Craziest experiences from a show

[Tea]

Ive got more than my fair share - even after I rule out those that may not have actually happened (i.e. The lunar module landing on stage at Tinley Park, trapped inside a text of Euclidian Geometry at Poplar Creek, and gnomes carrying away Phil Lesh at Cal Expo).  I'll also not elaborate about anything that happened in the Cave section of Richfield Coliseum (90-93), I'm still scarred for life > Sun and Cosmic Mike have heard one such tale.
 
Soldier Field 6/1993
 
We had a NICE place to crash in Oak Park.  Hometown for a tour buddy whose mom was just as cool as she could be.  A bed, a pool, home-cooked meals, and she even fixed us up a picnic lunch before we headed each day out to take the L into the city.  I was not the picture of good health at the time so this stop was beyond clutch to get my feet under me.  Not an instrumental part of the story but merely to illustrate that I was feeling well and had energy that had escaped me for weeks.  I’d need it.
 
So we roll up to our seats 20-30 minutes before go time to soak in some humanity.  Smiles, sundresses, more smiles, laughter.  So this shirtless guy is running up and down the aisles wearing what can only be described as a crown made out of MJ leaves.  He has eyes as wide as saucers and is not making a damn bit of sense.  We’re havin a good chuckle and then we notice him pull out a BIG vile, squeeze out a couple tablespoons of liquid, and then literally toss it in the direction of his mouth.  I could tell some splashed off because people around him are turnin their heads and then instinctively wiping away what is to them – an unknown substance.  My friend and I look at each other and then start laughing our asses off.  My friend says, “Let’s call him puddles!  BBBWWWHHHAAAA!”  That laughter dies down quickly as we realize that this guy might just be dosing people without their knowledge.  Not so funny anymore.
 
We resolve to confront this guy and at least put a stop to his indiscriminate overflow of what appears to be Vitamin A.  We roll up.  This guy has the expression of a wild animal.  My buddy says something to the effect of – dood your spilling that liquid all over the place and all over some people.  You need to check yourself buddy.  He growls at us – I kid you not.  He then proceeds to pull out this value-sized bottle of Eye Drops, opens his palm, and starts draining the contents.  He carefully raises his hand to eye level while were standing right in front of him.  He looks like he is going to take a big lap from the pool and instead……he throws it right at us!  It’s on my face, on my arm, and my shirt.  My friend – he is not wearing a shirt and it’s all over him.   Puddles bolts down the stairs and we start following him.  He turns the corner toward the concourse and when we get there – He’s Gone.
Oh shit.  There’s no way it’s real…..it had to be waaaay diluted for him to be lappin in up like he was…..are we in deep shit here?.....what should we do?  I started laughing but my buddy was less than pleased.  There was nothing we could do but see what was in store.
 
So Row Jimmy starts up a bit later and the next thing I know:

 
We didn’t sleep for almost 48 hours and that train ride home on the 1^st night was one of the most unbelievable post-show sights ever.  Think Tron.  So Puddles - wherever you are - I'd like to shake your hand before I punch you in the face.
 
Sorry for the length – had some time to kill.  More (less verbose) to come after some other contributions

[redeyedbert]

I'll go with a simple, wow.  

[Rude]

Awesome story!!

[Taper Ron]

First one comes to my mind:

Laguna Seca July 29, 1988

There were me another guy and two girls, we didn't feel like being in the crowd so we had a little spot up the hill.

We noticed this guy behind us, paying a little more attention to us than the music. Soon he meandered in front of us and stood facing us. I asked him to move on, he moved closer to "cutie" (can't remember her name but she was a CUTIE) and squatted down in front of her, staring at her with that "magic look in his eyes". I (gently) took him by the arm and helped him up, we walked up the hill where I explained to him the error of his ways. I sat back down with my friends, he then took off his clothes and started pissing in his shoe. I started toward him and he started running up the hill. I saw there were some cops coming so I stopped and watched as three cops chased this naked guy in circles for, I swear, five minutes. Finally, when he tried to go over the fence a woman cop tackled him. They took him away with nothing on but handcuffs.

I suppose the decent thing to do would have been to take them his clothes - didn't cross my mind at the time.

 

And Tea, I think maybe there was an incident with Gnome at Cal Expo.

