On Sunday, David Letterman joined a parade of tributes to the Grateful Dead at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. To celebrate the occasion, the surprisingly active Letterman YouTube channel honored his longstanding relationship with the band by sharing an archival clip of Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir on the show from 1989.
Taken from Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir’s third and final duo appearance on Late Show with David Letterman on October 13th, 1989, the clip highlights a rare performance of Smokey Robinson classic “I Second That Emotion”. While the Motown standard may have become a regular cover for the soul-fueled Jerry Garcia Band, the Grateful Dead proper only performed the song a handful of times in 1971 (highlighted on the Ladies and Gentlemen live release from the closing of Fillmore East), so it’s a treat to see Bobby trading lead vocals with Jerry, not to mention them being backed by Paul Shaffer and the World’s Most Dangerous Band, featuring Anton Fig, Will Lee, and Sid McGinnis. Though not shown in the clip, the episode also witnessed Jerry and Bobby playing with the band during the leads in and out of commercial breaks, jamming on “Good Lovin'”, “Quinn the Eskimo (Mighty Quinn)”, and Freddie King rarity “Hideaway”.
While not as iconic of an appearance as “frog in a glass of milk” or levitating Jerry, the frontmen still engaged in some amusing banter with the host. Prior to striking up the band, Letterman asked “Are you guys always on the road?” Jerry and Bobby looked at each other dubiously before Bobby blurted out “Hell yes!”
Bandleader Paul Shaffer also got in on the banter, noting, “We’re going to have a very musical evening with Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir tonight. I’ve been preparing all day long for this. I don’t wanna say too much more about it but… right now, I’m peaking.”
Following the performance, Weir and Garcia sat for a few minutes with Dave and Jerry alluded to plans to play Russia the following spring (which never panned out) while Bobby sat by beating the microphone on his chest. There’s a reason they never said much on the mic at concerts.
Fast forward 35 years and Letterman was on hand to celebrate Bobby, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart at the Kennedy Center Honors Gala in Washington, D.C. In addition to testimonials on the Dead’s legacy by President Joe Biden, John Mayer, Norah Jones, and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, musicians from across genres came to pay their respects. Sturgill Simpson covered “Ripple”, Dave Matthews and Derek Trucks teamed up for “Sugaree”, and Maggie Rogers and Leon Bridges performed “Friend of the Devil” to show just how far the Dead’s influence has reached in these past 60 years.
Watch Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir on Letterman in 1989 and check out Live For Live Music‘s coverage of the Kennedy Center Honors here.
Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir — “I Second That Emotion” (Smokey Robinson) — 10/13/89