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Dark Star
Composer: Grateful Dead / Robert Hunter

Dark Star was the first lyric that Robert Hunter wrote with the Dead. He had previously sent a few lyrics to them from New Mexico and was then invited to join them. Hunter describes the journey in the introduction to his collected lyrics Box Of Rain;
The trip took six weeks with a surreal layover in Denver. By the time I hit Nevada I had a dime in my pocket which I put in a slot machine and parlayed into enough to make a phone call and tell the guys I was on my way. I arrived in San Francisco with a case of walking pneumonia and the clothes on my back. The next day I was writing Dark Star, feeling pretty much as the lyric suggests.
The initial lyrics were written at Rio Nido where the Dead were playing when Hunter joined them.

The single version of Dark Star was recorded in the studio during the recordings sessions for Anthem Of The Sun. Robert Hunter speaks the words at the close of the song.

Dark Star was first performed, without lyrics, by the Grateful Dead in September 1967. The first version with lyrics was in the December of that year. The song was a major focus for improvisation and was played regularly through the 1960's and up to 1973. After 1974 it only appeared on odd occasions in 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1984 before making a comeback in October 1989. It was then played about 25 times through the 1990s the last performance being in March 1994.



Grateful Dead

info Dark Star / Born Cross-Eyed, 1968
info Live/Dead, 1969
info Zabriskie Point Soundtrack, Various Artists, 1970
info Glastonbury Fayre, Various Artists, 1972
info What A Long Strange Trip It's Been, 1977
info The History Of Rock, Volume 23, Various Artists, 1984
info Rock Goes To The Movies - Vol. 1, Various Artists, 1990
info Two From The Vault, 1992
info Rock Goes To The Movies - In Dreams, Various Artists, 1992
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 2, 1995
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 4, 1996
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 7, 1997
info Fillmore East 2.11.69, 1997
info Zabriskie Point Soundtrack (Extended double CD version), Various Artists, 1997
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 11, 1998
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 14, 1999
info So Many Roads (1965-1995), 1999
info So Many Roads (1965-1995), 1999
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 16, 2000
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 19, 2000
info Ladies and Gentlemen ... The Grateful Dead, 2000
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 22, 2001
info View From The Vault II, 2001
info View From The Vault II (DVD), 2001
info Nightfall Of Diamonds, 2001
info The Golden Road (1965-1973), 2001
info Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: England '72, July 2002
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 26, 2002
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 27, 2003
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 28, 2003
info The Closing of Winterland, 2003
info The Closing of Winterland (DVD), 2003
info Dreamers Soundtrack, Various Artists, 2004
info Rockin' The Rhein, 2004
info Rockin' The Rhein bonus CD: Academy Of Music, 2004
info Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack, 2004
info The Grateful Dead Movie (extended DVD), 2004
info Fillmore West 1969: The Complete Recordings, 2005
info Fillmore West 1969: Compilation, 2005
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 36, 2005
info Trilogy, 2005
