The Mysterium. Mickey Hart is best known for his nearly three decades as an integral part of an extraordinary expedition into the soul and spirit of music, disguised as the rock and roll band the Grateful Dead.
As half of the percussion tandem known as the Rhythm Devils, Mickey and Bill Kreutzmann transcended the conventions of rock drumming. Their extended polyrhythmic excursions were highlights of Grateful Dead shows, introducing the band's audience to an ever-growing arsenal of percussion instruments from around the world. ‘Bickerswim’ « What Another Man Spills. That was the name given at the time to the Bickershaw Festival by those Southern jessies at the NME.
Last week, the Granada and BBC North West news outfits reported the 40th anniversary of the event near Wigan through rosier eyes. With an oversized dollop of hindsight, a parochial UK focus and their usual Pig-ignorance on the subject, the Guardian last year described – ‘for sheer oddity’ – Jeremy Beadle’s booking of the Grateful Dead to headline at Bickershaw, 40 years ago today, as one of the ‘50 key events in the history of rock music’. Grateful Dead Listening Guide. Tattered Reason. The Annotated Grateful Dead Discography. TRI Studios. Official Site of the Grateful Dead.