CASEY JONES) received considerable radio airplay, sold respectably, and provided much of the Dead’s concert repertoire into the nineties. With a nationwide following the Dead expanded their touring schedule and started various side, and solo projects. They worked themselves up to a 23-ton sound system and a large entourage of roadies, family, friends, and deadheads. The Dead finished out their contract with Warner Bros. with a string of live albums. In 1973 they played for over a half of million people in Watkins Glen, New York, on a bill with the Allman Brothers. By then they had formed their own Grateful Dead records. Europe ‘72 was the last album to feature keyboardist Pigpen, a heavy drinker who died in 1973 of liver disease. Keith Godchaux, who had played piano with Dave Mason, joined the band and brought his wife, Dona, as background vocalist. The pair toured and recorded with the Dead until 1979, when they were asked to leave and were replaced by pianist Brent Mydland. The following year, Keith was killed in a car crash in Miane County. In 1974 the Dead temporarily disbanded while members pursued outside projects, but they resumed touring in 1976. After signing with Arista in 1978 they played a set of three concerts at the foot of the Great Pyramid in Egypt, which were recorded but not released. The Dead’s main support continued to be their touring six months out of the year. They celebrated their 15th anniversary with the release of two more live albums, including the mostly acoustic Reconing. The band took a hiatus from recording until 1987, during which time the Dead toured with Bob Dylan, while Garcia’s health and personal habits made disturbing headlines : In January ‘85 arrested for possession of Heroin, in July 1986 just fifteen months after being in a drug rehabilitation center ...
