Owsley "Bear" Stanley

[jerry_rig]

Sad news: According to news reports, Owsley "Bear" Stanley has died in a car crash in his adoptive country of Australia. As many here know, he played a major role in the sound system behind the Grateful Dead His systems relied almost exclusively on JBL speakers.

[BMWCCA]

And all this time I thought The Dead were introduced to JBL sometime around my high-school years in St. Louis (1971) when Owsley got busted in New Orleans (?) and The Dead's system and transporters got impounded. . Their next show was in St. Louis, maybe the Fox Theater, and Bob Heil was called in from Illinois to provide the sound, introducing The Dead to his idea of the Wall of Sound including JBL and McIntosh amps. But I could be wrong.


50435

[jerry_rig]

I was at two Fox shows in 1971, one in the spring and a second in the winter that introduced Keith and a whole new sound. I also saw them in 1970 at SIU in the summer and at Kiel Opera House in the fall. Amazing shows back then. I'm pretty sure they were using JBL at the earlier shows.

[BMWCCA]

I was at two Fox shows in 1971, one in the spring and a second in the winter that introduced Keith and a whole new sound. I also saw them in 1970 at SIU in the summer and at Kiel Opera House in the fall. Amazing shows back then. I'm pretty sure they were using JBL at the earlier shows.

I saw them at Wash U around 1970 and in the gym at Webster College before that. No wall of sound then.

Bob Heil also did the sound for the Mississippi River Festival at SIU back then.

Here, take a look at this video Google found: http://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/bob-heil

Some more history here, too:http://www.musiciansfriend.com/document?doc_id=100290&src=3NL6DRB&c_lid=b3

JFGI! ;)

[hjames]

Darned shame!
I saw the Dead a couple times back circa 72-73 - twice with the wall of sound ...

And, FWIW, a news link for Owsley

http://www.dangerousminds.net/comments/owsley_bear_stanley_has_died/