1970 was quite a year for music, as both the Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers Band were forging their way into lengthy careers. One highlight moment of that year came on February 11th, as both bands wound up on the same bill at the famed Fillmore East venue. Not only did both bands play, but the Bill Graham-promoted show also featured a major collaboration between the two groups.
Towards the end of the show, the Dead welcomed up Peter Green, Duane Allman, Mick Fleetwood, Danny Kirwan, Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks & Berry Oakley for a segment that included “Dark Star” into “Spanish Jam” into “Turn On Your Lovelight.” This was an all-time version of “Lovelight,” clocking in at over 33 minutes for a wild bluesy celebration.
Wrote Phil Lesh in his book, “It’s a surprisingly coherent free-for-all, with five guitarists , four drummers, organ, and — Pigpen roaring over it all… My mind starts to stretch out of shape… Everyone on stage is flat-out wailing. He continues, saying after the show, “I walk outside — it’s daylight, and snow is falling gently on the streets of New York… I grab Bob and Jerry in a group embrace: This is what it’s all about.”
Check out the full show audio below, transferred onto Archive.org by Darrin Sacks.
In a time marred by darkness in so many ways, remember to turn on your Lovelight. And let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.