info Jerry Garcia: The Collected Artwork: Limited Edition CD, JGB / Grateful Dead / Garcia-Grisman, 2005
info Grateful Dead Download Vol 12: 4/17/69, 2006
info Love Is The Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970, Various Artists, 2007
info Jerry Garcia: The Collected Artwork: Collectors Edition CD, 2007
info Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings, 2008
info Road Trips: Vol 1, Number 3: Summer 1971, 2008
info Road Trips: Vol 2, No. 1: MSG, Sept 1990, 2008
info Road Trips: Vol 2, Number 2: Feb 14, 1968, Carousel Ballroom, 2009
info Road Trips: Vol 2, Number 2: Feb 14, 1968, Carousel Ballroom Bonus CD, 2009
info Woodstock: 40 Years On: Back to Yasgur's Farm, Various Artists, 2009
info Road Trips: Vol 3, Number 2: Austin, Nov 15, 1971, 2010
info Road Trips: Vol 3, Number 3: Fillmore East, 5/15/70, 2010
info Formerly The Warlocks, 2010
info Road Trips: Vol 4, No 1: Big Rock Pow Wow 69, 2010
info Road Trips: 2011 Bonus Disc, 2011
info Europe '72, The Complete Recordings, 2011
info Europe '72, Vol. 2, 2011
info Europe '72: London, 4/8/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Copenhagen, 4/14/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Copenhagen, 4/17/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Dusseldorf, 4/24/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Hamburg, 4/29/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Paris, 5/4/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Bickershaw Festival, 5/7/1972, Grateful Dead, 2011
info Europe '72: Rotterdam, 5/11/1972, Grateful Dead, 2011
info Europe '72: Munich, 5/18/1972, Grateful Dead, 2011
info Europe '72: London, 5/23/1972, Grateful Dead, 2011
info Europe '72: London, 5/25/1972, Grateful Dead, 2011
info Dave's Picks Vol. 3: Chicago, 22/10/71, 2012
info Dark Star 12" single, Grateful Dead, 2012
info Dave's Picks Vol. 6: 12/20/69 & 2/2/70, 2013
info Sunshine Daydream, Veneta, 8/27/72, 2013
info Live Albums Collection, 2013
info Complete Studio Rarities Collection, 2013
info Dave's Picks Vol. 9: Missoula, 5/14/74, 2014
info Spring 1990 (The Other One), 2014
info Wake Up To Find Out: Nassau Coliseum, 3/29/90, 2014
info Dave's Picks 2014 Bonus CD, 2014
info Dave's Picks Vol 13: Winterland, SF, 2/24/74, 2015
info The Best Of The Grateful Dead, 2015
info 30 Trips Around The Sun Box Set, 2015
info 30 Trips Around The Sun: The Definitive Live Story: 1965-1995, 2015
info Dave's Picks Vol 16: Springfield, 3/28/73, 2015
info Dave's Picks Vol 19: Honolulu, 1/23/70, 2016
info Long Strange Trip, 2017
info Long Strange Trip: Highlights, 2017
info Smiling On A Cloudy Day, 2017
info February 27th 1969: Fillmore West, 2018
info Pacific Northwest '73-'74: Complete Recordings, 2018
info Dave's Picks Vol 30: Fillmore East, 2/1/70, 2019
info Woodstock: Back To The Garden (38 CD), 2019
info Woodstock: Back To The Garden (10 CD), 2019
info Woodstock: Back To The Garden (3 CD), 2019
info Giants Stadium 1987/1989/1991, 2019
info Saint Of Circumstance: Giants Stadium, 6/17/91, 2019
info Fillmore West 1969: Feb 28th, 2019
info Dave's Picks Vol 32: Philadelphia, 3/24/73, 2019
info Dave's Picks Vol 34: Miami 6/23/74, 2020
info The Story Of The Grateful Dead, 2020
info American Beauty 50th Anniv. Deluxe Ed, 2020
info Origins: Deluxe Edition LP, 2020
info Light Into Ashes: St. Louis, MO, 10-18-72, 2021
info Listen to the River: St. Louis '71 '72 '73, 2021
info Fillmore West 1969: March 1st, 2022
info Wembley Empire Pool, 4/8/1972, 2022
info Lyceum '72: The Complete Recordings, 2022
info Dave's Picks Volume 43: 11/2/69 & 12/26/69, 2022
info Here Comes Sunshine 1973, 2023
info RFK St., Washington, 6/10/73, Grateful Dead, 2023

