Loading...
Phil's Collection

Grateful Dead   06/01/1991

Los Angeles Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Media FLAC - HD   1 disc
Notes Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 68
2496 Edition

Recording Gear: AKG 451E Microphones (CK-1 cardioid capsules) > Nakamichi 550 Cassette Recorder

Transfer: Mike Millard Master Cassettes > Nakamichi CR-7A (azimuth adjustment; Dolby On) > Sound Devices USBPre 2 > Audacity 2.0 capture > iZotope RX8 > iZotope Ozone 8 > Audacity > TLH > FLAC
Grateful Dead, Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA, June 1, 1981

The ultimate taper meets the ultimate tapers' band. Yes, Mike Millard did record the Grateful Dead, though to be fair he was more as an appreciator than a fan. In fact, as Rob notes below, he was really doing a favor by recording the show.

In classic Millard fashion, he eschewed the tapers' section in favor of recording from his sweet spot, which in this case was the third row of the massive LA Coliseum, site of two Olympic Games.

The Coliseum '91 performance is not particularly beloved in Deadhead circles, in part because of the heavy presence of the LAPD, who did not adopt the kind of "live and let live" attitude fans were used to in the Bay Area. Bad vibes indeed. As for the show itself, the first set earns praise, opening with a lively "Shakedown Street" and always-welcome turns of "Bertha," "Candyman" and Bob Dylan's "Queen Jane Approximately."

However, the second set is characterized as being on "auto-pilot," losing the urgency and energy of Act 1. Despite that assessment, the audience surrounding Mike is lively and loud, adding more crowd noise to his recording than usual. Perhaps due to wind, there is also some instability in the stereo image compared to most Millard masters. Mike's pull is still very good, though there are better captures of this show from tapers' section recordings as well as a soundboard source. Samples provided.

As a result, this is a rare case where Mike's master isn't the best recording of a show, yet Mike The Mike doing The Dead feels like an important chapter in his taping history and therefore worth sharing.

Here's what Rob S recalled about seeing the Dead at the LA Coliseum 1991:

I met Mike at his home in Fullerton and he drove us to the Coliseum to see the Grateful Dead. In 1991, the Dead were riding higher than ever (in popularity at least), and the ticketless hordes that followed them made venues like the cavernous Coliseum the only place left the Dead could play in So Cal, at least in the summer. Although not a Deadhead, Mike was kind enough to tape the band twice at my urging, as well as a Jerry Garcia Band show in 1989.

For this show, he was able to get us seats in the center of the third row, perfect for recording. I had mail order tickets as well, so we had a taper ticket to get the gear in. We arrived during Johnny Clegg & Savuka’s set and did not record any of it. Mike had no issues taping FOH, save for the rather boisterous crowd around him. Even the gentleman who vomited a couple seats away was kind enough to do this during the intermission break, so there was no disaster-cleanup noise during the sets. It was a good day.

Trades Allowed Yes
Lists Grateful Dead
Owned by Phil · Last Updated Apr 3, 2025