They had maybe the best debut album to come out of San Francisco back in the sixties. Solid life act and Jerry Miller was once considered the best guitarist in the city.
Smothers gave a long intro. Or maybe its cuz Im so tired from work. Dunno but just another band I HAD to hear this mornin. Peace to you thank you ♥"Jenny"
Moby Grape,Steve Miller Blues Band,Quicksilver, Buffalo Springfield were all at Monterey.Haven't we waited long enough to see these classic bands at their Peak?
Moby Grape smoked Jefferson Airplane back in the day. They were one of tightest bands to ever exist. They made the Stones look like choirboys. Lawyers love to pick the flesh off of bones. Moby Grape rules.
Like so many great bands of the late 60's, without 'management,' really protecting them, the suits at Columbia got them to sign a contract that lost the band control over their music.
With respect; then you know Katz was more interested in his own music clubs, instead of getting MG proper promotion. Or, are you implying he did a great job?
@rockinroller7 Also respectfully: Just saying the issue wasn't LACK of management, but rather management (let's see...how can I say this and not get sued?); unhh, management with a "different agenda".
Mr Katz was, and is, quite diligent in guarding proprietary interests (and succeeded in litigating some of the world's largest corporate conglomerates to a dead stop for decades around the rights to The Grape's music).
However, he always believed those rights are HIS, not the band's.
@beachdog67 Continuing our respectful discourse, I didn't write "LACK," of management, but more along the lines of the kind of manager who is there for the band, has their best interests to consider, sign them to 'protective,' contracts, which Katz didn't do. Katz, as you put it had a 'different agenda,' which was primarily soaking the bands he was involved in, as in another point you made, the 'Rights,' to their music.
@rockinroller7 Seems like we're pretty done here. Thank you for the opportunity to have a reasonable exchange of comments. One never do know on the old YouTube just how it's gonna go. ;-)
I heard recently Jerry Miller ran into D.A. Pennebaker in Wa. and asked whether the Grape was filmed despite the fact they were not supposed to be. They were indeed which means probably the whole Monterey Festival is sitting in the can somewhere. Could you imagine what is in there! Somebody please DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THATS ME CLAPPING AFTER " OMAHA " --- FUK THAT WAS A KOOL TUNE --- 6/67 --- MO. CO. FAIRGROUNDS --- I WAS BUSTED ON THE WAY OUT MONDAY --- 2 ROACHES GOT ME 30 DAYS --- IT WAS STILL WORTH IT
Jerry Garcia said Skip was his biggest influence whenever he was asked in the 60's. Skip was the one who asked Garcia to co-produce the Airplane's second album. He was the Airplane's drummer and songwriter at the time.
LOVE MOBY GRAPE!!! Skip Spence and Jerry Miller's double guitar attack and beautiful harmonies... And one of the most under-rated rhythm sections of their era. "Nuff Said!
grape played at shady grove in s.f. and the keystones .palo alto and brkly. and santa cruz up till 79 that i know of.and btw, axgoat your way off base m8
I just wish this band was featured in the film. Theyre probably in the "re-release". Dunno...but it sucks that they were not taken as seriously as others. They kick so much azz. Pardon the expression. Peace to you & thank you for posting this.Never heard this before. And I thought Id heard it all. hehe! :))
In 1965 Skip Spence was at a Jefferson Airplane gig and their drummer didn't show up. Grace Slick asked if anyone in the audience was a 1/2 way decent drummer and Skip said that he was. Well he drummed through the entire 2 hour gig. Members of the band asked Skip "how long have you been playing the drums"? Skip said,"this is my first time I ever played them" The band was so impressed they hired Skip as their drummer for the 1st Airplane album.After that Skip joined Moby Grape, True story!
@hugatag Well, close. Grace hadn't joined JA in '65. Marty, Signe(?), etal, were at the Ark, in Sausalito. They needed a drummer and Marty saw Skip having a drink at the bar. Marty said; "I can tell a drummer and that guy can drum." Skip protested that he played guitar, but Marty insisted; they already had two guitarists. (Skip had drummed in H.S.) His style is certainly unorthodox, but it works - check out his drumming on "OAR." BTW: The Grape formed with 3 guitarists. Coincidence?
I'm not thinking they are duplicating anyone in particular...especially the Grateful Dead! Moby Grape had a definite impact on American pop culture and their influence helped to shape American music into what it eventually became....everlasting! Moby Grape...can't explain the name...is an icon in American music...that's why we're here! Ay?
I wish their former manager would give the Grapes a break and find a way to live and let live so they can all make some money from the "franchise". MK helped sink the group from the get go with his bizarre "marketing" moves. "Sales are the Grapest ever!" His tactics made their sales the pits. AND he prevented their Monterey performance from being featured in the film! What a great manager!
How good was the Monterey Pop Festival? This was the OPENING BAND for the day! Forty-four years later, the Moby Grape remain one of the Bay Area's greatest and most underappreciated groups. Thanks for posting!
@mikal9000 The way I heard the story; all the other bands were arguing about who was going to open - as none of them wanted to. The Grape were there to play music, not politcs and quickly got tired of the whining. So, they just said something like; "What's the big deal? We'll open." (That's one way to shut 'um up!)
@themusicmatterz ... or versa visa. The two groups are inextricably intertwined. The proto-Grape "Frantics" had come to the bayarea from Seattle around '64-'65 and hadn't had much success. Jerry, Don and their B-3 player had packed up and were heading back north when they decided to stop for a beer at a small San Carlos club. - to be continued below -
- Continued - They struck up a conversation with the band playing there - a bunch called the "Warlocks" and Garcia asked Jerry and Co. if they'd like to play while the Warlocks took a break. Sooo, the guys unloaded the B-3 (!) and played a set, or two. After finishing, Garcia came up to Miller and told him; "You guys aren't going anywhere!" See how tight? ;)
Sweet performance! They sounded like The Dead's first cousins. Too bad they didn't last. By the time I was into the music scene (mid 1970s) they were just a name on the psychedelic rock poster re-prints on my wall. Killing off this band for greed was a crime against the arts.
Wow, I just discovered that all those songs that I loved so much when I heard them back in the day were done by Moby Grape! M.G. is like a fine wine, gets better with age. Jerry Miller really cooks on lead on Omaha.
They had the US debut of Hendrix, The Who, Janis Joplin with Big Brother not to mention Simon and Garfunkle, The Dead, The Animals, Mamas&Papas etc. and this asshole manager (Matthew Katz) thinks he can get a Mil for an unknown Moby Grape? Yah right, He killed their career before it got started, out of greed. He still holds their records hostage to this day!
@superbeavo Wow. I had no idea that this was the reason why these guys went no further. I was 16 at the time, I saw their album in a record store and wanted it based upon apperance. When I got it home and plyed it, I was pleasantly surprised just how damn GOOD it was. I dont remember the cover anymore, but I do remember a song called "Grape Jam" (maybe the albums name also ? ) I also remeber "Naked if I want to" & them inserting a Arthur Godfrey song, which was a little strange but funny too !
i love this recording! i listen to it from time to time. this band was a lucky find in my musical life when i gambled on moby grape vintage 2 cd set. one of those times when you gamble and it works out!
I've only recently found out about this band through references on Darma and Greg and Family Guy, they're brilliant, I love bands that are like a manifestation of democracy with different inputs equally appreciated
They actually were filmed but it hasn't been released. Yet. There was a clip of their performance on a VH1 Where are they now special. Don't know if their whole performance was filmed though.