The Dead

info Holmdel, NJ, June 25, 2003
info Millwaukee, WI, July 1, 2003
info Morrison, CO, July 10, 2003
info Joliet, IL, August 2, 2003
info Mountain View, CA, September 19, 2003
info Oakland, CA, December 31, 2004
info Mountain View, CA, June 26, 2004
info Boston, MA, July 31, 2004
info Darien Lakes, NY, August 6, 2004
info Wantagh, NY, August 13, 2004
info Dead '09: Washington, DC, April 14, 2009
info Dead '09: Uniondale, NY, April 24, 2009
info Dead '09: E. Rutherford, NJ, April 28, 2009
info Dead '09: Los Angeles, CA, May 9, 2009
info Dead '09: Quincy, WA, May 16, 2009

Furthur

info Dec 11, 2009, Wallingford, CT
info Dec 31, 2009, San Francisco, CA
info Feb 12, 2010, Hampton, VA
info Feb 19, 2010, Amherst, MA
info Feb 27, 2010, Atlantic City, NJ
info Mar 6, 2010, Denver, CO
info May 28, 2010, Angels Camp, CA
info June 26, 2010, Brooklyn, NY
info July 3, 2010, Herkimer, NY
info July 8, 2010, Lewiston, NY
info July 29, 2010, New York, NY
info September 16, 2010, Eugene, OR
info September 22, 2010, Las Vegas, NV
info September 25, 2010, Morrison, CO
info November 12, 2010, Chicago, IL
info November 20, 2010, New York, NY
info February 11, 2011, Broomfield, CO
info March 6, 2011, Boston, MA
info March 11, 2011, New York, NY
info March 19, 2011, Upper Darby, PA
info March 26, 2011, New York, NY
info July 17, 2011, Wantagh, NY
info July 26, 2011, Canandaigua, NY
info Sept 24, 2011, Eugene, OR
info Oct 1, 2011, Morrison, CO
info Oct 7, 2011, Monterey, CA
info Nov 4, 2011, Portland, ME
info Nov 11, 2011, Syracuse, NY
info Nov 18, 2011, Rosemont, IL
info Dec 31, 2011, San Francisco, CA
info April 6, 2012, Boston, MA
info April 13, 2012, New York, NY
info April 18, 2012, New York, NY
info July 7, 2012, Philadelphia, PA
info July 13, 2012, Brooklyn, NY
info September 22, 2012, Morrison, CO
info October 2, 2012, San Diego, CA
info December 30, 2012, San Francisco, CA
info January 18, 2013, Mill Valley, CA
info February 24, 2013, Broomfield, CO
info April 20, 2013, Port Chester, NY
info April 27, 2013, Atlantic CIty, NJ
info July 14, 2013, Cooperstown, NY
info July 20, 2013, All Good Festival, Thornville, OH
info Sept 6, 2013, Arrington, VA
info Sept 21, 2013, Morrison, CO
info Sept 22, 2013, Morrison, CO
info Sept 28, 2013, Berkeley, CA
info Oct 4, 2013, Los Angeles, CA

Dead & Company

info San Francisco, CA, 23 May, 2016
info Noblesville, IN, 17 June, 2016
info Flushing, NY, 25 June, 2016
info Boulder, CO, 03 July, 2016
info Boston, MA, 15 July, 2016
info Irvine, CA, 26 July, 2016
info Mountain View, CA, 30 July, 2016
info Los Angeles, CA, 1 Jun, 2017
info Boulder, CO, 10 Jun, 2017
info oston, MA, 18 Jun, 2017
info Chicago, IL, 30 Jun, 2017
info Chicago, IL, 1 Jul, 2017
info Philadelphia, PA, 16 Nov, 2017
info Detroit, MI, 24 Nov, 2017
info Austin, TX, 2 Dec, 2017
info Sunrise, FL, 26 Feb, 2018
info Camden, NJ, 1 Jun, 2018
info Darien Center, NY, 19 Jun, 2018
info Eugene, OR, 30 Jun, 2018
info Riviera Maya, MX, 20 Jan, 2019
info George, WA, 7 Jun, 2019
info Foxborough, MA, 22 Jun, 2019
info Charlotte, NC, 28 Jun, 2019
info Uniondale, NY, 6 Nov, 2019
info Los Angeles, CA, 28 Dec, 2019
info Cancún, MX, 16 Jan, 2020
info Cancún, MX, 19 Jan, 2020
info Bethel, NY, Aug 23, 2021
info Mansfield, MA, Sep 2, 2021
info Mansfield, MA, Sep 3, 2021
info Noblesville, IN, Sep 15, 2021
info Englewood, CO, Oct 22, 2021
info Los Angeles, CA, Oct 31, 2021
info Mountain View, CA, June 13, 2022
info Chicago, IL, June 24, 2022
info Bethel, NY, July 1, 2022
info Burgettstown, PA, July 12, 2022
info Riviera Cancún, Mexico, Jan 16, 2023
info Phoenix, AZ, May 23, 2023
info Maryland Heights, MO, June 7, 2023
info Philadelphia, PA, June 15, 2023
info Boston, MA, June 24, 2023
info Noblesville, IN, June 27, 2023
info George, WA, July 7, 2023
info George, WA, July 8, 2023
info San Francisco, CA, July 14, 2023

