40 years ago this week the Good ol' Grateful Dead embarked upon a mythical tour of Europe that would be encapsulated in a three LP set, "Europe 72". I've had this vinyl since I was a wee lad, and pretty much wore all three LPs out within a year of owning it. Thank God for CDs.

I started collecting bootlegs in the early 80s, and the Dead were the main band I searched for. This was long before the internet. I remember looking in the back of Relix Magazine for taper lists, and mailing away for their list. Then, once received I would mail them tapes and a list of what I wanted. The anticipation of receiving those tapes was almost unbearable.

When it comes to collecting bands like the Grateful Dead, it's all about the tour and the era. There was so much that was hard to find; so many Holy Grails.

Europe 72 is one of these.

22 history-defining shows.

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of this tour the second hour of my next eight shows will feature some blistering tracks from almost every show. I have them all, save 04/07/72, which I've only heard a crappy audience of. I have soundboards of the rest of the tour and it's AMAZING!!!

Tonight I've got 04/08/72 and 04/11/72 cued up and ready to ROCK.

Enjoy.

Common People (Pulp): FIDLAR
The Bastards: Whitefield Brothers
Whore: FIDLAR

Sun: The Dalai Lama Rama Fa Fa Fa
The Healing Force: Lantern
Eat Me Alive: Gentleman Jesse

I Feel A Little Spaced Out (Ando Meio Desligado): Os Mutantes
If I Could Only Be Sure: Nolan Porter

Love and Death: Ebo Taylor & Uhuru-Yenzu
Angie La La: Nora Dean
All for U: Aceyalone & RJD2
Track 09: Destructions

Dark Star->Sugar Magnolia->Caution: Grateful Dead 04-08-72 Empire Pool, Wembley, England
Casey Jones: Grateful Dead 04-11-72 City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, England