Grateful Deads first ever gig in UK and Europe 1970. John Peel in 1995 – “How many examples have there been in the longish history of English music festivals that define the festival in your head for ever There have been a few, I DJ’d and compered at The Grateful Dead at Ted Askey’s pig farm, Staffordshire, this was a great example”. 56 years ago the Grateful Dead made their first trip across the pond to play at the Hollywood Festival. The two-day outdoor event was packed with a variety of local and national talent, which included the likes of Traffic, Ginger Baker’s Airforce, Mungo Jerry, The Flaming Groovies, Tony Joe White, a very young Black Sabbath, and Jose Feliciano. The Dead performed a fine electric set despite the tiny stage, crowded press arena, and a PA and monitoring system that they weren’t able to hear. No problem, the boys played full tilt for three hours straight to the delight of the Newcastle-under-Lyme freaks and adventurous locals. One reviewer said “It represents a band playing at the edge of new possibilities and ideas,” The British press were unanimous in their positive appraisal of the Dead’s showing at the festival: Mac Garry (in Zigzag 13) said that they were “-totally magnificent.” His description of Jerry’s performance was compelling: “-the solid red Gibson looked so flimsy in Garcia’s hands that it looked like it would break like balsa if he squeezed it-but it seemed like every time he touched it, beautiful, clear ringing notes poured out-and on Me and My Uncle he was just fucking fabulous.” Dick Lawson (‘What would be the answer to the answer then’ Friends 12) completely gushed over the show, describing their set as “The most ecstatic exploratory music ever witnessed in England.”
