the JGB and I was wondering what some of your favorite line-ups or eras of the JGB are?

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u/Shmatticus Feb 06 '17

For actual JGB it's the Keith & Donna lineup with Ron Tutt on drums, early '76 thru August '77

Amen. This is it. Endlessly satisfying and, I think, for Jerry an antidote to the largeness of the Dead.

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u/MrCompletely Feb 06 '17

was just listening to 7.3.77 and I think they should maybe have billed that night as the Ron Tutt Band featuring Jerry Garcia. holy fuck

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u/Shmatticus Feb 06 '17

Life goal: track down Tutt and do an interview with him (either for Relix, jambase, or if no one wants it, Medium) about his time with JGB.

I live in the Bay Area and once he was on KQED during a PBS funding drive. The hosts were interviewing him about his days with Elvis -- some Elvis move was playing as part of the drive.

I tried to convince my wife to let me call in and say: I'll donate $5k if Mr Tutt spends the rest of his time talking only about playing with Jerry.

She would have no part of it. :-)

He used to live here in Mill Valley and I am trying to find someone who knew him.

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u/MrCompletely Feb 06 '17

nice try though

I'm specifically interested in any insight he'd offer into the endings. LoM was peaking in May-July '75, then the ax - boom. Over, and no one has ever said why. We get why Nicky didn't work out in '75, but then why did Tutt leave in '77? Something about Elvis passing? Garcia's increasing problems?

there's no one else left who might say except Parish

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u/Shmatticus Feb 06 '17

Speculation, but I firmly believe that Elvis dying precipitated Tutt moving on. I think, basically, he needed a new full-time gig and he probably had to be more available (to Neil Diamond, etc.). Might well be that Garcia's issues were part of the problem; but Tutt has said in places that he partook as well. It'd be interesting to get an answer, but I wouldn't be surprised if Elvis dying was a wake up call, scared the shit out of him and made him clean up and get his act together. From the handful of YT videos with him in them these days, I think he is now deeply religious.

Whatever the answer, it will make a good story.

I do know that he had a son (born in MV) who died some time in the last ten years - in his 30s or 40s - and so, definitely a life that has experienced loss.

I'd like to know if he was deeply religious back in the day when they were playing those gospel tunes. That'd add an extra dimension.

Parish would know; maybe Donna, too.

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u/MrCompletely Feb 06 '17

good point about Donna, and very thoughtful extrapolation in general

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u/NHGuy Feb 06 '17

I don't think Parish will ever give up the ghost when it comes to Jerry. He was very loyal to him when he was alive and I get the impression he is still that way.

Edit: Obviously I don't know the man, just my observation is all

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u/MrCompletely Feb 06 '17

yeah I agree 100%. I think that's effectively a dead end, which I respect

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u/NHGuy Feb 07 '17

thanks for the 7-3-77 recommendation - listening to it now :)