UNCLEJOHN.org

In a series of emails, Bill Murray himself tells this story.
Uncle John is here with his poetic comments
to Bill as he shares each part of his story.
This is an innovative creative interactive writing experiment.

Mirror talking why the scowl

Waiting for you to howl

With help from friends for sure

Hope you find what you’re looking for

GratefulDead

The Grateful Dead are the most prolific musicians in history.

They have played together performing more songs for more people than any other music combo.

The songs of the Beatles in the sixties liberated us,

and the words and music of Bob Dylan understood us and brought revelation,

but the sounds of the Grateful Dead,

that country folk rock jazzy blues jam beat feel good sound, transforms us.

The last days of the Grateful Dead are full of the first. Their sound is distinct, loud and unique. They're not just another rock ‘n roll band playing, but a musical collaraboration of intuitive consciousness, telepathic notes, energetic stimulation, stability, and balance we interpret in dance and spirit. We all recognize the Grateful Dead and their unique ability to be harmonious, focused, intense, with empathetic talent in collusion and cooperation, in a maze of transformation that speaks individually and collectively to each member of the audience.

I am riding the elevated "L" train in Chicago on the first night of the Grateful Dead's "Fare Thee Well" here. There's a group of black people surrounding this one older man who's at the center of their group. One of them asks, "What's going on?" and another echoes, "What's happening here?" and the older gentleman responds, "Don't you know the Grateful Dead are in town, and that they're different from every other band that comes here? There's two reasons, one, the following they have, and two, the vibe. Even the big names like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones don't have this kind of following, and they don't have that vibe", he says with emphasis, and smiling.

It’s Saturday, a hot, beautiful, sunny day. The crowd is packed like a parade coming into Soldier Field for tonight’s Grateful Dead show. The person walking in front of me turns around and asks, “What song are they going to do today?”

I extend my hand and say, “Shake the hand that shook the hand

is what Robert Hunter said to me the first time we met backstage.”

“U.S. Blues! Thank you!”

TALES FROM THE GOLDEN ROAD

with David Gans and Gary Lambert

Every Sunday 1-3 Pacific time

SiriusXM 23

JOHN MAYER

Sirius Xm 4 Sundays 6-8pm (PST)

THE LATE LATE SHOW 2015

JOHN MAYER GUEST HOST

ON THE SAME DAY

HE MET BOB WEIR

AND THEY PERFORM

“ALTHEA”

JERRY DAY 2026

Jerry Garcia Tribute

SPIRIT OF GARCIA

by Uncle John

There is a rapport between Jerry Garcia, and the musicians playing with him, and with their audience, that few other musicians share. A density of thought, richness of feeling, the eloquence of Robert Hunter’s lyrics and the power in the air created by the crispy sound of Garcia’s guitar – it literally crackles, snaps and pops at times. The way he paces the music & kicks! His delicate fingertips touches our hearts, minds and ears. Sometimes the pace is slow, other times the sound seems to float, luxuriously bathing us in ecstasy and excitement, transforming our consciousness like a pebble rolling down a hill, or bells ringing with the choir singing, and he smiles at us while playing his soft musical prayer, and rocks us with vibrations giving us a warm and unifying feeling. There’s magic there and we’re full of energy and all ears. We reach for the sky top as he mimics life, visualizing flourishing patterns, as his fingers fret like a skateboard up and down the guitar, bringing a harvest of music, like an artist taking abstract concepts to fill a canvas and create a picture. The crowd is always eager for new visions of ancient ideas & homespun wisdom, miniscule notes and giant sounds cresting and ebbing like the tides. Spontaneous motion fills the once cold barren space with warmth and direction. The band massages our senses and stimulates our imagination. The sea of faces listen in telepathic rapport and move in synchronicity. Distinguished and dignified, there is a blend and common bond of the simple & grand listening to the music of Jerry Garcia playin’ in the band.

