Hart later said "Pigpen was the musician in the Grateful Dead. [29][30] Unlike fellow vocalists Garcia and Weir, he sang lead without playing any instrument except harmonica and actively interacted with the audience, occasionally walking out into the crowd. 45 years ago today, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan took the stage with the Grateful Dead for the final time. "[31], McKernan achieved a new prominence in 1969 covering "Turn On Your Love Light"; initially introduced in 1967, the song gradually evolved into the band's show-stopping finale, often taking fifteen to thirty minutes to complete. [37], Tony Sclafani has compared McKernan's role in the band, initially strong and pivotal but gradually declining, to that of Brian Jones in the Rolling Stones, particularly since both men were primarily influenced by the blues over rock 'n' roll and died aged 27. Name: Jim Morrison. A founding member of the band The Grateful Dead, Ron McKernan, known affectionately by the band and Deadheads alike as “Pigpen,” was a piano and harmonica player on the San Francisco music scene. Ronald Charles McKernan was born on September 8, 1945, in San Bruno, California. After singing blues at local jam sessions, as Oswego University reports, Pigpen became a founding member of Garcia's jam bands, joining in 1961 in the predecessor groups that would lead to the Grateful Dead. "[57], Weir later became influenced by McKernan's ability to work a crowd and improvise lyrics. [63], Ladies and Gentlemen... the Grateful Dead, History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice), Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: England '72, Fillmore West 1969: The Complete Recordings, Family Dog at the Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 4/18/70, 30 Trips Around the Sun: The Definitive Live Story 1965–1995, Shrine Exposition Hall, Los Angeles, CA 11/10/1967, "Grateful Dead Guide: The Vox and the Hammond, 1967-1969", "Grateful Dead Live at Fillmore West on 1970-08-19", "The Grateful Dead Did Get It: Reporters and Cops", "45 Years Ago: The Grateful Dead's Infamous 'Truckin, "Blair's Golden Road Blog - The Keyboardist Question - Grateful Dead", Pigpen's page on the Dead's Official Site, Top 10 Pigpen McKernan Grateful Dead Songs, Winterland June 1977: The Complete Recordings, July 29 1966, P.N.E. About Ron "Pigpen" McKernan Ronald Charles McKernan (September 8, 1945 – March 8, 1973), known as Pigpen, was an American singer and musician. [6], McKernan began spending time around coffeehouses and music stores, and worked at Dana Morgan's Music Store in Palo Alto with Garcia. [15][46] Ironically, McKernan was arrested and fined after the cannabis bust on November 9, 1967, at 710 Ashbury Street, the Dead's communal home, even though he did not use the drug. By mid-1972, his health had deteriorated to the point that he could no longer perform, as told in A History of the 27 Club. Grateful Dead keyboard player Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, a founding member of the band, dies at age 27. [40], McKernan's alcohol abuse had begun to affect his health by his mid twenties. Even with their tendency toward wild experimentation, he kept those blues roots strong. [60] Jimmy Reed's "Big Boss Man", covered by the group on Grateful Dead (Skull and Roses) with McKernan singing lead, was revived by Garcia and performed occasionally through the 1980s and 90s. On March 8, 1973, Ron McKernan died at age 27. Afterward, he broke off all personal relationships with the band, explaining, "I don't want you around when I die.". McKernan struggled to keep up with the changing music, causing the group to hire keyboardist Tom Constanten, with McKernan's contributions essentially limited to vocals, harmonica, and percussion from November 1968 to January 1970. After he was hospitalized in August 1971, doctors requested that he stop touring indefinitely. [9], Along with Garcia and second guitarist Bob Weir, McKernan was a participant in the predecessor groups leading to the formation of the Grateful Dead, beginning with the Zodiacs and Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions. '"[25], While in the Grateful Dead, McKernan sang and played blues-influenced organ and harmonica. The son of one of the first white rhythm and blues disk jockeys, McKernan grew up around music. 