Today in 1973, Ron McKernan, better known as Pigpen, the founding keyboardist and de facto original frontman for the Grateful Dead, passed away at the age of 27.

https://www.relix.com/articles/detail/death_dont_have_no_mercy_pigpen_ten_years_gone_relix_revisited 

His death changed things a lot. They were very different after that. He was awesome.

I'm telling you I've been enjoying Dead & Company. Some of the shows and songs I don't care for because the tempo has been slowed a bit but some are really good.

Listening to New Orleans 2/24/18 today and digging it. More uptempo with energy.

I think of Drafter every time I hear Peggy-O