[JacksonPollockDancer]

I still think one of the "craziest" things I saw was DSO new years 09 into 2010 at the rams head. After a wild and weird evening our group was all standing by one of the bars chit chatting, I was dancing to some music that was no longer playing, just chillin.

 

Some guys coming done the steps face planted, like straight up belly flopped, down like 6 stairs on to a concrete floor. His face made the loudest slap I've ever heard against the concrete. This gentle proceeded to immediately spring to his feet and stagger out of the venue.

 

Doesn't have much on the stories some of yall can share I'm sure, but I still I'm dumbfounded how that guy just popped to his feet.

[Tea]

Omni - 4/1990

Not my finest moment. Decided I was sneaking into the 1st nite based on the no ticket/just enough $ to eat thing.

Couple hours before showtime. There is a connector area/building between the venue and the hotel and it's wide open with nobody there. We waltz in there and it's just a hallway with another open door with stairs going down - the rest are locked. Down we go.

Just a bunch of electrical boxes, vents, and scaffolding. It's fucking dark and we have to light lighters just to see a couple feet. We chill out down there for a long while - mostly in the dark.

We hear some footsteps and get flat against the wall. They get closer - then right in top of us. I hear "....Doood! Where the fuck am I man?!?" Another Head. We scare the shit outta this guy! He is relieved to pair up with us as we decide to try and find our way into the Omni.

We walk aimlessly until we find a staircase going up with sounds of the venue growing in volume. We get to a landing with a dim bulb and a door. We open the door and step through....Our first sight? Two cops in full paramilitary gear.

Time for dinner - part 2 to come.

[Rude]

I have limited dead show experience but at deer creek 95 we were in the lawn. We hear all this commotion behind us. We look back and see people climbing the fence and people inside were ripping down the wood so guys could get in. This keeps going for some time. Next thing we know all these very white people start running down the grass. It looked like they were aliens. They were covered in a white powder substance. I was convinced that we were being invade by aliens. No shit. They didn't look like humans. Turns out it was tear gas. I thought these things were there to kill us. About 2k peeps got inside. 2nd set they leave house lights shining in our eyes and start out playing victim or the crime. Fitting song.

Coolest contraption I saw was at soldier field in 95. Dude had a backpack with 2 small nitrous tanks with a hose with a shut off valve hooked to his hip and a bag of balloons on his other hip. We got a few balloons and sat down in the parking lot for an hour then were like shit. We have a 2 mile walk to our hotel. We walked to the other side of the stadium and saw a row of 100 cabs. Was living in lexington at the time so cabs never popped into our head. We hopped in the cab with a fresh balloon and enjoyed the short rude.

[Tom Banjo]

In the vein of TaperRon's story.  At Langerado, the first one I went too.  I believe 2005.  In the campgrounds one night, some guy took off his clothes and start running around.  Security took notice and decided to chase him down.  It took a few minutes as he was oil'd up (sweat or oil I really don't know) but the guy was slippery.  Eventually a security guy that would later refer to himself drinking and smoking with us late night as camp counselor took him down and hog tied him.  As he explained, when someone get loose on to much psychedelics and booze, it "his job to take him down."

 

On another note, a buddy of mine and myself took our clothes off and run around during a few songs of the Furthur set at Wanee.  We fortunately avoided any security tackles.  One member of this board can certainly confirm this story, although I'm not always sure Help Slip is lurking around.

[chuckvegas]

I'll go with a simple, wow.

That's a roger.

[Tea]

These cops spin around, take one look at us, and one says "you guys are lost and obviously stupid." Just looking for the way to the venue sir. We got lost looking for the office since my friend lost his car keys. They look at each other and then back at us. A few words are mumbled and then one steps forward. "Come with me guys."

We're busted - I know it. He walks beside us asking how we got to this area. 3 guys talking at once, each with the beginning of a different story. Shit. He smiles. We keep walking until we get to a door and a table with another cop. Cop says to the other pig "these guys say their lost and ended up here. What do you think of that one?" Pig says "Oh really? Well, I guess we better take care if that." Here it comes....,Cuffed and stuffed...Searched....Jail for trespassing. The guy opens the door with an outstretched hand. We shake it and walk through the door - right into the concourse!

We stare at each other. Expressions go from fear to joy. Houselights go out and the place goes Nuts! Our companion hugs us and runs into the seating area with his arms raised and the loudest yell I think I've ever heard. We then do the exact same thing as our new friend did as the band launches into Touch.

