"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"

In this quote, Bill Kreutzmann, the renowned drummer of the Grateful Dead, is expressing his views on music and individual experience. The essence of the quote focuses on the significance of musical stability and the effect of individual connections in efficiency.

Kreutzmann starts by emphasizing the core value of playing music with integrity. To him, the authenticity and sincerity in musical expression are what really matter. This is reflective of a wider approach that focuses on the art and its real execution over shallow aspects such as fame or business success. In the context of a band like the Grateful Dead, understood for its deep connection to its music and audience, this commitment to integrity is specifically substantial. It suggests that the true satisfaction originates from an honest engagement with the music.

The next part of the quote discuss an individual belief: playing music wasn't totally satisfying for him since it seemed like "returning into the old times without the guy". Here, Kreutzmann likely refers to the absence of an essential figure, possibly a bandmate or good friend, whose existence was integral to his previous experiences. This fond memories for earlier times with 'the guy' recommends a yearning for the past when the personal and expert dynamics were various. This implies that the human relationships and bonds formed through music are as essential as the act of playing itself.

In summary, Kreutzmann's declaration records a double sentiment. On one hand, he advocates for keeping stability in music, treasuring the present minute and the creative procedure. On the other, he conveys a sense of loss or incompleteness when a crucial individual connection is missing, highlighting the importance of sociability and shared history in musical collaboration. This underscores the complex interaction between personal relationships and creative stability in the world of music.