13 Ron “Pigpen” McKernan. One day in February 1973, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan got out of bed in his apartment in Corte Madera, California, where he’d recently been spending most … [61], "He's Gone", originally appearing on the live album Europe '72, subsequently became a eulogy to McKernan by his former bandmates. Ron “Pigpen” McKernan was an American, singer, songwriter, and musician. Year: 1973. Unlike the other members of the Grateful Dead, McKernan avoided psychedelic drugs, preferring to drink alcohol (namely whiskey and flavored fortified wine). [54][b] Garcia spoke at his funeral, saying "After Pigpen's death we all knew this was the end of the original Grateful Dead". [14][15] In 1967, drummer Mickey Hart joined the Grateful Dead, followed by classically trained keyboardist Tom Constanten in 1968, further changing the group's style. Discover the real story, facts, and details of Ron Pigpen McKernan. Although Pigpen was no longer a member of the Dead, it's safe to say that his former bandmates were devastated. By the time he plays his last concert (June 17, 1972), he can only get through the first set. "[55], On March 8, 1973, aged 27, he was found dead of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage at his home in Corte Madera, California, by his landlady. Ron McKernan — better known as “Pigpen” — was born on Sept. 8, 1945, in San Bruno, Calif. His father was one of the first white rhythm and blues disc jockeys, and so McKernan grew up amidst black music and culture, which would influence him later on. Discussion on rec.music.gdead about all this Charlie." [27] During Tom Constanten's tenure with the group, McKernan occasionally played his bandmate's double-manual Vox Super Continental on select songs (most notably "Death Don't Have No Mercy") through May 1969. Garcia was impressed and McKernan became the blues singer in local jam sessions. Ronald C. “Pigpen” Mckernan the founder member of Grateful Dead band, was born September 8, 1945. ", The Tragic Death Of Ron 'Pigpen' McKernan. Little is known about his family or early life. Following a hiatus, he resumed touring with the group in December 1971 but was forced to retire from touring altogether in June 1972. On March 8, 1973, Ron McKernan died at age 27. "[18] Weir promised to improve, but McKernan was more stubborn. Band: The Doors. Garden Aud., Vancouver Canada, Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, Washington, D.C., July 12 & 13, 1989, Pacific Northwest '73–'74: The Complete Recordings, Pacific Northwest '73–'74: Believe It If You Need It, Playing in the Band, Seattle, Washington, 5/21/74, The Warfield, San Francisco, California, October 9 & 10, 1980, Skeletons from the Closet: The Best of Grateful Dead, Dead Zone: The Grateful Dead CD Collection (1977–1987), All the Years Combine: The DVD Collection, Dead Ringers: The Making of Touch of Grey, Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead 1987 Tour, Deadicated: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead, Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead, The Music Never Stopped: Roots of the Grateful Dead, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_%22Pigpen%22_McKernan&oldid=991542684, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 30 November 2020, at 16:37. Pigpen's love of the blues was equaled only by his love of alcohol, a demon he couldn't shake. [19][20] Following his discharge from the United States Air Force in November 1968, Constanten officially joined the band, having only worked in the studio while on leave up to that point. [19] According to Garcia biographer Blair Jackson, McKernan missed three Dead shows before vowing not to "be lazy" any more and rejoining, while Kreutzmann objected to replacing McKernan and said the event never happened. He was the band's original frontman as well as playing harmonica and electric organ, but Garcia and bassist Phil Lesh's influences on the band became increasingly stronger as they embraced psychedelic rock. Via rollingstone.com. The song appeared on the live album Europe '72, his last with the group. One joined the “27 Club” and the other left the drugs behind when he put his faith in Christ. The 1971 live album Grateful Dead featured three overdubbed organ parts from Merl Saunders in addition to McKernan's contributions on "Big Railroad Blues", "The Other One", and "Me & Bobby McGee". McKernan's landlady found his body at his home in Corte Madera, California, on March 8, 1973. Pigpen also made a name for himself by speaking directly to the audience during live shows, sizing up to be much more of a traditional frontman than Jerry Garcia. He was a founding member of "Grateful … Musician. But unlike Joplin, Pigpen's passing was actually due to congenital biliary cirrhosis, a rare autoimmune disease that is unrelated to alcohol use. On the bootleg, McKernan played acoustic guitar and piano, instruments he seldom used with the Dead. A founding member of the band The Grateful Dead, Ron McKernan, known affectionately by the band and Deadheads alike as “Pigpen,” was a piano and harmonica player on the San Francisco music scene. Today would have been Ron “Pigpen” McKernan’s 74th birthday had the founding Grateful Dead