DEADICACE

 

We are a Paris-based band of experienced musicians, inspired by the music of the Grateful Dead, keen to keep alive the flame of their songs and improvisations, and the Deadhead sense of community.   

Originally founded in 1990 under the name Train Fantôme by surviving members Christophe Rossi (drums), Jean-Michel Laugier (kb, sax, vox) and Alex Manconi (gtr, vox), the band enjoyed a large following on the Paris club circuit.  Disbanded after a few years, the band re-formed in 1995 as Deadicace (“ded – ee – cass”) to play at the Captain Trips Festival, an 8 hour celebration of the music of Jerry Garcia in Paris in January 1996.  Organised by Christophe, the day brought together a flock of musicians of many styles, each making their own personal musical tribute.  

New members joined the band.  Bill Giles brought more keyboards and vox ahead of the Trips festival;  Charles Jannic was quickly co-opted after being heard playing outstanding Lesh-inspired bass in another band;  and Stéphane Missri laid down his banjo to electrify his guitar and his audience.  

A series of zany concerts organised by the youthful and energetic ‘Eyes of the World’ association followed.  Highlights included  ‘Looking for a Chateau’ in the ruins of a castle west of Paris;  ‘To Lay Me Down’ at Le Divan Du Monde;  ‘Ship of Fools’ on a Seine barge;  and ‘Terrapin Station’, opening the second set with the only known sax-sextet version of Blues for Allah, arranged by Jean-Michel.  Outside France the band ventured twice into the Black Forest (Looking for a Gateau?) to join German Heads for ‘Feier on the Mountain’, and to Potsdam for another waterborne ‘Ship of Fools’.  A trip to London in ’98 produced a weekend of jamming with the Cosmic Charlies in an August Garcia tribute, and later in the year a second trip to Amsterdam to take the stage for ‘One More Saturday Nite’ at the Paradiso.  

Like the GD, the band took some time out from this excessive schedule.  But after a 3 year break, the gigs resumed.  Highlights include two nights among German Heads ‘Playing in the Band’ in Plauen.  Meantime Christophe and Stéphane set up a trio, Jamasutra, that also works with Barry ‘The Fish’ Melton when he’s in France.  Barry joined Deadicace on stage for a Parisian Summer of Love anniversary gig in Summer ’07, (shortly after Steph had played with Barry at the big celebration in Golden Gate Park), and then we resumed with four gigs together in six days in July 2009 in Paris, the two day SoLstock festival in Kent, UK, and a party in central France, playing our first ‘almost acoustic’ sets at each of these venues.  

And so the Deadication continues….. 

http://www.ridethewind.org/Deadicace.htm