GOOD OL’ GRATEFUL DEADCAST

American Beauty 50, Episode 4: Operator

Date: October 29, 2020
Theme:
A deep dive into "Operator," Pigpen's sole songwriting contribution to the Grateful Dead's American Beauty album, and a celebration of Ron "Pigpen" McKernan—the band's original frontman, bluesman, and enigmatic soul—with stories, rare archival material, and voices from those who knew him.

Episode Overview

In this episode, hosts Rich Mahan and Jesse Jarnow, joined by guests and archival audio, spotlight "Operator"—track four on American Beauty. The episode explores Pigpen's unique musical voice, his background, his songwriting process, the rare performance history of the song, and his legacy within the Grateful Dead family. The episode also features an intimate journey through the Pigpen archives, including family memories, early influences, and unreleased materials.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Pigpen and "Operator" (00:00–07:27)

• Setting the Scene for "Operator"

  • Operator is Pigpen’s only songwriting contribution on American Beauty, and one of the few original songs he wrote for the Dead.
  • Pigpen wrote both music and lyrics—a rare occurrence for him with the band.
  • “Pigpen comes off as so authentic on this, as he did with everything he did.” —David Lemieux, Dead Archivist & Legacy Manager (05:37)

• Musical Context

  • As the Dead’s first frontman, Pigpen was known for his powerful performances on covers like “Turn On Your Lovelight,” but brought a different, more understated vibe to "Operator."
  • "Operator was sort of from left field… it wasn’t a blues tune." —Bob Weir (06:32)

Pigpen’s Songwriting & "Operator"’s Origins (07:27–12:28)

• Pigpen’s Evolution as a Writer

  • Early efforts included blues-based songs like “Taste Bud” (1966) and “Alligator” (with Phil Lesh and Robert Hunter).
  • Jerry Garcia noted Pigpen was most comfortable improvising blues late at night, guitar in hand (08:15).

• First Live Appearances

  • Pigpen performed “Operator” with the full band during rare acoustic sets in August–September 1970.
  • “He presented it to the band in rehearsal… we learned it very quickly, 20 minutes, maybe a half an hour.”—Bob Weir recalls easy collaboration and Jerry Garcia’s fingerpicking arrangement. (11:33)

Studio Sessions & Song Structure (12:28–19:27)

• Demo Recordings and Studio Takes

  • The band made early demos at Pacific High Studios, available on Angel Share: American Beauty.
  • The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame houses a draft of the lyrics in Pigpen’s handwriting, including alternate lines (e.g., “sniffing cocaine in the night,” ultimately altered for release).

• Collaborative Arrangements

  • Bill Kreutzmann’s iconic drum intro—the “fwappity dap bap”—stemmed from Weir’s playful session suggestions (16:36).
  • Studio camaraderie, playful banter, and technical experimentation are highlighted as archival engineer Brian Kehoe’s favorite moments (18:17).

Live Performances and Legacy (19:27–22:18)

• Scant Performance History

  • Only four recorded live performances of “Operator” exist, all from late 1970—making it a rare gem in the live Grateful Dead canon.
  • “It’s a shame they didn’t play this one live more often.” —David Lemieux (20:27)
  • Pigpen's final creative blossoming—including “Operator”—was tragically cut short by his early death in 1973 (21:55).

• Songwriting in Pigpen’s Final Years

  • Songs like “Mr. Charlie” and “Empty Pages” debuted in 1971.
  • Pigpen may have intended to pursue more solo work, evidenced by notebooks full of unpublished songs preserved by family and friends.

Pigpen’s Family, Influences, and Early Life (22:18–35:41)

• Family Context

  • Pigpen (Ron McKernan) grew up in Palo Alto, California. His father, Phil (a.k.a. DJ “Cool Breeze”), was deeply into R&B, radio, and science fiction, exposing Pigpen to a wide musical world (25:46).
  • Childhood friend Sully shares stories of Pigpen’s formative years—biking around Palo Alto, playing piano, and learning guitar from Jerry Garcia:
    “Pigpen’s room… was like a ghetto… he’d have a bottle of wine under the bed. … We’d play records. I’d hack away his guitar, show him stuff.” —Garcia (30:47)

• Early Setlists and Musical Tastes

  • Pigpen’s handwritten lists include blues, Chuck Berry, Beatles tunes—reflecting his broad but roots-oriented musical palette.

