"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"
About this Quote
Bill Kreutzmann's quote shows an appealing blend of musical enthusiasm, spirituality, and a look for connection beyond the physical realm. As the drummer of the Grateful Dead, Kreutzmann was part of a band renowned for its capability to develop immersive, practically transcendental live performances. In this context, the idea of playing the drums while his "astral body" journeys through the audience captures something ultimate about the live music experience: the audience and performers are engaged in a shared journey that transcends mere acoustic experience.
The drums are the heartbeat of the music, grounding the efficiency in a consistent pulse. Kreutzmann's desire to be physically present and yet spiritually exploring suggests a duality that many musicians experience: being both anchored in the present moment while at the same time transcending it. This concept resonates with the psychedelic ethos frequently credited to the Grateful Dead, where music functions as a vehicle for exploration into new measurements of awareness.
Moreover, the concept of an "celestial body" roaming through the audience recommends a longing to connect more deeply with the listeners. Kreutzmann is thinking of not simply performing for the audience, however in fact experiencing the show from their point of view, blurring the line in between entertainer and listener. This shows the communal and cooperative nature of live music, particularly with the Grateful Dead's shows where the audience's energy was an essential component of the efficiency.
In essence, Kreutzmann's quote records the magical and transformative capacity of live music. It underscores a yearning for a type of artistic expression that doesn't merely perform however goes beyond, offering both the artist and the audience an opportunity to get in touch with something higher than themselves-- possibly meaning the concept of music as a universal language that take advantage of the extremely essence of human experience.