Mikaela Davis Ghostland September 2026

WILD FLOWER

For Mikaela´s third birthday we took her to Lake Tahoe to spend a day in the snow, and an evening listening to Bob Weir´s new band Kingfish at the King´s Castle. It is an astounding performance and Bob Weir closes the show with three encores. The next morning we learn the town is snowed in and the roads are closed. That afternoon we go to the local pizza parlor down the street, and continue our celebration of Mikaela´s birthday. Shortly after we arrive, Bob Weir comes walking through the doorway with his guitar. Someone pulls out an amp and microphone and Bob stands on the floor in the restaurant corner and does a solo show for us. Kaela and her older brother Robert are on the floor dancing when Bob starts playing. Kaela is jumpin´ for joy that Bob is there to play music for her birthday party. Bob Weir sings the classics, and his country cowboy in the desert snow songs.

MEMORIES, DREAMS & REFLECTIONS

excerpt

John Kahn & Jerry GarciA

It is Valentine´s Day, time for pizza, chocolate, wine and roses. I have dinner with Treya, then we go to Berkeley to see The Jerry Garcia Band. The Keystone is packed. The show is incredible. Jerry Garcia opens with I Second That Emotion and They Love Each Other. They close out the first set with an amazing version of After Midnight. This band shows what a tight ensemble they are, with Jerry leading soft vocals and guitar, accompanied by John Kahn, the deadpan brilliant bass player, and Keith Godchaux amazing on keyboards. Donna Jean is doing backup vocals, in harmony, and Ron Tutt on drums, reminiscent of when they both played in a band with Elvis Presley.

The second set opens with Sitting Here in Limbo and then Donna Jean belts out emotional vocals for Strange Man. They close the show with How Sweet It Is. Amazing love.

I'm fortunate to go backstage and there are about three dozen people all talking and laughing, and enjoying the rich presence of Jerry Garcia sitting at a round table next to John Kahn, and their conversations are erudite, playful and full of laughter.

I am watching Garcia, who is conducting a half dozen conversations, with different people, one after the other, and is following each one and interacting with each person. Garcia is smart, cheerful, fun and everyone is having a good time.

John Kahn turns to me and asks if I have read Carl Jung. I tell him that I am familiar with his work through Joseph Campbell. John Kahn talks about memories dreams and reflections, themes of the Jerry Garcia Band.

Memories are made of this. Dreams form in our unconscious as we learn to become aware in our dreams while we sleep. Our stories mirror the mind.

Jung looks at life after death as a psychological necessity.

I have been drinking beer and smoking weed all night, but there is no beer here, just these two bottles of hard liquor sitting here on the table. I drink some of the tequila, my first time. OMG I never experienced anything like that. I try the other bottle of whiskey. That burns. It has been years since I had any hard liquor or mixed drinks. I sometimes do things to the extreme and find it better to avoid it. I continued drinking tequila.
I don't know when I passed out, or who layed me down, but I remember dreaming about death.
When I regained consciousness from the alcoholic coma I kept my eyes closed. I wondered if I was in Heaven. All I could hear is Jerry Garcia singing old gospel songs and playing softly on an acoustic guitar or harp. I keep my eyes shut as I lay motionless, enjoying every moment. These are not Grateful Dead songs. Where am I?

I am in a state of bliss, without hangover that night or the next day.

There is something about the presence of Jerry Garcia playing music that has a tremendous healing effect. When I open my eyes, I realize that I am lying on the floor and Jer Bear is sitting there in a chair with his electric guitar that is not plugged in, and as soon as I open my eyes, he starts laughing, the loudest laugh that I ever heard, a roaring joyful laugh. I am shocked to see everyone else has left except for our girlfriends, waiting patiently, and the four of us are the last to leave that night. Jerry pitches something to me and I catch it. It´s a bag of purple mushrooms!

Thank you!
“From South America” Garcia says with a smile.

California Sober adjective

: engaging in or characterized by recreational use of marijuana and/or alcohol combined with abstinence from other drugs (such as cocaine or methamphetamine)

often, specifically: using only marijuana while abstaining from alcohol and other drugs

Allowed Substances: Primarily cannabis, and in some definitions, natural or plant-based psychedelics like psilocybin mushrooms.

Intent: People often choose this lifestyle to reduce the severe physical or social harms of drinking and harder substances while still using milder substances for relaxation or mental health.

