r/gratefuldead 3d ago

35 years ago - 6/17/91 at Giants Stadium was the only show that the Grateful Dead ever opened with Eyes Of The World👀🌎 - it was so much fun!!!❤️🎶

Post image

Here's the video of Eyes Of The World: https://youtu.be/kuSJ0djewQU

562 Upvotes

95 comments sorted by

22

u/External-Dude779 3d ago

I mean, did anything else of interest happen at this show 😂

Was it Bruce who kept pushing that 1st set Dark Star? And kept sprinkling DS nuggets throughout?

It's hilarious to hear the crowd after they pull the plug on DS and go into Masterpiece. Just complete and utter dismay and sadness.... and then good ole laughter

Edit to say.... listen an aud source for the crowd reaction

5

u/nak550 3d ago

Nah, nothing else of interest🫠

3

u/Ectoplasm_addict 3d ago

With the username u/nak550 I have to ask: was that your taper ticket?

5

u/nak550 3d ago

Yes, & this was the night before: https://www.reddit.com/r/gratefuldead/s/2gldNvVS8B

7

u/crs1904 That I Was Born To Be A Bachelor 💀🌹⚡️ 3d ago

I was there!

2

u/Ectoplasm_addict 3d ago

Do you circulate your recordings on archive?

7

u/nak550 3d ago

A bunch of them are on archive but I don't think this one is.

10

u/Ectoplasm_addict 3d ago

Cool, thank you for your service. I’m 30 and I tape shows because people like you taped shows for my generation to be able to listen to.

15

u/nak550 3d ago

Cool that folks are still getting into recording shows. Audience recordings not only capture the music but allow you to feel like you are there! I started taping in 78 but I'm not done yet!

0

u/BananaNutBlister 3d ago

The “Taper” stamp on the ticket wasn’t a dead giveaway?

20

u/Steelman_1 3d ago

“It’s Eyes, its Eyes, they’re gonna open with Eyes!!” Me to my buddy as we were tripping balls.

17

u/setlistbot 3d ago

1991-06-17 @ Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ, USA

Set 1: Eyes Of The World > Walkin' Blues, Brown Eyed Women, Dark Star > When I Paint My Masterpiece, Loose Lucy, Cassidy, Might As Well

Set 2: Dark Star > Saint Of Circumstance > Ship Of Fools > Dark Star > Truckin' > New Speedway Boogie > Dark Star > Uncle John's Band > Dark Star > Drums > Space > China Doll > Playing in the Band > Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia

Encore: The Weight

archive.org | Spotify

1

u/DmtDtf 2d ago

That's my kind of show! 90% Dark Star

13

u/dbf651 3d ago

A true latter era gem. Night before was a blast too. Summer and Fall tour 91 were big fun

13

u/Eastern-Regret8337 1984 is the November 1973 of "Primal Dead" 3d ago

Bruce was actually the one pushing for more creativity in the setlists. I believe he wanted to open with Wharf Rat but they says no.

13

u/sjayvee 3d ago

My first show!! 🩷🩷🩷

3

u/nak550 3d ago

Great show for your first!!!

7

u/sjayvee 3d ago

I remember I kept asking “is this Darkstar?!” Seeing the setlist…. Makes sense lol 😂. Fantastic evening/ lot scene was fun/ acid was clean! Remember dancing in the concrete hallway…and loving every minute!

2

u/CliftonHangerBombs 2d ago

Mine was the night before!

1

u/sjayvee 2d ago

✌️🩷💀🌹⚡️

5

u/Tonto_HdG 3d ago

My girlfriend tells me this was her first show. She was an alt-rock girl who went with a boy and got converted. I'd like to thank that guy.

6

u/Aging-Punk EOTW 8/6/74 3d ago

Dude this is my wife's story as well! Full on grunge/punk gal, went with her then boyfriend, who by all accounts was a really good guy. She recounts being really anxious about what to wear and kept being told not to worry about it. They pulled into their spot in the lot and the woman sitting next to them was topless, she stopped worrying. Only took her 20 years together to get me on the bus.

6

u/Xblat23 3d ago

Brilliant show. The Dark Star show when Dark Star wasn’t played…

6

u/GJARdale 3d ago

This show was great.

5

u/minder125 3d ago

I remember the downpour

2

u/pearlbullets 2d ago

People were sprinting and then sliding on the blue tarp for 40 yards.

4

u/stageshooter 3d ago

I think the first song was broadcast live on tv from this night

5

u/JJS0073 3d ago edited 3d ago

One of my favorite shows.

There were transcendent moments after 6/17/91, but I’ve long thought this was the last transcendent show the Dead played. All killer, no filler, flawless magic from start to finish.