@Bigasstbone Yes your correct Bigasstbone -- It was Tommy Smothers MC'ing. Back in those Days The Smothers had their own show and were A list If I remember right!
not sure why your talking about anyone but Moby Grape. But the Doors were from LA not the bay area and the two areas didn't mix that much. The bay area bands were very different and so were the fans. NOT BETTER just different. That probably had more to do with it than anything.
Wow! They sound great! Classic Grape...Spot on performance...Tragically unfilmed...Among their best songs...Thank you for the post--an important band of the era.
Indeed... Jerry lives near me... played rhythm for him in mid-80s for a bit.... a little bar... Stephen Stills dropped by one night and played. Holy crap !
He still plays a lot around here, and better than ever.
One Band that should have played Monterey was Cream, I read that their Manager didn't think it was a good Idea. Monterey was about a month after they recorded "Disreali Gears".
What smart-ass idiot at Columbia Records decided to release 5 singles simultaneously from the 1st. album? The DJ's didn't know what to play! This overkill tactic hurt the Grape's future from the get go, too bad....
@Sargebri. "Doors too dark for hippies"?! Utter garbage. You obviously weren't around at the time. My mother,a hippie photo journalist worked in L.A/Frisco/London between 67-70 including the Monterey Festival; told me the Doors weren't included because-ironically-the hippie cognoscenti considered them too commercial. Some sections of the underground press even accused the Doors of being a teeny bopper band. Go do some research rather than repeat a revisionist view of Counter Culture history.
@daubreyjaneweirdsley Excuse me, but it was Densmore who said it and if you would bother to listen to their music they definitely didn't fall in line with the peace and love vibe.
@Sargebri You really don't have a clue do you?! I grew up with the Doors. My parents and their social milieu was hippie/CounterCulture, both worked for the Underground press as photo journalists. Densmore said what he did out of hubris for being excluded. I repeat for many the Doors at the begining appeared too commercia and were though of as a joke. Try reading Bang/Fricke/Marcus/Christgau who - unlike you - where there and wrote for Cream/Rolling Stone.
@Sargebri..Many bands at the time didn't "fall in line with peace & love" but were embraced by the CounterCulture. Oh! There was The Who/Stones/Creedence/Arthur Lee's Love/CJ Fish & the Airplane et al, yes the Airplane! I quote from the Volunteers album..
"We are all outlaws in the eyes of America
In order to survive we steal cheat lie forge fuck hide and deal
We are obscene lawless hideous dangerous dirty violent and young
the grape played more in the city, sweetwater (mill valley), & inn of the beginning (cotati). they were a huge part of the "city scene". omaha, still my favorite.
thanks for posting that laura nyro was at monterey,clueless. lucky enough 2 see her 3 times at the berkeley community theater. one of many artists that have never gotten their due. count quicksilver, the sons, electric flag.
i think the grape played more in the city, sweetwater (mill valley), & inn of the beginning (cotati). they were a huge part of the "city scene". omaha, still my favorite.
thanks for posting that laura nyro was at monterey,clueless. lucky enough 2 see her 3 times at the berkeley community theater. one of many artists that have never gotten their due. count quicksilver, the sons, electric flag.
this is an incredible live performance.......great sound great mixing great and inspired music. wow....... so great and unique......where are all the great bands now in 2011?
Nice to see that all these performances are coming out of the woodwork now. When I bought the monterey box set in the early 90s not everyone was included on it & the only way to find performances by Moby Grape or Laura Nyro was to find them as bootlegs at record expos or little record shops. Very cool.
Man´Is great but I just feel there were TONS of Incredibly Good & Heavy Bands Missing for this festival like: The Doors,Cream, Blue Cheer, Morgen,Fapardokly,Kinks,The Eyes,Hollies,Iron Butterfly,Vanilla Fudge, Love, Deep Purple(Not sure if mack1 was allready functioning!)Steve Miller Band,Not even the Stones! to my own personal perception- The Who ,QSMS,and Hendrix were the soul saviours of this Concert!!!!
@CHURINFUNFLAIS The Kinks were invited to play but could not attend due to the fact that they couldn't obtain American work visas. Cream wanted a bigger venue for their American debut and ummm Steve Miller Band did play at Monterey.. I think I'd probably take Janis Joplin, Canned Heat, Buffalo Springfield, Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, Ravi Shankhar and Country Joe & the Fish over any of those listed above.
@ilovepenny101 Wow. I did not know The Kinks were invited to play Monterey! I know almost all of the bands that were invited to play Woodstock and didn't make it or turned it down, but I don't know many of the bands who were invited to Monterey.
@CHURINFUNFLAIS Well, some of those bands you mentioned were either just forming, almost breaking up, or barely known. I know The Gentle Soul almost played the festival but couldn't get a spot. I've read L.A. band Kaleidoscope were invited (if you haven't heard them, HEAR THEM). The Doors....now that's a curiosity. I wonder about that one. The Stones were in the middle of their police arrests and all that during the summer of '67 so I'm sure there's where the complications were.
@CHURINFUNFLAIS - And Electric Flag! There was some great talent at Monterey, though as your note suggests, maybe not all the most appropriate talent to really make the event what it could have been. Imagine if Blue Cheer, Cream, the Fudge, the Doors and Deep Purple played (as you suggest). THEN it would have been the groundbreaking event it could have been.
@MrCherryJuice huh? Blue Cheer, Cream, yeah..... the Doors ain't got nothing on the Grape or Janis. Monterey WAS a groundbreaking event. Woodstock was just the watered down east coast version.
@originalfunkyfry - Oh, I think you're being a bit harsh on the doors. Moby Grape WERE killer. But Janis? OK... but with the 'Pearl' band. I didn't rate Hendrix in this instance. And the Who weren't up to par. Cream would've made a good addition. Ditto Blue Cheer... local lads gone heavy. What I think was most important about Monterey was the nature of how it came together and the friendly vibe that apparently permeated the event. It was signified more than Woodstock, which also had its moments.
Turns out there IS footage of them from Monterey. BUT that jackoff Katz won't release it. It was however shown in 2007 at a festival, but someday it will surface.
One of the greatest bands. I was fortunate enough to see them but didn't appreciate if until years later. They are still among my favorite top ten bands.
@Buzzramjet jeff tamarakin writes record reviews he wrote a book on the jefferson airplane but it goes off the deep end with lawsuits with katz and not enough on music [katz was also supposed to have been a thorn in its a beautiful days side] .
Arrgghhh - the greatest. I always wanted to be like Bob Mosley, playing his bass low down like a weapon. He was one of the best bass players of that or any other era. Everyone in this band was great and, as we've heard on so many occasions, their story was tragic. So much talent and such a quick burnout...but the music and their spirit lives on.
Love em to death... listen to Mosley on Indifference... what a voice..got to play keyboards with them on 3 songs in 1996 at wetlands show in NY..sam Andrew played with them that night..Skip sent message from the west coast that was read at the show. one of my musical life highlights..
Love em to death... listen to Mosley on Indifference... what a voice..got to play keyboards with them on 3 songs in 1996 at wetlands show in NY..sam Andrew played with them that night..Skip sent message from the west coast that was read at the show. one of my musical life highlights..
Sounds like Tommy Smothers announcing. Saw Moby Grape at Del Mar Fair with Spirit, Big Brother and the Holding Company, and other greats. What a trip. Thanks for the tunes. Like "Sitting by the Window" and "Omaha" best.
