Mike wrote: > > I know this has been debated here and other places in the past but could > you tell me when Mickey started and stopped playing w/ the New Riders ? > > By started I mean....I realize that it began as an acoustic gig w/ > Marmaduke, Nelson & Garcia ( right ? ). When did they add bass and drums to > gigs and when was that first show w/ Mickey playing drums w/ them ? > > As for stopping, I have been told that it was also the last night he > played w/ the Dead in ' 71 ( before returning in ' 74 )..... 2-18-71 in > Port Chester. >
There are not a lot of tapes from this period, but it would seem that Mickey (and Phil) were part of the NRPS in August, 1969. Mickey and Phil were gone pretty much right after they started. Unless I'm completely clueless (which can't be completely ruled out), the band's standard line up was set by early 1970: John Dawson (Marmaduke) - guitar, vocals David Nelson - guitar, mandolin, vocals Dave Torbert - bass, vocals Jerry Garcia: pedal steel, Spencer Dryden: drums www.deaddisc.com lends this info: "Garcia, Lesh and Hart were members of the initial line-up of the New Riders Of The Purple Sage. Their first recording session, with the original line-up of Dawson, Nelson, Garcia, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart, was in November 1969. During this session they produced 4 songs which were eventually released on Before Time Began. Garcia remained with the group through to sometime toward the end of 1971 [note: Buddy Cage replaced Garcia in early November]." Hope that helps. Noah
