Owsley "Bear" Stanley - 1935-2011
I met Owsley at the age of eighteen. I had just left home, having run off with a Rock&Roll band. Bear, as we knew him, was one of my all-time biggest influences. Always, when I think of him, I think of the endless stuff he taught me or somehow made me realize, all stuff that I've been able to use to the benefit of countless people who probably don't know much about him or how deeply he influenced me and the rest of the band. Most important was the approach he taught me and us: Always be open and engaging - always critical and questioning, but not negatively so much as playfully. He taught me to take myself and my interests out of the picture and work with the subject under consideration so that the best deductions or conclusions are made. I guess this means working from the point of view of the higher self, though that term never came up; it was always just assumed...
-Bob Weir
truly a loss that touches all our hearts! jerry was enough now bear,his influence changed a culture and generation and the world forever and i am so grateful to have been part of it! when i heard this my heart filled with sadness! R.I.P our brother! prayers and condolences go out,words cant say enough!....god bless ya brother and will see ya when i get there! you will be greatly missed as one more of us drops off out of this world into the next! peace!!!
I got a chance to meet Bear at one of the shows at the Boston Garden in the early 90's. I was kinda afraid to walk up to him. Being that my mind was melting in a very serious way. All I wanted to do was shake the man's, and thank him for all that he has done. We happened to make eye contact. Maybe because I was staring at him. He smiled, my fear went away, And I completed my mission. He was very nice. I asked if I could shake he hand. He said something funny, of which I can not remember now. We talked for a minute and that was that. He knew I was tripping, and just kept giving me this smile that just went through me. I'll never forget it. To this day I'm so glad I took that opportunity to meet him.
Good luck on your new adventure Bear. And thank you for all the adventures that you gave us.
I'm reminded of the night Jerry passed. My wife and I were lucky enough to be inside at the Hampton Beach Casino for Bob's scheduled show. After "Knocking on Heaven's Door" we filed out in what I can only call a stunned silence, only to be greeted by what seemed 50,000 deadheads outside singing the NFA chant. I still get goosebumps. I know that in all our hearts is ringing the same chant in unison. Thanks, Bear, for everything.
We love you more than words can tell...
Bear, thank you.
Thank you for everything! Enjoy the ride!
A car accident is such a random, meaningless way to be absorbed into the next reality. All those thoughts, all those certifiably crazy ideas, all those sonic and psychic contributions, all those tentacles that affected me and you in such organically unorganized ways--they make one eternally grateful for Bear's contributions.
Extremly grateful for Bear contribution. clearly the Grateful Dead would never have been the same and maybe not even the Grateful Dead.
his passion for sound and his philosophy around it remain mindblowing to many even today. how many tapes do we owe him??? i cannot count.
Merci Bear.
Once in a while you get shown the light
In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
I would like to say Happy Birthday to Phil.
Happy Birthday Phil!
And many more!
I'm so sorry for your loss. I never met him but I hoped I would once day. I got an email back from him about his belt buckles recently, and just that felt like a true honour to me because he was, is, and always will be a legendary character.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2W0vcKttHs
Locations
Peace and Love on your next trip...