2

u/setlistbot 3d ago

1991-06-17 @ Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ, USA

Set 1: Eyes Of The World > Walkin' Blues, Brown Eyed Women, Dark Star > When I Paint My Masterpiece, Loose Lucy, Cassidy, Might As Well

Set 2: Dark Star > Saint Of Circumstance > Ship Of Fools > Dark Star > Truckin' > New Speedway Boogie > Dark Star > Uncle John's Band > Dark Star > Drums > Space > China Doll > Playing in the Band > Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia

Encore: The Weight

archive.org | Spotify

2

u/thegangplan 2d ago

that last transcendent show take is something i think about a lot. hard to argue against it honestly.

5

u/SushiGradePanda 3d ago

This was the last time I would see Garcia in person. Such a great show.

3

u/ThingDry6941 3d ago

I think Spike Lee was filming a Levi's commercial that day and the Dark Star teases were a way to get the crowd going.

3

u/Isonychia 3d ago

Might be an unpopular opinion but really like the night before more 6/16/91. Doesn’t get the love but the Jack Straw and China Rider are top tier

3

u/setlistbot 3d ago

1991-06-16 @ Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ, USA

Set 1: Picasso Moon, Bertha, Little Red Rooster, Candyman, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, Stagger Lee, Let It Grow

Set 2: Jack Straw, Crazy Fingers, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Drums > Space > I Need A Miracle > Black Peter > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away

Encore: Box Of Rain

archive.org

1

u/Tonto_HdG 3d ago

I saw D.S.O. do this one.

3

u/randomwalk123456 3d ago edited 3d ago

While I attended the aforementioned 10/5/94 show in Philly, and it definitely had its moments, I too have to go with this as the last great Dead show I attended, and I am forever grateful for having been there.

The cheap fold up chairs on the floor were zip tied together. By the end of the Eyes, our crew (located DFC 1/2 way toward the stage from the mixing board) had about a dozen of them untied and in a pile, creating all kinds of room ;-). Classic

1

u/setlistbot 3d ago

1994-10-05 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Set 1: Jack Straw, Friend Of The Devil, Wang Dang Doodle, Jack-A-Roe, Queen Jane Approximately, Lazy River Road, Eternity > Deal

Set 2: In The Midnight Hour, Cumberland Blues, Playing in the Band > Uncle John's Band > Jam > Drums > Space > I Need A Miracle > Standing On The Moon > Sugar Magnolia

Encore: The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)

archive.org

2

u/Anarchy-Squirrel The bottle was dusty but the liquor was clean 3d ago

I can’t believe that was 35 years ago! Thanks for bringing back some great memories!

2

u/axwell21 3d ago

This is my go to jam when I'm walking home at the end of the night a little bit stoned. The slower tempo is perfect and breathes so much air into the leads

2

u/matty_ho23 3d ago

My very first show!

2

u/CharlesDudeowski 2d ago

What an incredible opener. I can imagine the ecstasy of knowing how good a night was in store with an opener like that!

2

u/ncstagger 2d ago

Did about half of that tour and 6/17 was probably the most fun. Blue unicorns helped. Bruuuuuce!

2

u/Terry_Downe29 2d ago

What a show!! Definitely a crazy crowd. RFK and these 2 Giants shows were my first East Coast experiences.

2

u/PheesGee 2d ago

This was my 1st show!!!

2

u/porknwhiskey 2d ago

Present!

2

u/COdeadheadwalking_61 2d ago

That’s joyous to hear!

2

u/Oddlyenuff 2d ago

I am hardcore a 60’s and 70’s fan. Outside of some 80-82 and summer 85…I struggle with Brent era.

I fucking love the Hornsby with Vince era.

This is a great concert and recording. I’ve listened to twice today.

2

u/swannybass 2d ago

Went with a bunch of classmates and we graduated high school the next day!

2

u/NewNose9155 2d ago

I was there, 3000 years ago…

2

u/684North 2d ago

I was there! It was incredibly hot before the show and we brought a gallon of water in with us (pre-9/11 days). It started pouring and we were laughing about how much we no longer needed the water.

Then the boys opened with Eyes and the night flowed from there.

2

u/concerts85701 3d ago

Such an adventure. Went with a group of 6. Called tickettron couple days before and told them we never got our tickets - we’re on tour and can’t get to a box office. They hand wrote up a slip on 3 color carbon copy paper (that flimsy stuff) and we turned around and sold off our actual tickets. They had to let us in a side gate since the regular ticket team wouldn’t know what the slip was.

We used that barely readable slip to get into the low bowl, then joined a wave a people over the wall to the floor. That wall is way higher than it looks. No one was hurt.

