I wasn’t around for Brent (or Jerry really 
) and he isn’t talked about much in any of the Dead books I’ve read except for The Hallucinated Confessions of a Teenage Deadhead, and the author of that book really liked him…I was just wondering what the consensus opinions on him were? I like his playing a lot, although I really haven’t listened to a lot of him, and his few singing ballads…
Brent was in when I first got into the Dead so I have always sort of favored him. Crazy good. Love the voice.
Loving his playing, love his voice, loving his songs is tough though.
It’s like a bad Bruce Springsteen anthem… and Bruce is bad enough on his own.
i like Brent Mydland AND Bruce Springsteen.
some of Brent’s songs are a bit much though but i actually do like some of them. I Will Take You Home is a good one.
the only thing that bothers me about him is going overboard on the synths and how sweet it would have been if he was just on piano/organ/clav, etc. (that goes for synth Jerry too)
I love Brent’s: Backing Vocals and Playing Ability
I dislike Brent’s: Synth Sound (WAAAAY TO TINGY AND POPPY)
I’m a big Keith fan, but do enjoy 79’-83’…83’ish is as far as I go with the Dead, though 89’ is pretty good…
1985 is a real gem in the ROUGH.
^Yor telling me…Some Gems are there but also some real clunkers…
Thats funny, i just put on some Mydland Dead. Last night at the Everyone Orchestra, the conductor puts up a sign Play Dead 81 Era, or something like that. And since Molitz who was just playin with Phil and Friends was in the lineup it was friggen sweet!!!
I say boo to 80’s Dead. The 80’s ruined a lot of good music.
I was watching a Dead dvd at school today for 88 or 89 maybe in Buffalo. I love Brents singing and MAN can he tear an organ up! But yeah i agree that his synth tone is MEGA cheesy.
The emotion that Brent sang with is untouched!
thanks for the responses…that Al Franken interview isn’t on the RCMH DVD, or am I missing something there?
edit: Actually I think I figured out why…haha
^^ Wired!
It’s on the 4-disc bootleg.
Amazing “bonus” footage on there.
Henry Kissinger being thrown out for taping by Steve Parrish is unbelievable!
The '80’s were a hell of a lot better than what we have going on in popular music now.
I miss ze 90’s.
^yes, I say you should be grateful for the 80’s, cause I would love to have the opportunity to see 80’s Dead at the least
For the Dead:
80s > 90s
For most other things:
90s > 80s
Thoughts on Brent:
Awesome player, but I’ll have to agree that his setup had a few hurtful tools to the Dead’s sound. I’m not saying he’s a bad singer by any means, but I think that his singing did not blend well enough for the Dead. I dunno, maybe his bluesy singing just kinda sticks out too much for me.
“Mydland died of a drug overdose[1] at his home on “My Road” in Lafayette, California, on July 26, 1990, shortly after completing the band’s summer tour.”
20 Years Ago today the world lost a great guy. Love or hate his musical talents, he was a part of the Dead
