Up until recently, many people believed that the use of the name “Warlocks” ended with the shows before the early acid tests, but now, proof has emerged that the warlocks name was still in use up through the acid test at Palo Alto on Dec. 18, 1965, the 4th acid test. It was also falsely assumed that the Palo Alto test came before Muir Beach. Muir Beach was on Dec. 11, and Palo Alto on Dec. 18, according to the handbill shown on the site that was recently found in a collection of posters and handbills, some of which were hand drawn and made by Jerry Garcia himself. Info on this amazing collection can be found here : http://www.postertrip.com/public/5591.cfm

The first Test was at Ken Babbs house on Nov. 27, 1965 and the Warlocks made a brief appearance there. The second test was held at Big Nigs and the Dead were first billed as the Grateful Dead on some flyers and handbills, but appeared as the Warlocks to their die hard audience.

The Third Test also used the Grateful Dead as a header as advertised on Paul Foster’s famous poster that reads “Can you pass the acid test?” but the Dead were still going by the name the Warlocks up through the next Acid Test at Palo Alto on Dec. 18, 1965.

I’m so freakin’ confused…but in a mostly good way.

From the dusty corners of the Grateful Dead tape traders bible, Deadbase, it is listed that the first show as “Grateful Dead” was about a week earlier:

12-04-65 Big Nig’s House, San Jose, Ca.
San Jose Acid Test – first appearance as “The Grateful Dead”
http://www.dharmarose.com/deadbase/dbquery110.php3?id=11

I trust that old crusty book of mine to a certain degree. But it doesn’t necessarily make it the ultimate answer for this mystery.

~Noah
http://www.deadlistening.com

From the dusty corners of the Grateful Dead tape traders bible, Deadbase, it is listed that the first show as “Grateful Dead” was about a week earlier:

12-04-65 Big Nig’s House, San Jose, Ca.
San Jose Acid Test – first appearance as “The Grateful Dead”
http://www.dharmarose.com/deadbase/dbquery110.php3?id=11

I trust that old crusty book of mine to a certain degree. But it doesn’t necessarily make it the ultimate answer for this mystery.

~Noah
http://www,deadlistening.com

To clarify, I wasn’t there either, so I’m going to quickly list some sources. The first is Bill Graham’s biography – ‘Bill Graham Presents: My Life Inside Rock and Out.’ Both Bill and Bob Weir recount stories of playing the 2nd and 3rd Benefit Concerts while Bill Kreutzmann was more or less managing the group. Graham’s stories indicate that the name was changed for the 3rd Benefit, held on 1/14/66. But–and if you’ve read the biography, you already know–when a few folks told stories about the same event, there were almost discrepancies, making all sources slightly unreliable.

More evidence comes from the posters and handbills for the shows. There’s no listing for the Warlocks on the 2nd Benefit (which would jibe with the story that Kreutzmann got them on the bill more or less at the last minute). But for the 3rd benefit, they are listed as the “Grateful Dead (formerly the Warlocks).” You can check them out here:

12/10/65
http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/san-francisco-mime-troupe/poster-art/poster/FIL651210.html

1/14/66
http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/great-society/poster-art/poster/FIL660114.html [poster]
http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/great-society/poster-art/handbill/FIL660114.html [handbill]

All that being said, I sent a note to @Grateful__Dead asking them if they could help clarify because I’m not 100% sure.

Thanks again Joe…thanks for this and for sharing rock and roll wisdom on a daily basis…I always look forward to these videos.