Forget about comparrisons....but...I'd stack these guys up against the Fab Four any day! They were the later sixties, Bay Area, Psych/Folk/Rock answer to the Liverpool Lads. Pity that Crapitol Records mismanaged them all to hell, or else they would have been so much more succesfull. Still...their talent and creativity lives on today as strong n' as true as it always has been. INSPIRING!!!
Always loved this band. Saw them in SF and later in NY. Always wondered: was it Jerry Miller who played that big fat screamin' Gibson? One of the all-time great guitars and a really talented player.
Many of early bands in late sixties got stroked by people they almost had to trust, just to get exposure. Moby Grape being one that never really got off the ground, always being an opening act. But they were pioneers in the San Francisco scene in their era. They did add their own flavor and kudos to the band.
First the Human Be-In in January followed by the Monterey Pop Festival and the release of Sgt. Pepper in June secured 1967 as the "Summer of Love". This is a great posting.
WHAT YOU GOT TO KNOW IS THAT WAS THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW EXPRESION OF MUSIC................IT WAS YOKE EVOLVING OUT OF LOVE & PAIN...IT WAS YOKE GROWING STRONG BREAKING OUT OF THE SHELL OF THE MADNESS OF THIS WORLD THAT SURROUNDED UP....AND WE ARE STILL EVOLVING
The Grape were one of the best SF bands, true, and their tale is one of the saddest ever in the music business. They were screwed by everybody, especially the ones they trusted the most - their manager and producer.
@MrDougpro Jerry Miller plays regularly in the Tacoma area. Pete is on a mini-tour, preparing a new single album, Bob steps out, on occasion, in the Santa Cruz area and Don, Jerry and Omar Spence (Skip's son) played SXSW just recently - with Melloncamp's rhythm section. Here and there, now and then, they all hookup in Felton - that is, when we get around to booking the gig.... ;)
The greatest band that never was! These guys were great , and have never to this day received the accolades they deserve! I have most of the vinyl the they had put out, and still wonder, why! Why they were not in that special canon of SuperGroups! They were much more musical
than the Grateful Dead as far as melodic ism and great songs! Truly they were overlooked, and still are as true to art as always.
"let's have a warm hand....really." "There you are." (What a 60's intro.) Monterey Pop didn't need any intro's. It's kind of unfortuante we had 'local visionaries' speaking into the microphnes before such dynamite bands took the stage. Their sound was a combination of 50's Texas Roadhouse and Joe Cocker poetic interpretations. But without those 'local visionaries' we probably wouldn't have these kernals of gold. Thank you.
The Grape, The Quick, The Dead, and the Airplane...the four greatest bands of all time. Great to have the Grape albums remastered and re-released. They should put out some live albums. Great to hear this quality recording of their show a Monterey!
I saw them in '78. They were late coming on, probably some of the band needing to finish up doing drugs. Some in the audience were pissed by the late start. Jerry Miller threw them a glance that said, "These guys are my friends, if you have a problem with them you have a problem with me." It was a great show. Skip was so stoned he could only play two numbers, "8:05" and "Omaha" but it was great to see him do those. One of my half dozen favorite shows of all time. We all miss Skip. Greg G.
@ace063562 The band was having a meeting to decide on a name. Before the meeting, Skip had stopped by Bob's and one told the other a joke that was popular at the time; "What's big and purple and lives on the bottom of the ocean?" Ans: Moby Grape. (haha ;) They went to the meeting and all the names their (now) ex-manager proposed sucked. Skip or Bob told that earlier, dumb, joke to the group and someone said; "Hey, Moby Grape, that's better than any of Matthew's c**p!" Hence, the name....
omar, you're dad was so awesome!!! seeing skip and the grape live in 1968 remains one of my great life memories. it changed me. after that concert i understood what oneness meant. i know it's kinda corny, but it was a total blend of band, music and audience......of course the weed helped a tad, lol.
Jerry just played a few weeks ago -- had someone in today at the studio, played a few gigs after Omars dad left -- Bob a little frail but, heard some of his new recordings from his engineer ...
I saw Moby Grape live several times at the Fillmore and the Avalon in SF between '67 '68. What a great band! Refreshing too at the time. This sounds great. i'm surprised. thanks!
What a dipstick their manager was for not having them filmed at Monterey unless he got a million bucks. I've loved this band ever since the day one of my fraternity brothers at Miami University went crazy when he took delivery in 1968 of Grape's first album. He ran upstairs like there were no steps at all, put it on the turntable and cranked it. I've been "cranking" Grape ever since. 60 and going strong. I have that "finger" LP, purchased before it got recalled. Prize possession.
@bkeesecker didnt monterey dupe alot of acts? by getting them to play the show for free without telling them that they would be filming them, then just before they went on stage came with a contract and asked to film them?
Thanks for posting and great job on the video!.. had never seen most of the pix before. Their debut album was the 1st I'd ever owned (my 80 yr old Grandma bought it for me {"Hey Grandma"!} Is there any more audio from their set, or did they just play 10 minutes?
@bostreetrunner I agree with that statement, I have their entire collections of main albums(plus the new live album that came out) and there isn't another group whose songs from top to bottom are ALL good like theirs are! Still amazes me that radio stations never play their music, but then again groups like the Velvet Underground/Stooges are in the hall of fame and their music never gets played so I shouldn't be shocked I guess.
The 8:45 of the band in action is further proof that when these guys were playing at their best they were undoubtedly the best band SF had to offer; even better than other well-known SF area favorites like CCR, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Steve Miller Band, Sly & The Family Stone and Quicksilver Messenger Service. I still have a vinyl copy of the first album which in my imo is nearly perfect.
@mrbag60 You said that right brother. I saw every SF band of that era and they were my favorite. And, I put their first album as a top 100 album of all time and in MY top ten of all time.
one of the unsong bands from sf .......there were so many thats why they got the backdrop at times! All good singers !!!! JM on guitar come on?? Still is rockin!!!
Saw Moby Grape several times at the Fillmore East. A truly awesome band for any era! Three guitarists, Miller was terrific, five vocalists. Played everything from rock to country and were light years before and better than many bands (like CS&N, the Byrds, Poco). Watch them be destroyed by the music business and sadly destroying themselves. Still an honor to see them.
Omar: I already posted earlier, but I saw them in '67 and they were the best band I saw that year. Skip led the band yet in another way, was just another 1 of 5 voices and 1 of 3 guitars. Great musical composition abilities in this group. Someone close to me did a bit too much acid and ended up with some permanent problems, so I feel for you in "losing" your father much before he actually passed away. I always tell younger friends about Moby Grape and give them the original album.
Wow.....what a treasure this is! Like someone else said, it's a shame the cameras weren't rolling when these guys played. This immensely talented band should have been HUGE...............
@jeffthrow6892: Yeah I know what you mean. I'm sure if the cameras had been rolling a song or two would have been included on the 3rd DVD of The Monterey Pop Festival box set. As much as Columbia was hyping them at the time of the album's release why weren't the cameramen ready with film?! That makes no friggin' sense!
@MattHatter From Wikipedia- Due to legal and managerial disputes, the group was not included in the D.A. Pennebaker-produced film of the event, Monterey Pop. Moby Grape's Monterey recordings and film remain unreleased, allegedly because Matthew Katz demanded one million dollars for the rights... The Moby Grape footage was shown in 2007 as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the film.
