SB: So, going way back now, who were your influences? What made you get interested in drumming?

BK: Because it was physical. But at first actually I wanted to be a piano player and or a trumpet player. When I was kid my parents were into black music, R & B, and music coming out of San Francisco and New Orleans. My dad loved black singers. So listening to New Orleans music, eventually I wanted to play an instrument. And then I saw a drummer play once when I was a kid and I thought, that’s really cool. You know, you’re moving. You’re using your arms and fingers. So I tried it and I loved it. I started playing when I was 12 or 13 or something like that. I got a paper route to pay for my first drum set.

SB: So, how did you hook up with Jerry?

BK: Oh, well he actually called me up. I played with him years and years before the Grateful Dead got started. I was just barely learning to play the drums and he was a bass player in a band with this other guy, Troy Weinhart, who was the guitar player.

SB: Do you remember the name of the band?

BK: Nah, I don’t remember the name. It was “The Casuals” or something like that. But it was a big deal for a kid like me back then. So I hung around him for a while. Then some time after that band Garcia called me said, “Yeah, do you remember we played before?” The call comes in, hey, we need a drummer. But at that time he was coming from bluegrass.

SB: As it turned out, the Grateful Dead became a huge musical force with a massive following and you’re sitting behind the drum set, driving it all. Did it ever feel like there was a lot of pressure on you?

BK: Well, you know, with most deadheads it’s the exact opposite, it’s not pressure at all. If there was any pressure it was just to feel good!

SB: The rest of the band members for the most part are all off doing music things together and you’re here doing your own thing. Did you always keep yourself a little bit separate from the other guys?

BK: Yeah, but in the beginning it wasn’t like that. In the very beginning we were a real tight ohana [family] but now it’s different. You know, toward the end, we had separate limos, stuff like that. It’s hard to get six giant egos in the same place.

SB: And very distinct personalities as well.

BK: Exactly.

SB: Did you ever feel like you were too much behind the scenes and you wanted to be out front more? I think from the audience’s perspective Mickey seemed to be more prominent in a way, including his side projects and –

BK: That’s his thing though, that’s him. I mean, when it gets down to it I just wanted to play the drums. The rest of it never meant that much to me.

SB: Well, the band really meant a lot to a lot of folks. Do you ever consider the huge cultural influence that you had on so many people?

BK: Well, I am just a guy who plays drums.

SB: Right, but did you ever stop to think about the fact that you played a significant role in thousands of people’s lives?

BK: No. I mean, I’m really thankful and complimented when people come to me and say, thank you for the great times for all these years. But I don’t think about it as being a leader. I’ve just been really lucky to have people be happy around the music. That’s more than enough. It’s a really cool thing.

SB: Do you ever wish you could have gone to a show instead of play in a show?

BK: Yeah, I did! A lot of times. That’s a really good question. I always thought it would be really cool to be playing the drums in the show and then have your astral body or whatever travel all through the audience and dig whatever it’s like out there.

SB: It was a lot of fun out there.

BK: Yeah, it looked that way.

SB: So, do you miss it?

BK: No.

SB: You don’t miss it at all?

BK: Nah, not now. At first I did. At first I missed it, but it was the amazing energy thing that happened during shows, when a lot of people were like Yay Yay Yeah! I missed that for a while. But I don’t miss the regular and the business side of that whole thing. I’d rather play here in this small bar and just do a good show. Because it’s fun and there’s no expectations, it’s encouragement to be different, do something new.

        • *

SB: How was Furthur last summer? You played at the very last show of the tour. Was that a good time for you?

BK: It was a good time. I had a really interesting experience… Well, to tell you the straight honest truth, it was like a Grateful Dead cover band. I didn’t feel – and nothing against the guys – I didn’t feel that they were opening up like they should. I’ll tell you what, with guitar players, Steven has what I like in guitar players.

SB: He has an incredible amount of soul.

BK: Yes exactly. He’s free! I mean, I’ve gone through guys who want to lay on their backs and play like they’re full of themselves – fuck that shit. You know, I don’t care about posing. I mean look at me, do I care about posing? Anyway, the fact of the matter is that I care about being able to play. If you’re playing with integrity in the music, then that’s what matters. But it wasn’t that great for me because it was kinda like going back into the old times without the guy. It’s not the same without Jerry. It never will be.

SB: So is that the reason you don’t go out with Furthur and why you don’t play with The Other Ones?

BK: Maybe in the year 2000. We’ll see what happens.

SB: What about Phil and Friends shows? Ever think about going back for something like that?

BK: Nobody has asked me to do it, so…

SB: Oh?

BK: Yeah, I mean, if somebody asked me I would. But right now I’m concentrating on my own music.

SB: Yeah, it looks like you’re having a ball with that.

BK: Well, I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t fun. It’s just a whole different thing these days.

SB: Great, well, thanks a lot for your time.

BK: Thanks, it was fun.

SB: And thanks for 30 years of great music.

BK: Oh hell, you haven’t even been around that long.

SB: True, but I got about 8 years in and a lot of tapes. It was a great time.

BK: It sure was.

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Sarah Bruner is a writer and researcher living in Honolulu, Hawai’i.

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