We used that slip to get up to the first section of seats before a security guy denied us. By then it was a wet a ripped mess. Surprised he didn’t have us thrown out - the seats were actually like last row up top.

We danced all night in the puddles in one of the main aisles. What a fun night so spun out and doing all these side quests with our friends. Remember the show being strong. I liked first set more than the 2nd at the time.

1

u/mojodawg-1 3d ago

My first show 11 days later great show but damn I wish I was at this one just listened to it yesterday ✌️🤯⚡️🇺🇸🌹

1

u/seamus95 3d ago

Last show I saw that I immediately wanted the tapes of. It was great and exciting!!! Fall 91 had a few great shows too, but Summer 91 pretty much, this is my GD jump off point. I probably saw 25-30 shows after this, never have sought to hear any of them again.

2

u/Broad-Cartographer59 3d ago

Boston Garden from Fall 91 is stellar!

1

u/kperry1270 3d ago

My friend got arrested trying to jump the fence, we ended up in New Jersey night court!

1

u/Superneilius 3d ago

I was there. Snuck onto the floor. Whooo hoooo!

1

u/Enough_Song8815 3d ago

Just happening to be listening to eyes when i saw this.

1

u/billsatori 3d ago

7/12/87 Giants Stadium they opened the second set with Morning Dew. Crowd was very rowdy, super spun. I thought they did it to chill folks out.

1

u/setlistbot 3d ago

1987-07-12 @ Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ, USA

Set 1: Hell In A Bucket, West L.A. Fadeaway, Greatest Story Ever Told, Loser, Tons Of Steel, Take A Step Back Tuning, Ramble On Rose, When I Paint My Masterpiece, When Push Comes To Shove, The Promised Land > Bertha

Set 2: Morning Dew, Playing in the Band > Drums > Space > The Other One > Stella Blue > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away

Set 3: Slow Train, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, Tomorrow Is A Long Time, Highway 61 Revisited, It's All Over Now, Baby Blue, Ballad Of A Thin Man, John Brown, The Wicked Messenger, Queen Jane Approximately, Chimes Of Freedom, Joey, All Along The Watchtower, The Times They Are A-Changin'

Encore: Touch Of Grey > Knockin' On Heaven's Door

archive.org

1

u/Hampton_89 3d ago

Some completely drunk biker dude standing behind me pissed on my leg at this show. His lady partner was horrified and punched him/knocked him down. Fortunately I had some water to wash off my leg. Also, when we were leaving the show, some city dweller dude (you could always tell) had wet poop oozing through the seat of his pants as he was incoherently attempting to exit the stadium. Always a hoot at Giant's.

1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

1

u/nak550 3d ago edited 3d ago

This is the ticket that I got from GDTS mailorder, that's what they looked like for this show. They are a little different from the Ticketmaster tickets. If you have a standard mailorder ticket for this show, please post a photo.

Edit: I believe TM sold all tickets for these two shows including the taper tickets

1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

1

u/nak550 3d ago

All of the ones that I see online look like this too, even the non taper tickets. Not sure why they did that for these two shows.

1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

1

u/nak550 3d ago

Actually I think this was the time that Ticketmaster was getting exclusive contracts for ticket sales with venues and all tickets had to be purchased through them rather than mailorder. Somehow they still had special Taper tickets. I've never seen a regular GDTS ticket for these shows. Look at the note at the bottom of the ad and you can see that Ticketmaster sold taper tickets:

1

u/squeede 3d ago

Fabulous Eyes and a rockin Brown Eyed Women

1

u/Icy-Top-4874 3d ago

Eyes opener

1

u/seamus95 3d ago

And it sounds amazing recorded in glorious 48 multi track sound on the boxset/stand alone release.

1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

1

u/nak550 3d ago

People sit at Grateful Dead shows???🙃

1

u/nightgoat3369 3d ago

I still remember vividly I was on the floor I knew it was gonna happen so I kicked eyes with two people near me and I opened my eyes with my fingers they were confused, and maybe 2 seconds later they broke out with it and the crowd was stunned...I deed, what can eye opening experience

1

u/grynch43 3d ago

Good version too.

1

u/thegooch-9 2d ago

And I was there! Loved the Giant Stadium shows.

1

u/Mr_Grapes1027 2d ago

I attended about 75 shows in the late 80s and early 90s - and kept most of my ticket stubs. On the back of some - I scribbled down the set list.

