On this day in music history…
In 1972, founding Grateful Dead member Ron McKernan played his last show with the group. Nicknamed “Pigpen,” McKernan was one of the Dead’s vocalists, in addition to playing keyboards, percussion, and harmonica. Unlike most of his bandmates, McKernan didn’t partake in the drug scene; however, he was an alcoholic. Nine months after his final concert with the Dead, McKernan suffered a gastrointestinal hemorrhage and passed away. He was 27 years old.
In 1981, Pink Floyd played the final concert of The Wall Tour at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London. Floyd played The Wall in its entirety at each concert, accompanied by a spectacular stage show that included pyrotechnics, animations, large puppets portraying the album’s characters, and a physical wall that was built throughout each performance. Because of the grandiose nature of the concerts, the tour was expensive to execute, and the band actually netted a financial loss when all was said and done.