Ratdog

info Live At Roseland, Ratdog, 2001
info Atlanta GA: October 12, 2003
info Boston MA: October 18, 2003
info Cleveland OH: October 31, 2003
info Chicago IL: November 4, 2003
info Lawrence KS: November 18, 2003
info New Orleans LA: November 22, 2003
info Anaheim CA, February 23, 2004
info Los Angeles CA, March 1, 2004
info Bozeman MT, March 10, 2004
info Boulder CO, March 15, 2004
info Boulder CO, March 16, 2004
info Burlington VT, March 23, 2004
info Washington, March 31, 2004
info St. Louis MO, September 16, 2004
info Phoenix AZ, February 5, 2005
info Las Vegas NV, February 6, 2005
info Madison WI, March 29, 2005
info Royal Oak MI, April 2, 2005
info Sayreville NJ, April 12, 2005
info Johnson City NY, May 1, 2005
info St. Louis, MO, June 10, 2005
info Ocean City, MD, August 9, 2005
info Mariaville, NY, August 12, 2005
info Gilford, NH, September 2, 2005
info Buffalo, NY, October 29, 2005
info Mashantucket, CT, November 5, 2005
info Jim Thorpe, PA, November 10, 2005
info Jim Thorpe, PA, November 11, 2005
info Boca Raton, FL, November 19, 2005
info Seattle, WA, December 17, 2005
info Majesty of the Seas, Carribean Sea, February 5, 2006
info Norfolk, VA, March 18, 2006
info Syracuse, NY, March 30, 2006
info Santa Rosa, CA, June 9, 2006
info Morrison, CO, July 1, 2006
info Oklahoma City, OK, July 4, 2006
info Mansfield, MA, July 15, 2006
info Ridgefield, CT, August 22, 2006
info Baltimore, MD, August 26, 2006
info Geneva NY, October 30, 2006
info Atlanta GA, November 13, 2006
info Orlando FL, November 16, 2006
info San Francisco CA, February 14, 2007
info New York NY, March 10, 2007
info Athens GA, March 22, 2007
info Asheville NC, March 23, 2007
info Masontown WV, July 13, 2007
info Council Bluffs IA, July 20, 2007
info San Diego CA, July 27, 2007
info Bridgeport CT, August 11, 2007
info Bushkill PA, August 18, 2007
info Darien Center NY, August 19, 2007
info Hampton Beach NH, October 27, 2007
info Charlotte, NC, November 8, 2007
info Boca Raton, FL, November 17, 2007
info Cleveland, OH, March 26, 2008
info New York, NY, April 5, 2008
info Live Oak, FL, April 12, 2008
info Quincy, CA, July 5, 2008
info San Jose, CA, July 10, 2008
info Hiram, ME, August 10, 2008
info Munhall, PA, November 1, 2008
info Upper Darby, PA, November 14, 2008
info Upper Darby, PA, November 15, 2008
info Negril, Jamaica, January 31, 2009
info Columbus, OH, July 5, 2009
info Jim Thorpe, PA, July 15, 2009
info Hampton Beach, NH, July 24, 2009
info Eugene, OR, August 22, 2009
info San Diego, CA, September 4, 2009
info New York, NY, October 19, 2009
info New York, NY, October 22, 2009
info New York, NY, October 24, 2009
info Negril, Jamaica, January 24, 2010
info Negril, Jamaica, January 26, 2010
info Negril, Jamaica, January 31, 2010
info Washington DC, February 17, 2014
info Washington DC, February 18, 2014
info Port Chester, NY, March 1, 2014
info Port Chester, NY, March 2, 2014
info Nashville, TN, March 15, 2014
info Hunter Mountain, NY, June 6, 2014
info Kansas City, MO, June 14, 2014

Phil Lesh & Friends

info Live at the Warfield, 2006
info June 22, 2006, Boca Raton, FL, 2006
info June 27, 2006, Asheville, NC, 2006
info July 7, 2006, Wantagh, NY, 2006
info July 9, 2006, Bethel, NY, 2006
info April 4, 2014, Port Chester, NY, 2014
info April 12, 2014, Port Chester, NY, 2014
info April 20, 2014, Las Vegas, NV, 2014
info May 29, 2014, Port Chester, NY, 2014
info September 6, 2014, Arrington, VA, 2014
info October 31, 2014, Port Chester, NY, 2014
info November 14, 2014, Port Chester, NY, 2014
info December 29, 2014: Port Chester, NY, PhilRAD, 2014
info March 18, 2015, Port Chester, NY, 2015
info October 31, 2015, Port Chester, NY, 2015
info February 27, 2016, Las Vegas, NV, 2016
info March 18, 2016, Port Chester, NY, 2016
info May 28, 2016, Port Chester, NY, 2016
info September 15, 2016, Brooklyn, NY, 2016
info May 27, 2017, Port Chester, NY, 2017

Weir/Robinson/Greene Trio

info May 26, 2012, CrossroadsKC, Kansas City, MO, 2012
info May 30, 2012, Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN, 2012
info June 2, 2012, Boulder Theatre, Boulder, CO, 2012

Other Dead related

info A Buck Dancer's Choice, Various Artists, 2013
info May 1, 2015, New Orleans, Voodoo Dead, 2015