@jeffthrow6892: Yeah I know what you mean. I'm sure if the cameras had been rolling a song or two would have been included on the 3rd DVD of The Monterey Pop Festival box set. As much as Columbia was hyping them at the time of the album's release why weren't the cameramen ready with film?! That makes no sense!
i met some of moby grape when i opened up for the doobie brothers at a club in santa cruz mountains around 71 the drummer was a great dude and i saw skip spence playing pool i went over and told him i thought he was fantastic and he attacked me with his pool stick thank god some people stopped him before he reached me and i still thank god i didn't tell him he sucked
I was fortunate to see the Grape at King's Beach Bowl, Lake Tahoe, where lots of S.F. groups came up to play. Skip came down off the stage between sets and talked with us, and I've never forgotten how nice he was to a bunch of kids and how great that concert was. Thanks all who have posted their great music.
WOW!!! ive been into this band since 1995 but never heard them live,not even on montery box set,thanx for letting us alln hear them live, it is really special,what a great band!!!!
'Moby Grape' were a truely gifted band of musicians who bridged many a Genre while maintaining a distinct sound all their own. Great vocals, great songwriting and Bob Mosley and Jerry Miller provided near virtuoso performances on their respective instruments. The bands tragic fall from fame has been documented many times, but it doesn't diminish what they accomplished. A forgotten and hugely underated GIANT in the 60's Pop movement !
'Moby Grape' were a truely gifted band of musicians who bridged many a Genre while maintaining a distinct sound all their own. Great vocals, great songwriting and Bob Mosley and Jerry Miller provided near virtuoso performances on their respective instruments. The bands tragic fall from fame has been documented many times, but it doesn't diminish what they accomplished. A forgotten and hugely underated GIANT in the 60's Pop movement !
They had maybe the best debut album to come out of San Francisco back in the sixties. Solid life act and Jerry Miller was once considered the best guitarist in the city.
peahoe 2 days ago
one of the better bands of the era !!! i enjoy a lot this music
rafacigarros 1 week ago
Smothers gave a long intro. Or maybe its cuz Im so tired from work. Dunno but just another band I HAD to hear this mornin. Peace to you thank you ♥"Jenny"
NoRosesForMe 1 week ago
My high school band covered every song from the Grape`s first album. That`s how good we were. Thank you Skip.
4usnogov 2 weeks ago
Moby Grape,Steve Miller Blues Band,Quicksilver, Buffalo Springfield were all at Monterey.Haven't we waited long enough to see these classic bands at their Peak?
Dougdenslowe 2 weeks ago
Moby Grape smoked Jefferson Airplane back in the day. They were one of tightest bands to ever exist. They made the Stones look like choirboys. Lawyers love to pick the flesh off of bones. Moby Grape rules.
pmoyer50 2 weeks ago
Like so many great bands of the late 60's, without 'management,' really protecting them, the suits at Columbia got them to sign a contract that lost the band control over their music.
Such a great jamming band, with real groove.
rockinroller7 3 weeks ago
@rockinroller7 Two words, my friend. "Matthew Katz". You could look it up.
beachdog67 2 weeks ago
@beachdog67
With respect; then you know Katz was more interested in his own music clubs, instead of getting MG proper promotion. Or, are you implying he did a great job?
rockinroller7 2 weeks ago
@rockinroller7 Also respectfully: Just saying the issue wasn't LACK of management, but rather management (let's see...how can I say this and not get sued?); unhh, management with a "different agenda".
Mr Katz was, and is, quite diligent in guarding proprietary interests (and succeeded in litigating some of the world's largest corporate conglomerates to a dead stop for decades around the rights to The Grape's music).
However, he always believed those rights are HIS, not the band's.
beachdog67 1 week ago
@beachdog67 Continuing our respectful discourse, I didn't write "LACK," of management, but more along the lines of the kind of manager who is there for the band, has their best interests to consider, sign them to 'protective,' contracts, which Katz didn't do. Katz, as you put it had a 'different agenda,' which was primarily soaking the bands he was involved in, as in another point you made, the 'Rights,' to their music.
No wonder he ran for political officeLOL!
Take it easy.
rockinroller7 1 week ago
@rockinroller7 Seems like we're pretty done here. Thank you for the opportunity to have a reasonable exchange of comments. One never do know on the old YouTube just how it's gonna go. ;-)
beachdog67 1 week ago
@beachdog67
Yeah, seems like we almost grilled that steak too long, but I too appreciate the respectful give and take, which is not easy to attain here at times.
Take it easy.
rockinroller7 1 week ago
some of the parts sound like the mothers jammin'
loutoad123 1 month ago
I heard recently Jerry Miller ran into D.A. Pennebaker in Wa. and asked whether the Grape was filmed despite the fact they were not supposed to be. They were indeed which means probably the whole Monterey Festival is sitting in the can somewhere. Could you imagine what is in there! Somebody please DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gogoguyful 1 month ago
THATS ME CLAPPING AFTER " OMAHA " --- FUK THAT WAS A KOOL TUNE --- 6/67 --- MO. CO. FAIRGROUNDS --- I WAS BUSTED ON THE WAY OUT MONDAY --- 2 ROACHES GOT ME 30 DAYS --- IT WAS STILL WORTH IT
godfreyrayking 2 months ago 3
These guys sound pretty tight. The sound a lot tighter than what I've heard from Quicksilver and the Grateful Dead at Monterey.
johnnystaccata 2 months ago
Jerry Garcia said Skip was his biggest influence whenever he was asked in the 60's. Skip was the one who asked Garcia to co-produce the Airplane's second album. He was the Airplane's drummer and songwriter at the time.
baxterbather 3 months ago
Wow.
sbgog93 3 months ago
Comment removed
sbgog93 3 months ago
LOVE MOBY GRAPE!!! Skip Spence and Jerry Miller's double guitar attack and beautiful harmonies... And one of the most under-rated rhythm sections of their era. "Nuff Said!
dadzbluz 3 months ago
@dadzbluz Don't forget Pete's incredible finger-picking and Bob's virtuoso bass. Four guitar attack, really, with five-part harmonies. Off-the-hook!
prunebreath 3 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@axgoat Restating an unsupported lie doesn't make it true. You are an ignorant, slanderous blowhard!
prunebreath 3 months ago
grape played at shady grove in s.f. and the keystones .palo alto and brkly. and santa cruz up till 79 that i know of.and btw, axgoat your way off base m8
macrochronic 3 months ago
i was there
tomstruble1 4 months ago
Gawd,,,,,the guitar,,,SO under-rated. Sadly. xx ...wow....
