Home Before Daylight: My Life on the Road with the Grateful Dead

by Steve Parish

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Biography & Autobiography. Music. Nonfiction. HTML:Steve Parish was never one to walk the straight-and-narrow, even during his childhood growing up in Flushing Meadow, Queens. Busted as a teenager for selling acid in the summer of 1968, Parish landed in Riker's Island. The experience changed him and after getting out he did his best to stay out of trouble, securing a job moving music equipment at the New York State Pavilion. The first show he worked was a Grateful Dead concert in July of show more 1969 and Parish was captivated by the music. A life seemingly headed nowhere had suddenly found its calling as he fell in quickly with a band of likeminded misfits who formed the nucleus of what would be the greatest road crew in rock 'n' roll history.
Parish traveled to California, where his apprenticeship began. Working for the band for free and learning his craft, Parish got to know Jerry, Bobby, Phil, Billy, and Mickey and through the years they forged an unbreakable bond. He became very close with Garcia in particular, acting as his personal roadie and later manager for his solo performances and Garcia Band shows.
Home Before Daylight is a story of friendship, of music and redemption. It is a piece of music history, one that reflects the American spirit of adventure and brotherhood. Seen through Steve Parish's eyes and experiences, the Grateful Dead's wild ride has never been so revealing.
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1 review
The darker side of the Grateful Dead. Having already read Billy's book (the adolescent side of the Dead) and Phi's book (the philosophical side of the Dead), Parish's book really pours a darker light on things Although both Bill and Phil talked about the drugs and Jerry's addiction, Steve told it in a much more tragic light and how the band fought to keep things together while Jerry self destructed. I'm an huge fan and no fool. We the fans all knew Jerry had problems but there is only so much you can really see from the front rows that is only visible from the stage. The book made me feel sad more often than not. Despite this dark cloud over the band it still is amazing to think all they accomplished, but sad to think how much more they show more could have done if someone just stepped forward and grabbed Jerry, shook him hard and made him see what he was doing to himself. Yes there is the argument that is who Jerry was and you couldn't change him, but the other side of me says but you never even tried. Instead everyone stood by and watched his demise saying 'well that's Jerry and we can't change so we shouldn't try'. Sad. show less

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Canonical DDC/MDS
782.4212660922

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Genres
Music, Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction
DDC/MDS
782.4212660922Arts & recreationMusicVocal musicSecular forms of vocal musicSongsGeneral principles and musical formsElements of secular songs
LCC
ML421 .G72 .P37MusicLiterature on musicLiterature on musicHistory and criticismBiography
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Reviews
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English
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ISBNs
5
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3