By Pat Christenson
Vegas Event Insider is a weekly blog covering the history and stories about the Las Vegas event industry.
Not Such a Strange Trip After All
Clark County Commissioner gets lesson in the power of the tie-dye
April 27th, 1991, was a beautiful mid-70s-degree day. A $23.50 ticket got 60,000 fans in to see Santana open for the first Grateful Dead show with a 75-minute set. Then the Dead launched into one of the most memorable sets in Deadhead lore. One fan said, “This night was the sort of gig that, later in the evening at your hotel or out in the lot, echoes in your head. The sight of the sun setting over the mountains, the red skyline, and the crowd reaction to the band seemed to be a fire on the mountain during ‘Fire on the Mountain.’”
Santana was perhaps the most fitting of the five acts that ever opened for the Dead. Both bands brought their distinctive styles to the show. The combination of Santana’s fiery guitar solos and the Grateful Dead’s improvisational jams created a legendary experience.
Success and Backlash
The first shows weren’t only an artistic success— they were a financial one as well. Two incidents, however, put a slight damper on the party. Toward the end of the second show, a fan fell 40 feet from the top of the stadium. Remarkably, she sustained only minor injuries. According to the Rock Med doctor, the depressants in her system relaxed her body, likely preventing a much more serious outcome.
A less serious but equally memorable incident involved a Clark County Commissioner who still held a ’60s view of rock ‘n’ roll. As the crowd was exiting the parking lot, he was driving along Boulder Highway in his vintage Porsche. While waiting at a traffic light, an excited fan jumped onto the roof of his car, causing a minor dent.
At the next county commission meeting, Paul Christensen (no relation to Pat Christenson) pushed for a ban on the Grateful Dead performing in Las Vegas. A couple of conservative hoteliers joined in, complaining about the swarms of Deadheads on the Strip— some of whom refreshed themselves in casino fountains or snuck into hotel pools.
The debate over whether Vegas should “Ban the Dead” sparked public backlash and hit a cultural nerve. Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith called out the hypocrisy in a piece titled “Leaders Give New Meaning to Term ‘Deadhead.’”
The column titled, “Leaders Give New Meaning to Term ‘Deadhead,’” started out by referring to the city leaders as “blockheads.” Smith went on to write, “Thousands of members of the tie-dye fraternity made the long, strange trip to Las Vegas for Grateful Dead concerts and set an attendance record at the Sam Boyd Silver Bowl. The fans generated $2.7 million in ticket sales, $910,000 in state sales taxes, and $26 million in countywide revenue.
Smith wasn’t the only Las Vegas Local that spoke out. KOMP General manager, Tony Bonnici had his DJs publicize the fax number of County Commissioner Christensen. In addition, they started the campaign, “Don’t Dump on the Dead.” A porta-potty was placed outside the KOMP studios with a picture of the Commissioner anchored on the bottom. Fans were invited to show their irreverence towards Christensen’s position. There is no evidence anyone took the suggestion seriously, thankfully.
Smith continued, “The Dead also incurred the wrath of Circus Circus President Mike Sloan and Clark County Commissioner Paul Christensen for failing to display the respect due Las Vegas. Sources insist these fellows aren’t tripping on bad acid; they’ve merely overdosed on Vegas rhetoric.
“It seems those shaggy rock fans didn’t gamble enough. They also dressed funny. The former is mortal sin. The latter is no mean feat here in leisure-suit land.
“Sloan called the fans, known for their open drug use and scandalous free-form dancing, a ‘slovenly horde.’ He also questioned the Deadheads’ morals.
“Sloan is a casino boss, political mechanic, and corporate attorney. Clearly, morality is his strong suit.
“‘The people I’ve talked to say they sleep ten to a room,’ Christensen said. ‘They don’t appear to be the type to be employed. I wouldn’t hire any of them.’ ‘There was no way to control the drug use. They bring a group in here to promote the illegal use of illicit drugs and just wink at it.”
“Carl Sagan couldn’t explain what goes on in the space between Christensen’s ears on some days.
“Police made only a few arrests in three days. Laughing-gas sales ranked high among the transgressions. Another big violation was misdemeanor ticket scalping, which is offered as a minor at UNLV.”
Smith concluded, “When the dust settled, the Dead persevered, and the planning for next year’s show began.”
Despite the drama, the incidents of the first year helped shape the approach for the four years that followed. There were no more public issues.
Coming Next Week:
Opening Acts Contribute to Vegas Dead Experience
Keep up with Vegas Event Insider:
Past Blogs:
Enjoy learning about the Grateful Dead? Subscribe to get our blogs straight to your inbox!
Liking our blog? Follow us on Instagram for more Las Vegas and Grateful Dead history!