member not died in 1973 at the age of 27 due to complications from Crohn’s disease. Ron "Pigpen" McKernan was the first member of the Grateful Dead to pass away. Around 1965, McKernan urged the rest of the Warlocks to switch to electric instruments. He made his final concert appearance on June 17, 1972, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. His father was a rhythm and blues disk jockey, so Pigpen got exposed to that type of music at an early age. A new feature film about the life of Grateful Dead founding member Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, "Pigpen…a blues singer," is in the works. During the band's early days, he was considered its heart and soul. Pigpen had a close relationship with Janis Joplin, with both preferring booze to drugs at the time. On March 8, 1973, Ron McKernan died at age 27. McKernan grew up heavily influenced by African-American music, particularly the blues, and enjoyed listening to his father's collection of records and taught himself how to play harmonica and piano. The Contra Costa County coroner's office said an autopsy would be performed today and the results would … Above: Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan (1945-1973) photographed in 1972 (Image credit: Getty) The 80s began with new keyboard player Brent Mydland replacing Keith and Donna Godchaux, and the release of the patchy Go To Heaven album, whose cover made the group look like ageing New Romantics. The band’s members also included Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, and Bob Weir. Ron "Pigpen" McKernan was the first member of the Grateful Dead to pass away. Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, the influential co-founding member of the Grateful Dead, sadly died on this date in 1973. He was a founding member of the San Francisco band the Grateful Dead and played in the group from 1965 to 1972. [13] By the end of 1966, Garcia had improved his musical skills, changing the band's direction and reducing McKernan's contributions. At the height of the Grateful Dead 's breakout success in the early 1970s, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan served as a driving force behind the jam band's legendary acclaim. But unlike Joplin, Pigpen's passing was actually due to congenital biliary cirrhosis, a rare autoimmune disease that is unrelated to alcohol use. Remembering Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan With 10 Early Grateful Dead Performances. [2][3] Ronald grew up with African American friends and enjoyed black music and culture. Buried: Palo Alto, CA. The group were keen to involve McKernan in the band, as he was the group's original leader and was considered the best singer and frontman. A lifetime of alcoholism combined with hepatitis he contracted during the band's 1972 European tour severely damaged Pigpen's health. In the mid 1960s, he with musicians Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir, formed the band The Grateful Dead and released their self-titled album on … [58][59] Weir began singing "Good Lovin'" with the Dead in 1973, and the group recorded the song on 1978's Shakedown Street. The vocalist and keyboardist proved responsible for the band's blues-based tone, even taking over singing duties on tunes such as "Turn on Your Lovelight," "Alligator," "Big Boss Man," and "Mr. [3], Though McKernan's garage rock style was appropriate for their early recordings, it was less suited to the group's later psychedelic and jamming styles. He was a founding member of the San Francisco band the Grateful Dead and played in the group from 1965 to 1972. Pigpen had a close relationship with Janis Joplin, with both preferring booze to drugs at the time. In light of the horrible tragedy in Little Rock on Sunday with the death of a young man of 24 years of age, I wanted to warn other young people of the dangers of alcohol and drugs. Like his one-time love interest Janis Joplin, Pigpen died at 27. [16], In October 1968, McKernan and Weir were nearly fired from the band after Garcia and Lesh believed their playing was holding the band back from lengthy and experimental jamming. The band's earliest sets centered around blues and R&B covers chosen by McKernan. Ron "Pigpen" McKernan played keyboards and harmonica until shortly before his death in 1973 at the age of 27. Band: The Doors. After he was hospitalized in August 1971, doctors requested that he stop touring indefinitely. There have been rumors that his death was a result of his excessive drinking, but in fact, his real cause of death was a rare and unrelated disease, as reported by Ultimate Classic Rock. Explore Ron Pigpen McKernan's biography, personal life, family and cause of death. [54] He subsequently broke off all personal relationships with the band, explaining "I don't