Bob Weir & Rob Wasserman
Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
Irvine, CA
May 19, 1989

Jerry Garcia played a set at this show, you can see it here.

Mike Millard First-Generation Tapes via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 161

Recording Gear: AKG 451E Microphones (CK-1 cardioid capsules) > Nakamichi 550 Cassette Recorder

JEMS 2022 Transfer: Mike Millard First-Generation Cassette > Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1 azimuth-adjusted playback > Sound Devices USBPre2 > Audacity 3.1 capture > iZotope RX > iZotope RX9 Advanced and Ozone 9 > MBIT+ resample to 16/44.1 > Audacity > xACT 2.50 > FLAC

01 Walkin’ Blues (Son House cover)
02 Twilight Time (The Platters cover)
03 Blackbird (The Beatles cover)
04 The Winners
05 Fever (Eddie Cooley cover)
06 Victim Or The Crime
07 This Time Forever
08 Easy To Slip (Little Feat cover)
09 Wasserman Solo
10 Throwing Stones

Known Faults: cut in “Throwing Stones”

Introduction to the Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Series

Welcome to JEMSí Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone series presenting recordings made by legendary taper Mike Millard, AKA Mike The Mike, best known for his masters of Led Zeppelin done in and around Los Angeles circa 1975-77. For the complete details on how tapes in this series came to be lost and found again, as well as JEMS’ long history with Mike Millard, please refer to the notes in Vol. One: http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=500680.

Until 2020, the Lost and Found series presented fresh transfers of previously unavailable first-generation copies made by Mike himself for friends like Stan Gutoski of JEMS, Jim R, Bill C. and Barry G. These sources were upgrades to circulating copies and in most instances marked the only time verified first generation Millard sources had been directly digitized in the torrent era.

That all changed with the discovery of many of Mike Millardís original master tapes.

Yes, you read that correctly, Mike Millardís master cassettes, long rumored to be destroyed or lost, have been found. Not all of them but many, and with them a much more complete picture has emerged of what Millard recorded between his first show in late 1973 and his last in early 1993.

The reason the rediscovery of his master tapes is such a revelation is that weíve been told for decades they were gone. Internet myths suggest Millard destroyed his master tapes before taking his own life, an imprudent detail likely concocted based on the assumption that because his master tapes never surfaced and Mikeís mental state was troubled he would do something rash WITH HIS LIFEíS WORK. Thereís also a version of the story where Mikeís family dumps the tapes after he dies. Why would they do that?

The truth is Mikeís masters remained in his bedroom for many years after his death in 1994. We know at least a few of Millardís friends and acquaintances contacted his mother Lia inquiring about the tapes at the time to no avail. But in the early 2000s, longtime Millard friend Rob S was the one she knew and trusted enough to preserve Mikeís work.

The full back story on how Mikeís master tapes were saved can be found in the notes for Vol. 18 Pink Floyd, which was the first release in our series transferred from Millardís original master tapes:

http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=667745&hit=1
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=667750&hit=1

Weir & Wasserman, Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, Irvine, CA, May 19, 1989

We stay in 1989 and at Irvine Meadows this week for Bob Weir & Rob Wasserman, another new addition to the Lost and Found series artist list. The duo was opening up a Jerry Garcia solo set also recorded by Mike Millard, whose Grateful Dead bonafides include previously released Grateful Dead shows from LA Coliseum June 1, 1991 (Vol. 69) and Long Beach Arena December 13, 1980 (Vol. 127).

Mike made a copy of his Weir & Wasserman recording for Rob S who was perhaps the biggest Dead fan in Millard’s circle and made some great Dead tapes of his own using Millard’s methods (more on that to come).

Ostensibly, Weir & Wasserman were on tour supporting their live album released the prior year. Live included Weir classics like “Victim or the Crime,” but the Irvine setlist showcases a good deal of other material, both from the Dead world and covers like The Beatles’ “Blackbird.”

This loose-ish acoustic set easily wins over a boisterous crowd that you’ll hear on Mike’s otherwise excellent recording, which is up close and full fidelity. Samples provided.

Here’s what Rob S recalled about Weir & Wasserman at Irvine Meadows in 1989:

I saw Bob Weir & Rob Wasserman with Mike Millard at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre on Monday, May 15, 1989.

This was our second Grateful Dead-related concert, after I persuaded Mike to record the Dead in December of 1980 at the Long Beach Arena.

Bob Weir on acoustic guitar with Rob Wasserman on stand-up bass opened the evening for the Jerry Garcia Band, and Mike made another great recording.

#

JEMS is proud to partner with Rob, Jim R, Ed F, Barry G and many others to release Millard’s historic recordings and to help set the record straight about the man himself.

We can’t thank Rob enough for reconnecting with Jim and putting his trust in our Millard reissue campaign. He kept Mike’s precious tapes under wraps for two decades, but once Rob learned of our methods and stewardship, he agreed to contribute the Millard DATs and cassettes to the program. Our releases would not be nearly as compelling without Jim’s memories, photos and other background contributions. As many of you have noted, the stories offer an entertaining complement to Mike’s incredible audio documents.

Thanks are in order for Rob S, who provided the tape and the transfer, Professor Goody, who assessed the pitch, and mjk5510 for post production and artwork. Send your best wishes to Jim R, who underwent a successful surgery this week and is in recovery.

Finally, here’s to the late, great Mike the MICrophone. His work never ceases to impress. May he rest in peace.

BK for JEMS