That was the best Touch of Grey I ever did hear.

These were some of the crazy/fun times. There were many others that personified the cold reality of life. Those don't jump to my mind like the others but were much more educational.

[Dead duck]

Had a tent blow onto a lake at deercreek and stay upright out in the middle until it was fished out

At gratefulfest one year. Had a chick dance over to me and my boys(9&13 at the time) only to cop a squat not 3 ft from us. It was late and my younger one didnt even see what was going on but i'll never forget the look on my oldest's face.

[Taper Ron]

So why call them "pigs"?

 

New Years Eve 1990 my friend Jeff ran my deck for me so I could just "enjoy the show" Rebirth Blues Band then Branford Marsalis opened while they were playing I sort of explored the Coliseum I ended up as far up in the "nose bleed seats as you could get. you'd need binoculars to see the  stage.  To say I was wasted is a great understatement.  There were probably 15 or 20 rows below me where no one was sitting so I just sort of stretched out with my feet in the row in front of me.  First a janitor came along to see if I was OK - told me I was missing the show.  I assured him I would be up for "The Good Part".  A little while later this guy comes along and sits a few seats down in the same row.  Now I'm wonderin' what's this dude up to?  Pretty soon he comes over and asks if I'm OK, I assure him I am  So he asks if I want to smoke a bowl (yeah sure that'll get my eyes open) so anyway we shoot the shit and smoke up and he leaves.  When I finally get my shit together (a little bit) and get back out in the hallway I run into him again - Coliseum Security.

 

On a side note that was Bill Grahams last NYE, my last time on the floor at a Dead show and close to my last Dead show.

[HelpSlip]

On another note, a buddy of mine and myself took our clothes off and run around during a few songs of the Furthur set at Wanee.  We fortunately avoided any security tackles.  One member of this board can certainly confirm this story, although I'm not always sure Help Slip is lurking around.

lmao i believe u called it the pants down or no pants lsd party somethng like that; thankfully jim made it there after his situation in georgia ;an experience ill never forget..what a magical weekend that was

[Tea]

Taper Ron > You've sure seen some trancendant shows just with the 2 you've referenced in your experiences.

 

Laguna Seca?!?  China Cat > Crazy Fingers > I Know You Rider?  One of the BEST PITB's of the 1980's, and a tune that they should have done way more in Believe It or Not.  I saw the one they did at Copps 1990 and I'm pretty sure they never played it again.

 

NYE 1990?!?  Awesome show with Branford and Hornsby trading licks - freaking jazzfest!

 

MC > Streakin at Wanee, eh?  It's a good thing you stayed ahead of the long arm of the law.  That would have been an unplesant takedown....

[bs69]

In the early 90's I went to a Phish show at Cincinnati Music Hall. High class venue with plush seats and carpets and a giant chandelier hanging over the seating area. My friend and I had balcony seats and settled in to see the show (only the second time I had seen Phish). It was uncommon in those days to have no-smoking venues, but this was one of them. The lights go out and smoke begins to fill the air. It became so thick that the smoke/fire alarms went off a couple songs into the first set, right about the same time that I was really launching. Instantly, house lights go on and the band stops playing. The next thing we know, we are being led out of the venue and into a downtown park. There are now a couple thousand hippies mixing in with the homeless, prostitutes and crack dealers in a downtown Cincy park. After about a half hour, they let everyone back in the venue (without checking for tickets). My buddy and I ended up in the lower seating area right under the chandelier, which I swore was going to fall on my head at any moment. Soon the band was back on the stage, after a stern warning to not smoke or the show would be over, and appropriately broke into "Fire". They played strait through the rest of the way without a set break. Great show

[Tom Banjo]

PDPLSD party upon reflection. One of the p or the final party is redundant.

[Brian NJ]

So many crazy times but to name a few-

-Alpine- maybe 88 it was the shows with rain for days beforehand My lady and I were walking with the masses up the mud soaked path to the venue gate when we see the crowed parting like the red sea ahead of us. As we came up to the parting we see the cause was a fine young woman laying in the mud with her sun dress pulled down exposing her breast and hiked up where she was very adept at pleasuring herself until she was in a full blow orgasmic laughing frenzy.