 
Other recordings

info Fresh Tracks In Real Time, Tom Constanten, 1989
info Those Who Know History Are Doomed To Repeat It, Henry Kaiser, 1988
info Heart's Desire, The Henry Kaiser Band, 1990
info Bloomington, Branford Marsalis Trio, 1991
info Nightfall Of Diamonds, Tom Constanten, 1992
info Relix Bay Rock Shop No. 2, Various Artists, 1992
info A Historical Retrospective, Solar Circus, 1993
info Dead Ringers, Dead Ringers, 1994
info Eternity Blue, Henry Kaiser, 1995
info Dark Star - The Music of the Grateful Dead, David Murray, 1996
info Pickin' On The Grateful Dead, Various Artists, 1997
info Space Debris, Space Debris, 1997
info With His Funky Friends: Live, Merl Saunders, 1998
info Welcome To Our World (For Members Only), JGB, 1998
info The Serpent Unrolled, Fit & Limo, 1998
info Realms, Jamie Janover, 1998
info Dead Delites, Vol. 1, Various Artists, 1998
info Dead Delites, Vol. 3, Various Artists, 1998
info Blue Light Rain, Jazz Is Dead, 1998
info Struggling Man, Merl Saunders, 2000
info Stolen Roses, Various Artists, 2000
info Search For Intelligent Life, Dose Hermanos, 2000
info Grateful Dreams, Tom Constanten, 2000
info The Electric Roses Tour, Elegy, 2001?
info Long Strange Trip: Swingin' and Pickin' on the Grateful Dead, Various Artists, 2001
info The Sea To The North, Garth Hudson, 2001
info There and Back Again (Special bonus disc release), Phil Lesh & Friends, 2002
info Electronic Tribute To The Grateful Dead, Various Artists, 2002
info 3/13/98 Cedar Cultural Centre, The Big Wu, 2002
info 88 Keys to Tomorrow, Tom Constanten, 2002
info Pluck!, Eric Golub, 2003
info Generation, Carlo Ceriani Trio, 2004
info Brescia, Italy: June 30, 2004, Little Feat, 2004
info Ocean City, NJ: August 2, 2004, Little Feat, 2004
info Omaha, NE: August 31, 2004, Little Feat, 2004
info Tornoto, Canada: November 8, 2004, Little Feat, 2004
info Zero, Zero, 2004
info Maui, HI: March 4, 2005, Little Feat, 2005
info Portland, OR: March 12, 2005, Little Feat, 2005
info Jerry Jams, Jerry Cares, Various Artists, 2005
info Live At Mojo, Dreadnaught, 2005
info The 1000th Show, Dark Star Orchestra, 2005
info Live On Tour, Merl Saunders & Melvin Seals, 2006
info Journey, Karmic Society, 2007
info Mick's Picks, Volume 3: Substage, Karlsruhe June 16, 2004, Jefferson Starship, 2008
info Ithaca 30 Years Later, Dark Star Orchestra, 2008
info Henry Kaiser Plays Dead, Henry Kaiser, 2009
info 12/31/09, Beacon Theatre, New York, NY, Gov't Mule, 2009
info Passion & Faith, Lane Steinberg, 2009
info 08/01/10, Riverfront Park, Cocoa, FL, Gov't Mule, 2010
info Warren Haynes Presents: The Benefit Concert: Vol 4, Various Artists (moe.), 2011
info Tales From the Mothership: Roswell UFO Festival July 3, 2009, Jefferson Starship, 2012
info Grand Piano Tribute to the Grateful Dead, Rob Catterton, 2015
info Songs Of Their Own, Various Artists, 2015
info 03/22/16, Mill Valley, CA, Jackie Greene, 2016
info 10/26/2016, Brooklyn, NY, Jackie Greene, 2016
info 11/04/2016, Atlanta, GA, Jackie Greene Band, 2016
info Day Of The Dead, Various Artists (Cass McCombs, Joe Russo & Friends), 2016
info Day Of The Dead, Various Artists (The Flaming Lips), 2016
info Better Left Unsung, Holly Bowling, 2016
info Cut The Dead Some Slack, Stephen Inglis, 2018
info Plays Dead, Sabertooth, 2019
info Live at the Old Church, Holly Bowling, 2019
info Dead Air, Various Artists (Charlottesville Ballet), 2019
info 11/17/18, Fragile Thunder Duo, 2019
info One Afternoon Long Ago, Fragile Thunder, 2019
info Fragile Thunder, Ecstatica, 2019
info Phantom Ships With Phantom Sails, Live Dead'69, 2019
info Chip's Picks Vol 1, High Time, 2019
info Chip's Picks Vol 2, High Time, 2020
info Alone Together, Vol 5, Holly Bowling, 2020
info Jerry's Smilin, Damiŕ Timoner, 2020
info Grateful Deadication, Dave McMurray, 2021
info The Wilderness Sessions Vol. 3: Salt Flats, Holly Bowling, 2021

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