NoRosesForMe 4 months ago
I just wish this band was featured in the film. Theyre probably in the "re-release". Dunno...but it sucks that they were not taken as seriously as others. They kick so much azz. Pardon the expression. Peace to you & thank you for posting this.Never heard this before. And I thought Id heard it all. hehe! :))
NoRosesForMe 4 months ago
In 1965 Skip Spence was at a Jefferson Airplane gig and their drummer didn't show up. Grace Slick asked if anyone in the audience was a 1/2 way decent drummer and Skip said that he was. Well he drummed through the entire 2 hour gig. Members of the band asked Skip "how long have you been playing the drums"? Skip said,"this is my first time I ever played them" The band was so impressed they hired Skip as their drummer for the 1st Airplane album.After that Skip joined Moby Grape, True story!
hugatag 4 months ago
@hugatag Well, close. Grace hadn't joined JA in '65. Marty, Signe(?), etal, were at the Ark, in Sausalito. They needed a drummer and Marty saw Skip having a drink at the bar. Marty said; "I can tell a drummer and that guy can drum." Skip protested that he played guitar, but Marty insisted; they already had two guitarists. (Skip had drummed in H.S.) His style is certainly unorthodox, but it works - check out his drumming on "OAR." BTW: The Grape formed with 3 guitarists. Coincidence?
prunebreath 4 months ago 2
I'm not thinking they are duplicating anyone in particular...especially the Grateful Dead! Moby Grape had a definite impact on American pop culture and their influence helped to shape American music into what it eventually became....everlasting! Moby Grape...can't explain the name...is an icon in American music...that's why we're here! Ay?
jugglerknot 4 months ago
Guitarist Jerry Miller of legendary Bay Area act Moby Grape recalls a time when his band died onstage. Read more at The Worst Gig (WorstGig.com).
jsniccu 5 months ago
this version of 'Omaha' is beyond the pale. thank you for this
iggyaztec 5 months ago
I wish their former manager would give the Grapes a break and find a way to live and let live so they can all make some money from the "franchise". MK helped sink the group from the get go with his bizarre "marketing" moves. "Sales are the Grapest ever!" His tactics made their sales the pits. AND he prevented their Monterey performance from being featured in the film! What a great manager!
authorvictim 5 months ago
How good was the Monterey Pop Festival? This was the OPENING BAND for the day! Forty-four years later, the Moby Grape remain one of the Bay Area's greatest and most underappreciated groups. Thanks for posting!
mikal9000 6 months ago 3
@mikal9000 The way I heard the story; all the other bands were arguing about who was going to open - as none of them wanted to. The Grape were there to play music, not politcs and quickly got tired of the whining. So, they just said something like; "What's the big deal? We'll open." (That's one way to shut 'um up!)
-le prune
prunebreath 6 months ago 2
@themusicmatterz ... or versa visa. The two groups are inextricably intertwined. The proto-Grape "Frantics" had come to the bayarea from Seattle around '64-'65 and hadn't had much success. Jerry, Don and their B-3 player had packed up and were heading back north when they decided to stop for a beer at a small San Carlos club. - to be continued below -
prunebreath 6 months ago
- Continued - They struck up a conversation with the band playing there - a bunch called the "Warlocks" and Garcia asked Jerry and Co. if they'd like to play while the Warlocks took a break. Sooo, the guys unloaded the B-3 (!) and played a set, or two. After finishing, Garcia came up to Miller and told him; "You guys aren't going anywhere!" See how tight? ;)
prunebreath 6 months ago
i partyed with the grape in woodenville wa years ago good times
tabbooification 6 months ago
I met Jerry Miller in Tacoma a few times. He's a gentleman AND a great great guitarist.
fireblossom2u 7 months ago
Can I buy an amplifier on time?
HarryAreola0 7 months ago 3
Comment removed
NoRosesForMe 4 months ago
Listen my friends, indeed. Long live the Grape!
Duckatac 7 months ago
sittin could pass for an association song. good song though.
putdownan8dude 7 months ago
Sweet performance! They sounded like The Dead's first cousins. Too bad they didn't last. By the time I was into the music scene (mid 1970s) they were just a name on the psychedelic rock poster re-prints on my wall. Killing off this band for greed was a crime against the arts.
twelvmnkys 8 months ago 15
@twelvmnkys The only minor difference between them and the Dead was they could play.
larrysmac 1 week ago
Wow, I just discovered that all those songs that I loved so much when I heard them back in the day were done by Moby Grape! M.G. is like a fine wine, gets better with age. Jerry Miller really cooks on lead on Omaha.
videomaniac108 9 months ago
put a smile on my face indeed--live long enough & you can hear everything you missed when it happened--they sound great
Raymantico 9 months ago
I remember talking with a college classmate in late 1970 on how far they were ahead of their time.
timparcival 10 months ago
Great Stuff!
kricky71 10 months ago
They had the US debut of Hendrix, The Who, Janis Joplin with Big Brother not to mention Simon and Garfunkle, The Dead, The Animals, Mamas&Papas etc. and this asshole manager (Matthew Katz) thinks he can get a Mil for an unknown Moby Grape? Yah right, He killed their career before it got started, out of greed. He still holds their records hostage to this day!
superbeavo 10 months ago 2
@superbeavo Wow. I had no idea that this was the reason why these guys went no further. I was 16 at the time, I saw their album in a record store and wanted it based upon apperance. When I got it home and plyed it, I was pleasantly surprised just how damn GOOD it was. I dont remember the cover anymore, but I do remember a song called "Grape Jam" (maybe the albums name also ? ) I also remeber "Naked if I want to" & them inserting a Arthur Godfrey song, which was a little strange but funny too !
gblueslover2 9 months ago
@superbeavo is he the same guy that did a number on Creedance????
farone100 8 months ago
@farone100 No, different guys, but, they both answer to the same, black hearted, master!
prunebreath 8 months ago
i love this recording! i listen to it from time to time. this band was a lucky find in my musical life when i gambled on moby grape vintage 2 cd set. one of those times when you gamble and it works out!
pinkus44 11 months ago
I've only recently found out about this band through references on Darma and Greg and Family Guy, they're brilliant, I love bands that are like a manifestation of democracy with different inputs equally appreciated
joelomax 11 months ago
Jerry ran into D.A. Pennebaker about a year or so, ago in L.A. and was told that all of the footage exists. Someday....
prunebreath 11 months ago 2
They actually were filmed but it hasn't been released. Yet. There was a clip of their performance on a VH1 Where are they now special. Don't know if their whole performance was filmed though.
budofan1 11 months ago
Was that Tommy Smothers doing the intro?
Bigasstbone 11 months ago 9
@Bigasstbone
Yep. Tommy Smothers - good ear!
HotRockinJohnny 11 months ago 2
@Bigasstbone Yes, I was there for the festival. Tommy introduced most of the bands, except for Peter Tork of the Monkeys.
Stein157 4 months ago
@Bigasstbone, yep.
Parcival01 4 months ago
@Bigasstbone Yes your correct Bigasstbone -- It was Tommy Smothers MC'ing. Back in those Days The Smothers had their own show and were A list If I remember right!
BareAdventures 1 week ago in playlist Brick Lions Projects ~ Moby Grape, Jerry Miller ~ Biography
not sure why your talking about anyone but Moby Grape. But the Doors were from LA not the bay area and the two areas didn't mix that much. The bay area bands were very different and so were the fans. NOT BETTER just different. That probably had more to do with it than anything.
ericd1954 11 months ago
Wow! They sound great! Classic Grape...Spot on performance...Tragically unfilmed...Among their best songs...Thank you for the post--an important band of the era.
KNagaine93 1 year ago
vastly underrated band.young punks should wise up to this stuff,but you can't put brains in a statue!thanks for this..cheers from downunder
gratefultiger 1 year ago
Indeed... Jerry lives near me... played rhythm for him in mid-80s for a bit.... a little bar... Stephen Stills dropped by one night and played. Holy crap !
He still plays a lot around here, and better than ever.
TacomaPaul 1 year ago
One Band that should have played Monterey was Cream, I read that their Manager didn't think it was a good Idea. Monterey was about a month after they recorded "Disreali Gears".
supsailor1885 1 year ago
What smart-ass idiot at Columbia Records decided to release 5 singles simultaneously from the 1st. album? The DJ's didn't know what to play! This overkill tactic hurt the Grape's future from the get go, too bad....
whocares1694 1 year ago
@MattHatter
The Doors Didn't play because 2 years earlier Jim Dissed Lou "Folk Rock" Alder, one of the organizers of the festival after rejecting there demo.