 

- Cal expo maybe 90 I was in bad shape sitting before the show on a bench when this beautiful woman says "dude you look like you are going through changes man" I proceed to fill her in on the previous year of my life and what I was about to be encountering in the next couple days. She talks me into going to med tent but before we got there I handed her about 1200 dollars telling her I would spend it on west coast garbage by the end of the night then still be in the same boat. The med tent- guy named Raz I think kept me for the next few days/week I think. I am at a show I think maybe a week later when I hear my name being yelled from far away it was the woman running to me with a hand full of money, all of it. She refused to take any of it so I gave her a hundred to donate to whatever she thinks is good. This woman restored my faith in humanity in a way she will never know.

 

- Portland Maine maybe 79 I am painted head to toe in day glow by 2 fine young friends while driving my 67 chevy spaceship to portland. Show sold out me too spaced out to even ask anyone for ticket when this guy says you need to get in? uha! Follow me, we go through 4 sets of doors with security at each door he points to me and says he is with me and we go through. by the 3rd set not even knowing these were doors to the venue I am thinking oh shit I am either being busted or brought into the local looney bin. 4th set of doors we walk into the venue to the first notes of I can't remember and he says enjoy the show!

[chuckvegas]

Most of my GD stories involve felony issues while trying to find the damn venue. Not worth relating here, as they are a dime a dozen to everyone. Starchild may want to share a good one involving a giant bonfire and a major casualty at Terrapin Hill a few years back. Herdy don't talk much so I will keep quiet about a few other DSO tales.

[Tom Banjo]

That was crazy at terrapin hill.

[chuckvegas]

Nuts for sure. I wonder how that turned out for him. Glad your ride worked out!

[Tom Banjo]

Eh, I was strung out and had to meet up with the other team. Lucky to be unscaved. Glad it worked out too. Skin grafts I imagine.

[Rude]

Buckeye lake 94. 95 degrees all day then at show time this thunderstorm rolls in. Temps drop to mid 60s in July. Pours down rain. We are all cold and soaked. I had just bought this new tie dye from a vendor. Well when the rain comes, my tie dye starts melting. Colors are running down my legs. My frievds are pointing to me and laughing getting many other peeps to do the same. I was in no state of mind to be the center of attention lol. We end up going to concession stand to try to find coffee or hot chocolate. Alas it was July. No dice. We were freezing. We end up buying this Bloomin onion to just hold in our hands to warm up lol. After the show it was so muddy that everyone going up the big hill had to hold hands as it was a mud slide. There were several chains of 10+ peeps holding hands to get up the steep buckeye hills. It was a surreal view.

That was also my 1st dead show

[Brian NJ]

After the Portland show I needed to get back for business the next day in NJ so we dropped again at about 3am for the ride back. While leaving the lot we saw a guy holding a sign saying New Brunswick and picked him up since we lived 20 min from N.B. He must have been in some other world also to get in the car with us. About 6hrs into the ride as we are driving through the Catskills we realize that we are bringing him to New Brunswick NJ  NOT New Brunswick Canada.

[sudds94]

July 4th 1989 Buffalo and it's hot, i'm tripping my ass off and wearing a white sundress (which is crazy to think about now since all I ever wear nowadays is  tie dyes and shorts, even to work)  Terrapin Station forces me to glide thru the crowd on the floor towards the stage to get as close as I can get to the band and stay there til the end of the show.  For some reason, many of us did'nt want to climb the steps from the floor of Rich Stadium and we were trying to climb up the walls which seemed pretty high up to just climb.  Suddenly I see a hand towards me to help me over the wall and take it and we run really fast out of the place and hang out all night on the guard rail in the parking lot.  I don't even think we really talked (can't remember cuz of tripping my ass off)  The guy gave me his custom made GD jean jacket and a tiedye and I met up with him a month later after summer tour, moved in to his apartment and now we've been together for almost 25 years (married almost 20)  Not the craziest of stories, but it's one I can somewhat remember and so glad I found the love of my life at a GD show and we have DSO to continue our fun travels thru life.

[Supplicated Velvet Thunder]

my first DSO show was at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta.  I still know when this show gets put on my player bc there is a lot of glass clinking during tuning which is a great reminder of how DISGUSTING and full of broken glass and vommity the floors of that place are…..

 

and there was this guy dancing BARE FOOT the WHOLE show! 

 

Now I know Brian and it doesn't seem so weird and I have seen some really weird stuff that I don't feel comfortable talking about in public but damn, dude, you freaked me out that night!!!!

 

kiss kiss!