Season 2, Episode 7: “Jerry Stories” With Peter Rowan

“Jerry Stories” premieres with tales about the late Grateful Dead guitarist told by his longtime friend and bandmate.

By Team JamBase Apr 27, 2023 • 1:20 pm PDT

Season Two of The JamBase Podcast, a partner of the Osiris Media network, continues with the return of acclaimed bluegrass musician Peter Rowan. The episode features the premiere installment of “Jerry Stories,” a new series of interviews featuring memories of Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia.

The “Jerry Stories” concept – to present stories about Jerry Garcia told by the people who knew him – first popped up last year, around what would have been Garcia’s 80th birthday on August 1. This August 9 will mark 28 years since Garcia’s death, and knowing that love for Jerry will not fade away, our team wanted the memories of the people who knew him to not fade away without first being captured for generations to come.

One of the first people contacted was Peter Rowan, who previously appeared on the podcast last July. The team asked Rowan to share a Jerry story, and the delightful storyteller — he’s a true raconteur — ended up relaying a few fascinating tales of their times together. Rowan spoke mostly about Old & In the Way, the legendary bluegrass band he formed with Garcia in 1973.

The group, which featured Rowan on guitar, Garcia on banjo, David Grisman on mandolin, Vassar Clements on fiddle and John Kahn on bass, essentially dissolved the following year. Though short-lived, Old & The In Way had an immense influence on what became the modern jamgrass scene.

For his “Jerry Stories” episode, Rowan recounts meeting Jerry, forming and performing with Old & In The Way and later seeing Garcia for a final time not long before the beloved musician’s untimely death.

The episode is sponsored by DelFest. Taking place Memorial Day Weekend, May 25 – 28, and hosted by Del McCoury and family, the 15th annual DelFest welcomes to the stage the Del McCoury Band, the Travelin’ McCourys, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Trampled by Turtles, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, The Infamous Stringdusters, The California Honeydrops, Sierra Ferrell, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, and so many more musical acts playing around the clock for nearly four days. Grab your tickets today!

The episode is also sponsored by 2023 destination vacation events Moon Crush “Pink Moon”, Brandi Carlile’s Mothership Weekend and Moon Crush “Blue Moon”. Event producers Topeka Live connect you with your favorite artists and people through meaningful shared music experiences in Miramar Beach, Florida. Moon Crush “Pink Moon” (April 20 – 23) features The Black Crowes, The Avett Brothers, Jason Isbell and more; Brandi Carlile’s Mothership Weekend (May 12 -14) features Brandi Carlile, Bonnie Raitt, Mavis Staples, and others; while Moon Crush “Blue Moon” (September 1 – 3) features Ben Rector, NEEDTOBREATHE and more. Visit www.topeka.live for details and to purchase tickets to Moon Crush Pink Moon, Mothership Weekend and Moon Crush Blue Moon.

Listen to Peter Rowan’s “Jerry Stories” on The JamBase Podcast via all major podcast services including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Podcast.