Hazlenuts1991 1 year ago
@Hazlenuts1991 It also was due to the fact that the Doors didn't mesh with the peace and love vibe. They were too dark for all the hippies.
Sargebri 1 year ago
@Sargebri. "Doors too dark for hippies"?! Utter garbage. You obviously weren't around at the time. My mother,a hippie photo journalist worked in L.A/Frisco/London between 67-70 including the Monterey Festival; told me the Doors weren't included because-ironically-the hippie cognoscenti considered them too commercial. Some sections of the underground press even accused the Doors of being a teeny bopper band. Go do some research rather than repeat a revisionist view of Counter Culture history.
daubreyjaneweirdsley 1 year ago 3
@daubreyjaneweirdsley Excuse me, but it was Densmore who said it and if you would bother to listen to their music they definitely didn't fall in line with the peace and love vibe.
Sargebri 1 year ago
@Sargebri You really don't have a clue do you?! I grew up with the Doors. My parents and their social milieu was hippie/CounterCulture, both worked for the Underground press as photo journalists. Densmore said what he did out of hubris for being excluded. I repeat for many the Doors at the begining appeared too commercia and were though of as a joke. Try reading Bang/Fricke/Marcus/Christgau who - unlike you - where there and wrote for Cream/Rolling Stone.
daubreyjaneweirdsley 1 year ago
@Sargebri..Many bands at the time didn't "fall in line with peace & love" but were embraced by the CounterCulture. Oh! There was The Who/Stones/Creedence/Arthur Lee's Love/CJ Fish & the Airplane et al, yes the Airplane! I quote from the Volunteers album..
"We are all outlaws in the eyes of America
In order to survive we steal cheat lie forge fuck hide and deal
We are obscene lawless hideous dangerous dirty violent and young
Up against the wall(motherfucker)"
Go to the bottom of the class.
daubreyjaneweirdsley 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
the grape played more in the city, sweetwater (mill valley), & inn of the beginning (cotati). they were a huge part of the "city scene". omaha, still my favorite.
thanks for posting that laura nyro was at monterey,clueless. lucky enough 2 see her 3 times at the berkeley community theater. one of many artists that have never gotten their due. count quicksilver, the sons, electric flag.
gratefultobealivegal 1 year ago
i think the grape played more in the city, sweetwater (mill valley), & inn of the beginning (cotati). they were a huge part of the "city scene". omaha, still my favorite.
thanks for posting that laura nyro was at monterey,clueless. lucky enough 2 see her 3 times at the berkeley community theater. one of many artists that have never gotten their due. count quicksilver, the sons, electric flag.
gratefultobealivegal 1 year ago
@gratefultobealivegal I'm grateful that you're still alive to share your memories of what you experienced, thank you so much ♥
bushwickgirl347 1 year ago
THE PSYCHEDELIC PAINTING IN THIS VIDEO SHOWS THE MOBY GRAPE PLAYING THE CHATEAU LIBERTE --- IN THE SANTA CRUZ MTS --- I WAS THERE --- WERE YOU ???
GodfreRayKing 1 year ago
this is an incredible live performance.......great sound great mixing great and inspired music. wow....... so great and unique......where are all the great bands now in 2011?
3rdStoneObliterum 1 year ago
Nice to see that all these performances are coming out of the woodwork now. When I bought the monterey box set in the early 90s not everyone was included on it & the only way to find performances by Moby Grape or Laura Nyro was to find them as bootlegs at record expos or little record shops. Very cool.
Anglynn74 1 year ago
Incredible String Band on a "speed ball"
wslyder 1 year ago
@wslyder . i like thoz
Dead4everYoung 1 year ago
Man´Is great but I just feel there were TONS of Incredibly Good & Heavy Bands Missing for this festival like: The Doors,Cream, Blue Cheer, Morgen,Fapardokly,Kinks,The Eyes,Hollies,Iron Butterfly,Vanilla Fudge, Love, Deep Purple(Not sure if mack1 was allready functioning!)Steve Miller Band,Not even the Stones! to my own personal perception- The Who ,QSMS,and Hendrix were the soul saviours of this Concert!!!!
CHURINFUNFLAIS 1 year ago
@CHURINFUNFLAIS The Kinks were invited to play but could not attend due to the fact that they couldn't obtain American work visas. Cream wanted a bigger venue for their American debut and ummm Steve Miller Band did play at Monterey.. I think I'd probably take Janis Joplin, Canned Heat, Buffalo Springfield, Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, Ravi Shankhar and Country Joe & the Fish over any of those listed above.
ilovepenny101 1 year ago
@ilovepenny101 Wow. I did not know The Kinks were invited to play Monterey! I know almost all of the bands that were invited to play Woodstock and didn't make it or turned it down, but I don't know many of the bands who were invited to Monterey.
MattHatter 1 year ago
@CHURINFUNFLAIS Well, some of those bands you mentioned were either just forming, almost breaking up, or barely known. I know The Gentle Soul almost played the festival but couldn't get a spot. I've read L.A. band Kaleidoscope were invited (if you haven't heard them, HEAR THEM). The Doors....now that's a curiosity. I wonder about that one. The Stones were in the middle of their police arrests and all that during the summer of '67 so I'm sure there's where the complications were.
MattHatter 1 year ago
@CHURINFUNFLAIS - And Electric Flag! There was some great talent at Monterey, though as your note suggests, maybe not all the most appropriate talent to really make the event what it could have been. Imagine if Blue Cheer, Cream, the Fudge, the Doors and Deep Purple played (as you suggest). THEN it would have been the groundbreaking event it could have been.
MrCherryJuice 7 months ago
@MrCherryJuice huh? Blue Cheer, Cream, yeah..... the Doors ain't got nothing on the Grape or Janis. Monterey WAS a groundbreaking event. Woodstock was just the watered down east coast version.
originalfunkyfry 5 months ago
@originalfunkyfry - Oh, I think you're being a bit harsh on the doors. Moby Grape WERE killer. But Janis? OK... but with the 'Pearl' band. I didn't rate Hendrix in this instance. And the Who weren't up to par. Cream would've made a good addition. Ditto Blue Cheer... local lads gone heavy. What I think was most important about Monterey was the nature of how it came together and the friendly vibe that apparently permeated the event. It was signified more than Woodstock, which also had its moments.
MrCherryJuice 5 months ago
I lost some brain cells for sure
dddddoug1 1 year ago
That version of Omaha just rips,what a rocking band they were,WOW!
kynyrdskynyrd 1 year ago
Turns out there IS footage of them from Monterey. BUT that jackoff Katz won't release it. It was however shown in 2007 at a festival, but someday it will surface.
One of the greatest bands. I was fortunate enough to see them but didn't appreciate if until years later. They are still among my favorite top ten bands.
Buzzramjet 1 year ago
@Buzzramjet jeff tamarakin writes record reviews he wrote a book on the jefferson airplane but it goes off the deep end with lawsuits with katz and not enough on music [katz was also supposed to have been a thorn in its a beautiful days side] .
spacepatrolman 1 year ago
Dynamite Performance!