want you around when I die. found: Wikipedia, September 15, 2017 (Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Ronald Charles McKernan, born September 8, 1945 in San Bruno, California; died March 8, 1973 in Corte Madera, California; founding member of the San Francisco band the Grateful Dead and played in the group from 1965 to 1972) In 1969, the band's record company, Warner Bros., ran a "Pigpen Look-Alike Contest". The son of one of the first white rhythm and blues disk jockeys, McKernan grew up around music. Cause of death: alcohol. He improvised lyrics over the band's accompaniment, using phrases he had heard from African American friends, such as "rider" (slang for "lover"), "she's got box-black nitties" (referring to female underwear) and "boar hog's eye". The son of one of the first white rhythm and blues disk jockeys, McKernan grew up around music. [38], McKernan was close friends with American singer-songwriter Janis Joplin due to common musical influences and lifestyles, particularly a shared love of alcohol over other drugs;[39] a poster from the early 1970s showed them together at 710 Ashbury. His love for gospel and blues led him to be one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead. found: Wikipedia, September 15, 2017 (Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Ronald Charles McKernan, born September 8, 1945 in San Bruno, California; died March 8, 1973 in Corte Madera, California; founding member of the San Francisco band the Grateful Dead and played in the group from 1965 to 1972) Even with their tendency toward wild experimentation, he kept those blues roots strong. [33] Even as his instrumental contributions waned, McKernan's vocal performances remained an integral part of the band's live set; by early 1971, their cover of the Rascals' "Good Lovin'" (initially performed by the group as early as 1966 and featured at shows at the Fillmore East later released as Ladies and Gentlemen... the Grateful Dead) began to emerge as a secondary showcase of his improvisatory talents alongside "Love Light. He was a member of the rock band Grateful Dead, in which he sung and played the keybord. Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan Ron McKernan, better known as Pigpen, was born in 1945 in California. Around 1965, McKernan urged the rest of the Warlocks to switch to electric instruments. "[34][35], McKernan was not a prolific songwriter, preferring to concentrate on blues covers and improvised lyrics. Because neither took illegal drugs, McKernan and Constanten were the only members of the band not arrested in the January 31, 1970 police raid that inspired the lyrics of the band's song "Truckin'". No cause of death has been listed, but Wales suffered a medical emergency on December 6th and was rushed to the hospital where he died on the 7th. [47] The event was covered in the first issue of Rolling Stone, where the reporter noted McKernan had a substantial rifle collection[48] and McKernan's picture appeared on a contemporary report in the San Francisco Chronicle. From his biker good looks to his gruff, dusty voice, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan managed to work that combination into one of the '60s most encompassing jam bands. Hunter said "it became an anthem for Pigpen". [56] McKernan was buried at the Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, California. And after years of hard living and hard drinking, it finally did him in. Although manager Rock Scully alleged that McKernan passed out in front of his Hammond organ at one show during this period, Garcia biographer Blair Jackson has lauded the quality and frequency of his instrumental contributions on the Europe '72 tour. 'Pigpen' McKernan lived up to his name but he died at 27 of alcohol abuse Garcia was paid $125,000 by Ben and Jerry’s ice cream for the use of ‘Cherry Garcia’ By Caroline Howe For Dailymail.com According to Grateful Dead: What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been, biographer Michele Hollow tells us that one of McKernan's former girlfriends might've given him the nickname based on the perpetually-dirty character in Charles Schultz's Peanuts comics. Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan Ron McKernan, better known as Pigpen, was born in 1945 in California. [27] With the exception of select acoustic sets in 1970 in which he played acoustic upright piano,[28] he used the Hammond exclusively thereafter. