Trey Anastasio posted a note on his social media yesterday following Robert Hunter‘s passing on Monday.
Read the beautiful letter below.
Some of the most beautiful memories of my youth are of standing at concerts listening to Jerry sing Robert Hunter’s lyrics. The combination of those lyrics, always from the point of view of the outsider, the broken, the confused, the outlaw, the dying, the man on the street, and Jerry’s aching vulnerable voice, full of pain and spirit, was indescribable. Black Peter, Wharf Rat, Stella Blue, China doll, far too many to even name. I often find myself trying to describe those moments to younger musicians who didn’t get a chance to actually experience it. The songs live on, but for me the friendship and the connection between those two masterful artists will be the memory I’ll carry for the rest of my life. An entire arena caught in a collective gasp, tears running down peoples cheeks, all over one simple line. “A pistol shot, at five o clock, the bells of heaven ring” It was so profound and powerful.
I am so grateful to Robert Hunter. Rest In Peace
Amazing to see such a fitting tribute, especially given that Trey spent some time as the Grateful Dead guitarist for the Fare Thee Well shows and had to dive deeper into the Grateful Dead lyrics and canon in a way he previously hadn’t.
Many of Hunter’s collaborators shared their responses yesterday following the news, and we collected that here. Tom Marshall also penned a nice response.
RIP #RobertHunter
We spoke on the phone once possibly in ‘93 when someone connected us. He didn’t know much about @phish back then but gave me writing and business advice. He said: “be sure your name is where it belongs.” I’ve thought often about the multiple meanings that has.— Tom Marshall (@TomMarshall111) September 24, 2019