StanKindly 1 year ago
Arrgghhh - the greatest. I always wanted to be like Bob Mosley, playing his bass low down like a weapon. He was one of the best bass players of that or any other era. Everyone in this band was great and, as we've heard on so many occasions, their story was tragic. So much talent and such a quick burnout...but the music and their spirit lives on.
Inviernos48 1 year ago 3
@Inviernos48
Skp´s story is indeed a real sad one, ended living in the streets...One of the best bands ever...
Orkustra 1 year ago
probably the best debut album ever.
no, really.
krowtentube 1 year ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
Love em to death... listen to Mosley on Indifference... what a voice..got to play keyboards with them on 3 songs in 1996 at wetlands show in NY..sam Andrew played with them that night..Skip sent message from the west coast that was read at the show. one of my musical life highlights..
rucyrius 1 year ago
Love em to death... listen to Mosley on Indifference... what a voice..got to play keyboards with them on 3 songs in 1996 at wetlands show in NY..sam Andrew played with them that night..Skip sent message from the west coast that was read at the show. one of my musical life highlights..
rucyrius 1 year ago 3
MOST UNDER RATED BAND OF ITS TIME WAY AHEAD OF THE WEST COAST SAN FRANSISCO MUSIC SCENE
mcwhiteface 1 year ago 2
Great enduring music, from a band of songwriters, singers, and instrumentalists!
What a treat!
mebcoder 1 year ago 2
Sounds like Tommy Smothers announcing. Saw Moby Grape at Del Mar Fair with Spirit, Big Brother and the Holding Company, and other greats. What a trip. Thanks for the tunes. Like "Sitting by the Window" and "Omaha" best.
jeffthepoet 1 year ago 2
Forget about comparrisons....but...I'd stack these guys up against the Fab Four any day! They were the later sixties, Bay Area, Psych/Folk/Rock answer to the Liverpool Lads. Pity that Crapitol Records mismanaged them all to hell, or else they would have been so much more succesfull. Still...their talent and creativity lives on today as strong n' as true as it always has been. INSPIRING!!!
Playback007able 1 year ago
Always loved this band. Saw them in SF and later in NY. Always wondered: was it Jerry Miller who played that big fat screamin' Gibson? One of the all-time great guitars and a really talented player.
spexx48 1 year ago 2
Many of early bands in late sixties got stroked by people they almost had to trust, just to get exposure. Moby Grape being one that never really got off the ground, always being an opening act. But they were pioneers in the San Francisco scene in their era. They did add their own flavor and kudos to the band.
2gambler 1 year ago
I've loved these guys from day one. I bought all there music on 45's when they first came out and they are still so hot and so great!
samanthaeblack11 1 year ago 2
First the Human Be-In in January followed by the Monterey Pop Festival and the release of Sgt. Pepper in June secured 1967 as the "Summer of Love". This is a great posting.
soxfan1957 1 year ago
WHAT YOU GOT TO KNOW IS THAT WAS THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW EXPRESION OF MUSIC................IT WAS YOKE EVOLVING OUT OF LOVE & PAIN...IT WAS YOKE GROWING STRONG BREAKING OUT OF THE SHELL OF THE MADNESS OF THIS WORLD THAT SURROUNDED UP....AND WE ARE STILL EVOLVING
woodenships747 1 year ago
The Grape were one of the best SF bands, true, and their tale is one of the saddest ever in the music business. They were screwed by everybody, especially the ones they trusted the most - their manager and producer.
sbarncar 1 year ago
@sbarncar are any of Mobys original members still makin music?
MrDougpro 1 year ago
@MrDougpro Jerry Miller plays regularly in the Tacoma area. Pete is on a mini-tour, preparing a new single album, Bob steps out, on occasion, in the Santa Cruz area and Don, Jerry and Omar Spence (Skip's son) played SXSW just recently - with Melloncamp's rhythm section. Here and there, now and then, they all hookup in Felton - that is, when we get around to booking the gig.... ;)
prunebreath 1 year ago 5
@MrDougpro Search Moby Grape 2010 to see them play SXSW in Texas
geckodog 1 year ago
Comment removed
geckodog 1 year ago
Bye Skip, welcome Omar!!! :)
Jenscool 1 year ago
Jerry Miller, Playing for free everyone once in a while @ Barbs Westgate Inn In Tacoma!! Ya Gotta Love It!!
lazlo717 1 year ago
Great Band!!! I saw them in 68 In NYC...
Carlfgauge 1 year ago
The greatest band that never was! These guys were great , and have never to this day received the accolades they deserve! I have most of the vinyl the they had put out, and still wonder, why! Why they were not in that special canon of SuperGroups! They were much more musical
than the Grateful Dead as far as melodic ism and great songs! Truly they were overlooked, and still are as true to art as always.
stratocat9999 1 year ago
"let's have a warm hand....really." "There you are." (What a 60's intro.) Monterey Pop didn't need any intro's. It's kind of unfortuante we had 'local visionaries' speaking into the microphnes before such dynamite bands took the stage. Their sound was a combination of 50's Texas Roadhouse and Joe Cocker poetic interpretations. But without those 'local visionaries' we probably wouldn't have these kernals of gold. Thank you.
MrJerryWallace 1 year ago
jerr ymillers still rockin
phildirt3 1 year ago
fantastic band and performance
wakarusarat 1 year ago
The Grape, The Quick, The Dead, and the Airplane...the four greatest bands of all time. Great to have the Grape albums remastered and re-released. They should put out some live albums. Great to hear this quality recording of their show a Monterey!
folkhippy 1 year ago
I saw them in '78. They were late coming on, probably some of the band needing to finish up doing drugs. Some in the audience were pissed by the late start. Jerry Miller threw them a glance that said, "These guys are my friends, if you have a problem with them you have a problem with me." It was a great show. Skip was so stoned he could only play two numbers, "8:05" and "Omaha" but it was great to see him do those. One of my half dozen favorite shows of all time. We all miss Skip. Greg G.
6664818GGG 1 year ago
How did the band come by their name?
ace063562 1 year ago
@ace063562 The band was having a meeting to decide on a name. Before the meeting, Skip had stopped by Bob's and one told the other a joke that was popular at the time; "What's big and purple and lives on the bottom of the ocean?" Ans: Moby Grape. (haha ;) They went to the meeting and all the names their (now) ex-manager proposed sucked. Skip or Bob told that earlier, dumb, joke to the group and someone said; "Hey, Moby Grape, that's better than any of Matthew's c**p!" Hence, the name....
prunebreath 1 year ago
@prunebreath
Thanks, great story. I got turned on to the band back in about '67-68 when I was about 10 years old. One of the great SF groups of the era.
ace063562 1 year ago
A drunk guy in a pub said I looked like him when he was 17, and he told me to look up this band.
And they are awesome.
medamorth 1 year ago
Real nice photo montage.
That's the kind of live sound that makes you wanna play in a band!
robertlaberge 1 year ago
Music starts at 1:15
robertlaberge 1 year ago
Righteous!
truewesterner 1 year ago
omar, you're dad was so awesome!!! seeing skip and the grape live in 1968 remains one of my great life memories. it changed me. after that concert i understood what oneness meant. i know it's kinda corny, but it was a total blend of band, music and audience......of course the weed helped a tad, lol.
janrub01 1 year ago
Jerry just played a few weeks ago -- had someone in today at the studio, played a few gigs after Omars dad left -- Bob a little frail but, heard some of his new recordings from his engineer ...
cjogo 1 year ago
this band influenced me for the rest of my life and are still the best band of all time! rock on Jerry
ajack50 1 year ago
I saw Moby Grape live several times at the Fillmore and the Avalon in SF between '67 '68. What a great band! Refreshing too at the time. This sounds great. i'm surprised. thanks!