Personal Stories and Quiet Moments (35:41–43:05)

• Intimacy and Solitude

  • Friends and family remember Pigpen as introspective, enjoying moments alone with his records.
  • Private piano sessions, like Sully hearing Pigpen play “Stealin’,” illustrated his deep connection to music outside the stage persona (39:19).

• Pigpen and Psychedelia

  • Not a fan of psychedelics, Pigpen would seek out Lord Buckley comedy records to calm himself after rare “bad trips”—“It was likely the album he listened to in order to calm down.” —Sully (41:57)
  • Buckley’s “God’s Own Drunk” and “The Naz” became part of the Dead’s internal language.

The Pigpen Archives & Unreleased Material (44:44–56:33)

• Letters from the Road

  • Pigpen’s regular letters home from the Europe ’72 tour offered unique, down-to-earth insights and concern for his family.
  • “Paris sure is mellow in springtime. … It’s great. And we’re only here for a few days. Oh, forgot the Famous French whores. They’re here too.”—excerpt from Pigpen’s letter (44:44)

• Family Legacy and Band Connections

  • After Pigpen’s passing, his brother Kevin McKernan carried the musical torch, forming the band Osiris, which Jerry Garcia quietly supported by donating gear once part of the Dead’s legendary Wall of Sound (47:25–51:55).
  • Sully retains Pigpen’s song notebooks, unreleased tapes, and personal belongings, hinting at both lost potential and treasures yet to be shared:
    “There’s pages of songs that have never been published. … There’s some pretty good stuff.” —Sully (53:31)

What Was Lost, What Remains (56:23–59:32)

• Pigpen’s Unfinished Work

  • Pigpen’s notebook—visible during the Europe ’72 tour—shows a split between completed and ‘to work on’ songs, underscoring unfulfilled creative promise.
  • “I think, oh God, we, you know, just so much was lost when Ron passed.” —Sully (56:23)

• Enduring Wisdom

  • Rock Scully, Dead manager and Pigpen confidant, is remembered with humor, offering perspective on the passage of time:

  “I do remember what happened after. … 40 fucking years went by.” —Rock Scully (59:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Pigpen was the real deal.” —David Lemieux (05:37)
• “It was kind of a surprise to me, and you know, I lived with him at that point… This one came out of nowhere.” —Bob Weir on “Operator” (07:22)
• “He was a masterful country blues guitarist.” —Michael Parrish (10:35)
• “It’s a shame that they didn’t play this one live more often.” —David Lemieux (20:27)
• “Pigpen and Pigpen alone was on the very first Grateful Dead shirt.” —(22:18)
• “His [Phil McKernan] passion was being a DJ and the music. He would kind of disappear into his man cave…” —Sully (27:56)
• “I sat in his room for countless hours listening to his old records. It was funky, man. … he’d have a bottle of wine under the bed.” —Jerry Garcia (30:47)
• “Some of his favorite times were just hiding out in his room, listening to his records.” —Sully (39:19)
• “There’s pages of songs that have never been published… Optimistic life lessons, things, you know. The man was very introspective, I think.” —Sully (53:31)
• “40 fucking years went by.” —Rock Scully (59:32)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Intro & Setting up Pigpen’s Story: 00:00–05:12
• "Operator" in the Grateful Dead Studio & Onstage: 05:12–19:27
• Pigpen’s Family, Early Life, and Musical Roots: 22:18–32:24
• Home Life and Musical Influences: 28:15–29:45
• Warlocks & Early Dead Setlists: 32:30–34:23
• Family Memories & Home Moments: 39:13–43:05
• Europe ‘72 Letters & Reflections: 44:44–45:45
• Pigpen’s Legacy, Vault, and Songbooks: 53:12–56:33
• Rock Scully and the Passage of Time: 59:08–59:32

Conclusion

This episode offers a rich, heartfelt portrait of Pigpen, spotlighting his authentic voice, musical instincts, and foundational role in both the Grateful Dead and his own family’s musical legacy. Through rare session audio, family stories, and unreleased archives, Operator emerges as a window into what made Pigpen singular—and a poignant reminder of what was lost with his early passing.