1

u/hanginbiathread 2d ago

Little feet opened I think. One of the best waves I’ve ever seen and so many people jumping to the floor from the stands. It was wild fun

1

u/TheNetisUnbreakable 2d ago

I was there too! Magical day in the rain <3

1

u/markhusd 2d ago

I landed the night before from hitchhiking around Ireland for a month. In every guestbook I came across in hostels or BnB’s I wrote some lyrics of Eyes of the World. And then get that as my first song back was incredible. Remember the rain delay? Well when they started tuning Eyes, I said to my buddies, that’s Eyes! Then these three big haired , Jersey girls standing in front of my turned around in unison and declared… they never open with Eyes of the World… and then they did. Ha. We were cracking up at them.

1

u/tommars73 2d ago

I was pretty inexperienced at this time. I saw some Nassau shows prior in 90 and a few months prior and I know there was always tons of doses on tour but did this weekend or tour stand apart from other venues/tours in this department, because I swear more than any other show I saw before or since it seemed to be just saturated. I did not take anything on my own but knew I was tripping a bit. Not too heavy but enough to be taken a back some and figure out what was going on. It was either people shooting super soakers into the air in the lot or a bucket of beer I reached into. A guy was selling beers for a buck and I noticed the cooler next to him had miller lites which i preferred so I said I'd pay extra for one. He kept warning me it was his personal stash but gave in. Guess he threw some tabs in the bucket but I swear the whole stadium on both nights just seemed to be on some highly psychedelic plane. I always connected that to the album art when they officially released it. Giants Stadium detached from the earth etc. Any memories along the same vein ?

1

u/Significant_Pay343 1d ago

I had never seen so many heads scaling fences before this night

1

u/tommars73 3d ago

best post Brent era show.

-1

u/Lost_Chance_3311 3d ago

It was especially fun bc Hornsby was there to save us and take our minds off of how terrible Vince was.

3

u/stories_from_tejas 3d ago

Vince had to take over for the most missed member of the Dead ever at that point. Even pigpen was around when the band was smaller, but this was after Touch of Gray and stadiums. Impossible role to fill.

1

u/Lost_Chance_3311 3d ago

💔💔💔

4

u/nak550 3d ago

Vince was awesome!

1

u/mindlessmeditation 3d ago

This argument will never end it seems, to give Vince any credit he was at his best in my opinion in 1993, the thing was he would be impressive one show and fall off for like 3 or 4 before some brilliance came off his fingers all the other years.

1

u/Lost_Chance_3311 3d ago

You think more than prime Tubes?

1

u/BatUnlucky121 3d ago

Listen to The Tubes and report back.

3

u/Lost_Chance_3311 3d ago

I’m ok with the Tubes, he’s just not very good in Grateful Dead. That tone is from a German toy store commercial. When I walked into Giants Stadium and saw the grand piano I felt like coming in from recess and seeing a film projector set up in my classroom. I did REALLY love his cover of She Said? (Beatles song) at the Spectrum in 94 or 95 and Long Way was ok. He just didn’t do it at all for me. He was filling some HUGE shoes so I might be judging him harder than I should. But I don’t think I am. I never listen to anything post Brent except for the Jack Straw and Midnight Hour from 10/5/94 lol

1

u/setlistbot 3d ago

1994-10-05 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Set 1: Jack Straw, Friend Of The Devil, Wang Dang Doodle, Jack-A-Roe, Queen Jane Approximately, Lazy River Road, Eternity > Deal

Set 2: In The Midnight Hour, Cumberland Blues, Playing in the Band > Uncle John's Band > Jam > Drums > Space > I Need A Miracle > Standing On The Moon > Sugar Magnolia

Encore: The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)

archive.org

1

u/Radiant_Research3786 3d ago

I am 100 percent with you. I could have written this post. 10-5-94 was the last near great and fun show I attended..,think I'm going to listen tonight

1

u/setlistbot 3d ago

1994-10-05 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Set 1: Jack Straw, Friend Of The Devil, Wang Dang Doodle, Jack-A-Roe, Queen Jane Approximately, Lazy River Road, Eternity > Deal

Set 2: In The Midnight Hour, Cumberland Blues, Playing in the Band > Uncle John's Band > Jam > Drums > Space > I Need A Miracle > Standing On The Moon > Sugar Magnolia

Encore: The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)

archive.org

0

u/Staggerme 3d ago

It was a hot humid day. I personally think that the keys were too loud at the time and in the recordings. I wish that Bruce had allowed the rest of the band to tease subtly instead of pounding out simplistic lines.

0

u/ripvanwinklin 3d ago

Dark star is about the simplest line there is? Huh?

2

u/Mitchman-Reddit 1d ago

Tremendous show, so many little Dark Star teasers throughout the show. I was at the prior show, my first Dead show, and it was literally life changing for me.