Brent Mydland

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Mydland joined the Grateful Dead in April 1979, replacing Keith and Donna Godchaux after just two weeks of rehearsals. He made his debut on April 22 at Spartan Stadium in San Jose. Unlike previous keyboardists who focused primarily on piano, Mydland embraced experimentation with electronic keyboards and synthesizers, frequently changing his setup to incorporate new sounds. His vocal contributions were immediate; he combined his tenor voice with founding members Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia to create strong three-part harmonies on live favorites like "Cassidy," "Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo," and the Band's "The Weight." He even wrote a new verse for Willie Dixon's "Little Red Rooster" and occasionally incorporated scat singing into his solos. Musically, he penned several songs for the band's studio albums, including "Far From Me" and "Easy to Love You" on *Go to Heaven* (1980), co-writing "Hell in a Bucket" and penning "Tons of Steel" for *In the Dark* (1987).

In Their Own Story

The sound of the Grateful Dead transformed significantly under Mydland's influence. Upon joining, he brought a Fender Rhodes piano, later switching to a Yamaha CP-70 in 1982 before settling on a rare Yamaha GS-1 digital piano in 1983—a unit so uncommon only about 100 were ever produced. By mid-1987, his rig evolved again with the help of Bob Bralove, utilizing a Kurzweil MIDIboard controller to blend voices from modules like the Roland MKS-20 and Korg M1. Yet, through these technological shifts, he maintained a steady foundation on the Hammond B-3 organ, which featured ten modified Leslie speakers throughout his tenure; this specific instrument, once covered in stickers, was later used by Jeff Chimenti at the 50th anniversary Fare Thee Well concerts in July 2015. Mydland's songwriting also shone on *Built to Last* (1989), featuring tracks like "Just a Little Light," "We Can Run," and the lullaby "I Will Take You Home," written with John Perry Barlow for his two daughters. His final performance occurred just three days before his death, on July 23, 1990, at the World Music Theater in Tinley Park, Illinois.

Reader's Guide

Brent Mydland's journey began in elementary school in Concord, where he started piano lessons at age six and played trumpet until high school. After graduating from Liberty High School in 1971, he formed the band Silver with John Batdorf, releasing one album on Arista Records before joining Bobby and the Midnites with Bob Weir. This connection led to his 1979 invitation to join the Dead. Beyond the band, Mydland remained active; in 1985, he performed at the Haight Street Fair with John Cipollina and Merl Saunders. In 1986, he formed the band Go Ahead, which toured while Jerry Garcia recovered from a diabetic coma, featuring former Santana members Alex Ligertwood and David Margen. He also collaborated frequently in duo performances with Bob Weir throughout the 1980s. Tragically, his life ended on July 26, 1990, at his home in Lafayette, California. An autopsy by the Contra Costa Coroner's office revealed death from acute cocaine and morphine intoxication, a mixture known as a "speedball." He was buried at Oakmont Memorial Park and posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

Did You Know?

• Mydland was the third Dead keyboardist to die, following Ron 'Pigpen' McKernan and Keith Godchaux.
• He played a rare Yamaha GS-1 synthesizer that only about 100 units of were ever produced.
• The Hammond B-3 organ he used for most of his tenure was present at the Fare Thee Well concerts in July 2015.
• Mydland wrote a new verse specifically for Willie Dixon's cover song 'Little Red Rooster'.
• He co-wrote the train song 'Tons of Steel' and the lullaby 'I Will Take You Home' with John Perry Barlow.