So, this is how these things happen. It started with Steve Brown...lovely man...Grateful Dead Records production coordinator, promotion director, film/video production associate [Grateful Dead Movie, more], general aide-de-camp, and friend to Jerry Garcia.

Jerry Garcia, Ken Howard, Steve Brown (R-L)

Last summer Steve shot my interview with Sam Cutler for the upcoming full-length documentary film, Altamont 360°. Then----on April 20, 2014---Steve had a screening of one of his films. I attended that. At that time, Steve introduced me to a guy who knew another guy, named "Irish," who was infamous in the Bay Area music in the 1960s-80s, and was also at Altamont the night before.

Steve's friend [Nick] was kind enough to connect me with Irish. Irish is what's commonly known as a "colorful character." He lives in Silver City, Nevada.

As it happens, Silver City and Virginia City NV is where some seriously seminal stuff went down pertaining to the very early beginnings of the psychedelic music scene--in some ways even before it got together in San Francisco---starting in June 1965, and focusing on one place: The Red Dog Saloon.

Red Dog Saloon - still happening after all these years...

Irish agreed to be interviewed for "The Night Before Altamont." We volleyed back and forth regrading time and place for the interview.

Meanwhile, Irish dropped the name of Rock Scully, who he'd known back in the day, traveling in intersecting circles, and had been trying to re-find. I'm very fond of Rock Scully---Rock being the 3rd person I hastened to interview for "The Night Before Altamont" (Grateful Dead manager 1965-1985), and told Irish I would reach out to Rock and let him know Irish wanted to be in touch.

clockwise from Pigpen...Bill Kreutzmann, Rosie McGee, Phil Lesh, Bobby Weir, Jerry Garcia, Danny Rifkin, Rock Scully [in red]

Rock called me days later. And, sure enough, Rock remembered Irish, phone numbers were exchanged, and the 2 of them had whatever conversations they had. In gratitude, Irish underwrote my "The Night Before Altamont" interview trip to Silver City/Virginia City -- getting me comped at the Gold Hill Hotel -- and coordinated meet-ups for me with original denizens of the Red Dog music/cultural scene.

This weekend "The Night Before Altamont" interview jaunt happened -- this is how it went....

First day of summer. Weather could not have been more ideal.


Many people out, enjoying the open roads.

Silver City is 250+ miles from San Francisco.

Giant room with fireplace, private veranda, one of the most comfortable beds ever

Prostitution is legal in Nevada...but instead of, like, making a Old West theme brothel in downtown Virginia City--which is all about historic buildings and kitch--with women in corsets and garter belts, dude playing piano, a Miss Kitty Madame, hoop skirts, and all that, these establishments are shunted to the outskirts of town with car repair, paint shops, auto salvage, etc. As a friend said, "Making money however you can is ok in Nevada--but darlin' don't let anybody fool you---this is still a nation of Puritans and prudes."

Irish Tom Cutts' awesome corrugated metal house - that is Bob the Dog.

Irish Cutts and Giant Dog #2 - named Duke. Irish was a self-described "backstage entrepreneur" attending all music events of the day. He was at Altamont the night before plying his trade, namely selling weed ["Got nothing to lose--statute of limitations ran out long ago" he laughs].

Irish has a fantastic collection of vintage concert, festival, and posters and flyers

photo of Irish from back in the day (far R) - I held the pistol he's got in this photo - first gun I'd ever held, believe it or nor.

Irish from back in the day (middle)

Irish from back in the day.

Irish's place at nightfall.

Morning at the Gold Hill Hotel - already 90°s at 11am - tho so dry when I spilled a glass of water most of it evaporated before it hit the ground

Me with Irish Tom Cutts at his chez

All sorts of mining artifacts scattered around

Irish and Lonesome Wayne at the Red Dog Saloon

Guy walking into the Red Dog Saloon is not in a costume nor dressing ironically.

Frank Garcia tells how Keith Richards stopped by his campfire and casually hung out in the spirit of the communal night before Altamont. Frank had driven out to the Altamont Speedway in his bread truck the afternoon of December 5, 1969. He brought jugs of wine and loaves of bread to share, and parked near the stage---lending a hand and enjoying the scene.