R.I.P. Vince Welnick

Sad news came to me today when I learned that Vince Welnick, the last in a (all too long) line of Grateful Dead keyboardists passed away yesterday.

For those Deadheads of my generation, those whom were too young to have heard Brent Mydland in action, the Vince Welnick line-up of the Dead was the only flesh-and-blood band we were ever luck enough to see. Between Mydland's passing in 1990 and Garcia's in 1995, Vince Welnick served as a more than competent keyboardist, given the Dead's never-ending urge to take it outside and open up the music. In addition to his musically ability, he will be remembered for the spark of enthusiasm he brought to the band, challenging them not only to revive long forgotten Dead classics such as Here Comes Sunshine, but to delve into new territory by covering such classic songs as the Beatles' Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds, It's All Too Much, Tomorrow Never Knows > Baba O'Reily (both of which he sang lead on) and Rain. His tasteful accompaniment on the later-day Dead classics such as Lazy River Road, So Many Roads and Liberty meshed perfectly with Garcia's winsome guitar playing.

As one of those last-wave Deadheads who was lucky enough to catch the show just before the lights went up for good, I'd just like to say thanks, Vince. Never had such a good time.