Antarblue 1 year ago
What a dipstick their manager was for not having them filmed at Monterey unless he got a million bucks. I've loved this band ever since the day one of my fraternity brothers at Miami University went crazy when he took delivery in 1968 of Grape's first album. He ran upstairs like there were no steps at all, put it on the turntable and cranked it. I've been "cranking" Grape ever since. 60 and going strong. I have that "finger" LP, purchased before it got recalled. Prize possession.
bkeesecker 1 year ago 28
@bkeesecker do you have the poster that came with it
spacepatrolman 1 year ago
@bkeesecker didnt monterey dupe alot of acts? by getting them to play the show for free without telling them that they would be filming them, then just before they went on stage came with a contract and asked to film them?
TheThroney 1 year ago
@bkeesecker i have footage man
TaylorJames17 11 months ago
Thanks for posting and great job on the video!.. had never seen most of the pix before. Their debut album was the 1st I'd ever owned (my 80 yr old Grandma bought it for me {"Hey Grandma"!} Is there any more audio from their set, or did they just play 10 minutes?
yungleyim 1 year ago
Not "one of the best 60s San Francisco bands" but the THE BEST BAND EVER and ANYWHERE
bostreetrunner 1 year ago 2
@bostreetrunner I agree with that statement, I have their entire collections of main albums(plus the new live album that came out) and there isn't another group whose songs from top to bottom are ALL good like theirs are! Still amazes me that radio stations never play their music, but then again groups like the Velvet Underground/Stooges are in the hall of fame and their music never gets played so I shouldn't be shocked I guess.
Sandbagger300 1 year ago
Jerry Miller sure could play a mean lead ! Great song writers,Spence,Lewis and Mobesly !
theseventhprotocol 1 year ago
@theseventhprotocol He still plays a mean lead!
prunebreath 1 year ago
The 8:45 of the band in action is further proof that when these guys were playing at their best they were undoubtedly the best band SF had to offer; even better than other well-known SF area favorites like CCR, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Steve Miller Band, Sly & The Family Stone and Quicksilver Messenger Service. I still have a vinyl copy of the first album which in my imo is nearly perfect.
mrbag60 1 year ago
@mrbag60 You said that right brother. I saw every SF band of that era and they were my favorite. And, I put their first album as a top 100 album of all time and in MY top ten of all time.
soltisimba 1 year ago
Jerry Miller still cooks!!! Thank You so much for posting, HotRockinJohnny--your Grapeness!!!
hashachar70 1 year ago
Saw the Grape at the village theater before it became the Fillmore East with Richie Havens, Canned Heat and Cream
Billrabatin 1 year ago
One thing for sure: Omar's got the goods to keep whatever form of the Grape going today.
maida1982a 1 year ago
This is on the New Moby Grape Live album Moby Grape Live from Sundazed on Cd and Vinyl.
hambone9119 1 year ago
Robert Plant's favorite band
zed0469 1 year ago
one of the unsong bands from sf .......there were so many thats why they got the backdrop at times! All good singers !!!! JM on guitar come on?? Still is rockin!!!
steviegofcali7 1 year ago
Saw Moby Grape several times at the Fillmore East. A truly awesome band for any era! Three guitarists, Miller was terrific, five vocalists. Played everything from rock to country and were light years before and better than many bands (like CS&N, the Byrds, Poco). Watch them be destroyed by the music business and sadly destroying themselves. Still an honor to see them.
stans06 1 year ago
Omar: I already posted earlier, but I saw them in '67 and they were the best band I saw that year. Skip led the band yet in another way, was just another 1 of 5 voices and 1 of 3 guitars. Great musical composition abilities in this group. Someone close to me did a bit too much acid and ended up with some permanent problems, so I feel for you in "losing" your father much before he actually passed away. I always tell younger friends about Moby Grape and give them the original album.
soltisimba 1 year ago
Wow.....what a treasure this is! Like someone else said, it's a shame the cameras weren't rolling when these guys played. This immensely talented band should have been HUGE...............
jeffthrow6892 1 year ago
@jeffthrow6892: Yeah I know what you mean. I'm sure if the cameras had been rolling a song or two would have been included on the 3rd DVD of The Monterey Pop Festival box set. As much as Columbia was hyping them at the time of the album's release why weren't the cameramen ready with film?! That makes no friggin' sense!
MattHatter 1 year ago
@MattHatter From Wikipedia- Due to legal and managerial disputes, the group was not included in the D.A. Pennebaker-produced film of the event, Monterey Pop. Moby Grape's Monterey recordings and film remain unreleased, allegedly because Matthew Katz demanded one million dollars for the rights... The Moby Grape footage was shown in 2007 as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the film.
PamK36 1 year ago
@PamK36: OH! So footage DOES EXIST! Good to know, but I wanna SEE IT! UGGGGHHHHH! Anyone out there?! Bootleg upload?! Please?!
MattHatter 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@jeffthrow6892: Yeah I know what you mean. I'm sure if the cameras had been rolling a song or two would have been included on the 3rd DVD of The Monterey Pop Festival box set. As much as Columbia was hyping them at the time of the album's release why weren't the cameramen ready with film?! That makes no sense!
MattHatter 1 year ago
i met some of moby grape when i opened up for the doobie brothers at a club in santa cruz mountains around 71 the drummer was a great dude and i saw skip spence playing pool i went over and told him i thought he was fantastic and he attacked me with his pool stick thank god some people stopped him before he reached me and i still thank god i didn't tell him he sucked
kerrykorn 1 year ago 2
I was fortunate to see the Grape at King's Beach Bowl, Lake Tahoe, where lots of S.F. groups came up to play. Skip came down off the stage between sets and talked with us, and I've never forgotten how nice he was to a bunch of kids and how great that concert was. Thanks all who have posted their great music.
groxbrown 1 year ago
Big out west, unfortunately not well known in the east. They were a great band.
zenstdy 1 year ago
WOW!!! ive been into this band since 1995 but never heard them live,not even on montery box set,thanx for letting us alln hear them live, it is really special,what a great band!!!!
thesyd1975 1 year ago
'Moby Grape' were a truely gifted band of musicians who bridged many a Genre while maintaining a distinct sound all their own. Great vocals, great songwriting and Bob Mosley and Jerry Miller provided near virtuoso performances on their respective instruments. The bands tragic fall from fame has been documented many times, but it doesn't diminish what they accomplished. A forgotten and hugely underated GIANT in the 60's Pop movement !
SurroundaSound 1 year ago
'Moby Grape' were a truely gifted band of musicians who bridged many a Genre while maintaining a distinct sound all their own. Great vocals, great songwriting and Bob Mosley and Jerry Miller provided near virtuoso performances on their respective instruments. The bands tragic fall from fame has been documented many times, but it doesn't diminish what they accomplished. A forgotten and hugely underated GIANT in the 60's Pop movement !
SurroundaSound 1 year ago
1 great Frisco band from the '60's!
debumaiya 1 year ago
Too bad the cameras weren't rolling for this awesome set.
harwicke 1 year ago
Hey Omar,
Do you know Tad?
stratmanr53 1 year ago
Omar, thanks for keeping the Grape alive!
dansmusic3637 2 years ago