[net.music] Deprogramming Deadheads

sethian@acf4.UUCP (sethian) (04/05/85)

Enough Already.

      To all the non-Deadheads of the world. Give up. You are up against 
a religious cult. Nothing more, nothing less. Ever get in a conversation 
with a Moonie or Hare Krishna? Notice how everything discussed seems to 
be viewed in a one-sided way? (In another time and forgotten space. Your 
eyes looked from a deadhead's face). The cult worship of an idol (I swear, 
during the break to Stella Blue, Jerry winked at me, I know he did). The 
measurement of degree of devotion by examining financial committment (You 
know, when the dead played the Pyramids in Egypt, I sold my house and 
all my belongings because I had to be there). Longevity of committment 
as a badge of honor (like wow, do you know that the girl up front has been 
to EVERY dead concert since the last Winterland show?!). Creating images 
in their likeness (count the number of black tee shirts at the next show). 
Communion rites constituting consecration of the body and blood (re previous 
article.."at least 'x' percent of the audience is tripping on acid"). 
       Does it matter that this is now a band that, during at least 30% of 
the time, badly performs cover versions of great songs? Bobby Weir, prep 
student par excellence, failing regularly at an attempt to sing blues 
for "Little Red Rooster", making it palatable and giving it the seal 
of approval for deadheads? Kind of like Kosher food, once the dead 
bless Twist and Shout, Good Loving, Satisfaction, etc., it's okay to listen 
to them?
       Look, I like the dead. Chinacat Sunflower/I know you rider real loud 
still makes me happy. But dead heads I can do without. I stick to a 
statement I made six years ago: the dead should be forced to do three shows 
back to back in which nobody who has seen them more than twice can attend. 
(no clues how to enforce this!). Maybe they would try harder. Rely less on 
the goodwill of the audience. Feel scared and proud once again. Get tight. 
       As for deadheads taking over net.music, it will go on. The essence 
of being a deadhead is underground communication through clandestine channels. 
What could be better than Usenet? And with that, anybody interested in my 
preprocessor which searches my mail every morning and removes articles 
with the key words Jerry? Deadhead? Acid? Poland?