“Fare Thee Well,” the last series of shows by The Grateful Dead, ends tonight in Chicago.
You may be planning to watch the final concert together by the four living original Grateful Dead members (Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir), tonight in Chicago. (For a guide on how to watch, in theaters or in your home, click here.) And that may start you thinking about that Dead show you saw … was it 1980, or 1981? And where exactly was it? The decades have a way with playing tricks with memories, especially when mind-altering substances may have been involved.
Anyway, for those who need a little help remembering — and for those who don’t, but are just curious — below is an annotated list of all the shows the band performed in New Jersey prior to Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995 — 55 shows in all, starting in 1970. I used deadlists.com, jerrygarcia.com and setlist.fm as sources.
If you think a show has been left out, or if you have any memories you’d like to share, please share in the comments section, below.
Oct. 11-12, 1970: Marion Shea Auditorium, Paterson State College (now William Paterson University), Wayne.
Nov. 22, 1970: Middlesex County Community College, Edison. New Riders of the Purple Sage open.
April 17, 1971: Dillon Gym, Princeton University. New Riders of the Purple Sage open.
July 18, 1972: Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City.
Sept. 19, 1972: Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City.
Sept. 26-28, 1972: Stanley Theatre, Jersey City.
July 31 and Aug. 1, 1973: Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City. The Band opens.
Aug. 6, 1974: Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City.
Aug. 4, 1976: Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City.
June 17-19, 1976: Capitol Theatre, Passaic. Last night broadcast live on WNEW-FM.
April 25-27, 1977: Capitol Theatre, Passaic.
Sept. 3, 1977: Raceway Park, Englishtown. The biggest concert ever in New Jersey, with more than 100,000 people attending. New Riders of the Purple Sage and The Marshall Tucker Band opened.
Sept. 2, 1978: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford. New Riders of the Purple Sage and Willie Nelson opened.
Nov. 24, 1978: Capitol Theatre, Passaic. With Hamza El Din on “Ollin Arageed.”
March 30-31 and April 1, 1980: Capitol Theatre, Passaic. John Belushi guests on “U.S. Blues” on March 30.
May 15, 1981: Athletic Center, Rutgers University, Piscataway.
April 16-17, 1983: Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford. Stephen Stills guests on “Black Queen,” “Johnny B. Goode” and “Iko Iko,” the first night, and “Love the One You’re With” and “Not Fade Away,” the second night.
Oct. 17-18, 1984: Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford.
Nov. 10-11, 1985: Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford.
April 6-7, 1987: Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford.
July 12, 1987: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford. Collaborates with Bob Dylan for third set and encore.
March 30-31 and April 1, 1988: Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford.
July 9-10, 1989: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford. Los Lobos open. Guest appearances by members of The Neville Brothers on “Drums,” “Iko Iko,” “All Along the Watchtower,” “Morning Dew,” “Sugar Magnolia” and “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” on second night.
Oct. 11-12 and 14-16, 1989: Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford.
June 16-17, 1991: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford. Little Feat opens.
June 14-15, 1992: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford. Steve Miller Band opens. Miller guests on “Spoonful,” “The Other One,” “Morning Dew” and “Baba O’Riley,” night one, and “Standing on the Moon,” “Not Fade Away” and “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” night two.
June 5-6, 1993: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford. Sting opens.
Aug. 3-4, 1994: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford. Traffic opens, with Jerry Garcia guesting on “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” both nights, and also “Gimme Some Lovin’,” second night. Also on second night, Bruce Hornsby joins the Dead on accordion for 11 songs in second set and encore.
June 18-19, 1995: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford. Bob Dylan opens.
CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET
Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.
26 comments
I have not so fond memories of the ’72 shows at Roosevelt Stadium. I was working for the promoter that summer. At the July show, the supposedly peaceful Deadheads decided that music should be free and began throwing all sorts of objects at the security guys out front. It was the only time in my concert-working history that I took off my staff t-shirt before heading to my car at the end of the night because I feared for my safety.
By the time the September show rolled around, security was ready. Extra hands were hired including an ex-Israeli commando, and a huge guy who sported a bullwhip. As you might imagine, things were much more peaceful.
I am not in any way suggesting that all Dead fans are violent. Sometimes a handful of bad actors make everyone look bad.
The list seems to be missing the 4/1/80 show at the Capitol Theatre in Pissoff, NJ
Thanks! Have added that one.
The greatest most intense know you rider I have ever seen Was in the 2nd set April 1 1980. Go to gdsets.com for any set list you want. I followed Jerry and the dead shows where ever he played from 69 to 95.:I still don’t understand how I survived those 30 years ‼️☮️🍄☯️🦷🌹💚☮️ Ps. Put on a pair of good head phones and Go listen to the China rider from that 4.1.80 show. Awesomely intense and Jerry very animated on stage.
I recall a rumor that the GD East Coast hotline was physically at the Capital Theatre…anyone know about this?
That would make sense since concert promoter John Scher owned the Capitol and he did a ton of work with the Dead over the years, not just in NJ but all over the East Coast. I’m not sure if this is true but it’s been said that the arrangement was that Bill Graham would do all shows west of the Mississippi River and Scher would do all shows east of it.
I can confirm this arrangement per both promoters splitting the US in half like that Scher and Graham had a good relationship so this worked well for them.
We were at the 1970 Middlesex County College show, right up front in front of Jerry. I remember one of the roadies sold an audience member his big ten gallon hat.
Was there also, we got backstage, great memory
I was at the Concert in East Rutherford in 1978, at Giants stadium. I remember for a fact their were several deaths. Someone jumped off the spiral stairwell to the ground below tripping on acid.
I was at that concert in 78. No one around us knew who the old guy with long hair was. Willie Nelson became famous about 6 months later.
awesome list!
if u are still updating it, please add Dylan as the support for 1995 Giants shows.
Other bands that opened for the Dead at Giants:
Sting
Steve Miller
Traffic 1994
Thx
Don’t forget Willie Nelson ad waylon jennings
At which show?
Giant Stadium 9/2\78 but no Waylon Jennings only Willie Nelson and New Riders of the Purple Sage
No one knew who The old guy with long hair was.Willie Nelson became famous about 6 months later.I also remember him onstage with the GD.Donna and him were singing together.
Capitol in Passaic in Ju;y of 1972
Capitol in Passaic in early July of 1972
Are you sure about that? No source lists a Capitol show that month, though they did play at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City. Do you know the exact date or have any other info?
One of the April ’87 Brendan Byrne shows was also broadcast live on WNEW. I have a tape of it, somewhere…
Where the Camden, NJ concerts?
Such as?
Stephen Stills joined the band for Love the One You’re With as well as NFA on 4/17/83
Thanks, will add
Roosevelt was a nightmare to get to and especially leave from after the show–the night of the rain-out was extra nightmarish. But all of those early ’70s shows there were unforgettable, peak Grateful Dead. Seeing them in ’76 at the Capitol in lovely Passaic was also a treat, even if it wasn’t one of their greatest nights. By the ’80s, the bottom fell out. Saw them in ’83 at Brendan Byrne with Stills and they were beyond bad–Stills especially. I got off the Live Dead bus after that one, although I continued to see the Garcia Band every chance I got, right up until the end (2/28/80 at Kean College was especially tasty). You don’t miss the opportunity to see a musical genius in action.
The Dead played one week I believe in August the academy of music 1973 NY