CASEY JONES

excerpt

Casey Jones was a good man. He was an American folk hero.

"Casey", the railroad engineer, rode the Cannonball Express,

a train that carried mail and passengers.

Casey had an obsession with being on time,

and he would accelerate the train´s speed

when he needed to, in order to keep his schedule.

On this last night in April, on a rainy day and dark, foggy night,

Casey didn´t see the stalled freight train on the track ahead

until it was too late. He told his Fireman to jump to safety.

The Fireman tried to talk Casey into saving himself too.

Casey said he would stay at his post to try and slow the train down.

He kept one hand on the brake and one hand on the Whippoorwill steam whistle.

When the train crashed, Casey died,

but all of the passengers survived.

Robert Hunter retells the story as a cautionary tale,

with the latter-day notion of cocaine as the speed obsession.

I never used cocaine at any show, before or after.

I did have a brief history of use that taught me a lesson.

When I lived in San Francisco, I would hang out at night with artists

who would draw, paint, play music and do cocaine at night.

I could see its energetic and creative effect in the artists.

I had already decided not to do it.

It is addictive, expensive and illegal.

One night they got hold of some pharmaceutical cocaine and I agreed to try that.

It was a pleasant experience. The next night was high grade cocaine,

but not the same purity as the pharmaceutical.

I continued using for a few nights, until one night, I lost hearing in one ear.

I became competely deaf in that ear, but could still hear with the other.

I felt a tremendous physical imbalance.

After nearly three weeks, I decided to find out

where the Grateful Dead are.

I learned they were playing in Portland next and I flew there.

On the 2nd of October in the year of Terrapin, at The Paramount Theatre,

I saw the Grateful Dead, as they open with "Casey Jones".

It´s very unusual they play this song as an opener.

It´s a high energy song that builds with accelerating speed,

and I close my eyes to fully feel all the song.

I feel something like a hand reach into my solar plexus,

through my belly button, and pull something,

and suddenly there is a pop in my ear and my hearing returns in full.

What an amazing show!

They open the second set with Samson & Delilah

Scarlet Begonias > Fire On the Mountain

They play their fun song , a merry rejoicing of playing music,

called Funiculi, Funicula

The healing effect of being at this show

open my ears to listen

to the music we are hearing

bringing me to a new musical apex

when the Grateful Dead close the show with

Playin´ In the Band > Drums > The Wheel >

Truckin´ > The Other One > Wharf Rat >

Sugar Magnolia

then return with Johnny B. Goode

Bob Weir & Chuck Berry @ Rock ´n Roll Hall of Fame

CHUCK BERRY

Before the days of iPads and printed setlists, the Grateful Dead perform

in the style of Chuck Berry when they are moving song into song, jamming, musicians sparring with each other to determine the next song they would be playing, and naturally playing as if they had planned it. Some of the best shows I have seen is when I felt in tune with the Grateful Dead, listening to the back and forth between musicians, and I whisper in my sweetie´s ear what song they would be playing next.

Chuck Berry would travel with his guitar, and whatever town he would be playing in, he would find his back-up musicians, often at a local high school. When they joined Chuck Berry onstage, there was no setlist, no rehearsal, not even a soundcheck. As soon as Chuck Berry started playing a song they would immediately determine what the song was and the key they were playing in. Chuck Berry played simple chords and this formula was succesful.

Bob Weir plays the songs with the upbeat style of Chuck Berry, rollin´ and rockin´ around, the best.

I saw Chuck Berry live at The Old Waldorf, Bill Graham´s club in San Francisco, AKA Wolfgang´s.

What an exciting night of rock ´n roll!

His daughter Ingrid joins him onstage to do back-up vocals and play harmonica.

When Chuck Berry started playing "Reelin´ and Rockin´" Trey says to me "Let´s dance!" and she gets up on the table and I join her. All around the audience people stood on their tables and danced. What a high moment! I´ll never forget the look on Bill Graham´s face. The place was ecstatic!

On March 17, 1967 the first album by the Grateful Dead is released.

That evening, they open for Chuck Berry at Winterland in San Francisco.

In May, 1995 Chuck Berry opens for the Grateful Dead at Portland Meadows.