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed ), memorial page for Ronald C. “Pigpen” McKernan (8 Sep 1945–8 Mar 1973), Find a Grave Memorial no. [52][53] However, his health soon deteriorated again to the point where he could no longer continue to perform. McKernan was the first of the Dead's founding members to suggest they form a band, and his life-long infatuation with … Would have been a great outlet for the more edgy blues the boys got back into in the 80s. This included two songs recorded in 1964 with future Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jorma Kaukonen. McKernan was found dead of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage on March 8, 1973, aged 27, and is buried at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto. The younger McKernan grew up in what was designated a Black neighborhood, and thus developed a love for Black music and culture (which undoubtedly helped to inspire the Dead's blues-infused melodies). Ron “Pigpen” McKernan and Barry McGuire fell into these traps. He started playing blues organ, harmonica, and providing vocals, beginning with the Zodiacs and Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, as Beacham Journal tells us. Ron “Pigpen” McKernan. [17] He continued to front the band for long stretches during their live performances and suggested new material for the Dead's concert repertoire, including Redding's "Hard to Handle" and James Brown's "It's a Man's Man's Man's World. He was buried at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto. The combination of Crohn's and alcoholism would make a lot more sense than an otherwise healthy 27 year old drinking himself to death. Name: Jim Morrison. On March 8, 1973, Ron McKernan died at age 27. If that is the case he did not necesariliy suffer from cogenital liver … A new feature film about the life of Grateful Dead founding member Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, "Pigpen…a blues singer," is in the works. Co-founding member of the Grateful Dead Ron “Pigpen” McKernan sadly passed away on this date in 1973 at the young age of 27. [50] Pianist Keith Godchaux was subsequently hired and remained a regular member of the Grateful Dead until 1979. Band: Grateful Dead. In light of the horrible tragedy in Little Rock on Sunday with the death of a young man of 24 years of age, I wanted to warn other young people of the dangers of alcohol and drugs. No cause of death has been listed, but Wales suffered a medical emergency on December 6th and was rushed to the hospital where he died on the 7th. Above: Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan (1945-1973) photographed in 1972 (Image credit: Getty) The 80s began with new keyboard player Brent Mydland replacing Keith and Donna Godchaux, and the release of the patchy Go To Heaven album, whose cover made the group look like ageing New Romantics. Remembering Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan With 10 Early Grateful Dead Performances. Voice Type: Baritone Vocal Range: E♭2-E5 Associated Acts: Grateful Dead (1965-1972) Ron McKernan better known as his nickname "Pigpen" was the cofounder, organist and occasional percusionst from american band Grateful Dead since the beginning until his death at just 27 years old (It's considerate he belongs to "The 27 Club" too, altough not so famous as other musicians from that age … He began to alternate between the Vox Continental and the Hammond B-3 in June 1967, usually reserving the former instrument for outdoor and impromptu concerts, including the band's performance at the Columbia University protests of 1968. [17], After McKernan's death, a number of recordings were found in his apartment, which have appeared as the bootleg recording The Apartment Tapes. Definition.org quotes Garcia at McKernan's funeral: "After Pigpen's death we all knew this was the end of the original Grateful Dead. McKernan played around with decidedly cooler-sounding names, first dubbing himself "Blue Ron," before going for "Pigpen." Ron McKernan was born on September 8, 1945 in San Bruno, California, USA as Ronald Charles McKernan. Bassist Phil Lesh joined soon after, and they became the Grateful Dead. His mother, Esther Elvera McKernan was born January 5, 1917, died October 16, 1989. https://www.geni.com/people/Ron-Pigpen-McKernan/6000000034842914770 Steve Parish claims Pigpen and his brother both died from complications of Crohn's disease. Ron 'Pigpen' McKernan was born on September 8, 1945 and died on March 8, 1973. McKernan's landlady found his body at his home in … [3] Onomastician Adrian Room has suggested McKernan was given the name due to his untidy and unclean habits[8] and band biographies say he got the nickname owing to his similarity to Pig-Pen, the permanently-dirty character in the comic-strip Peanuts. He was a member of the rock band Grateful Dead, in which he sung and played the keybord. [23] While Garcia expressed frustration at McKernan's missed rehearsals and his inability to keep up with new material,[24] Lesh was more forgiving, opining that "it was okay for Pigpen to lay out ... we kept wanting Pigpen to be there because he was 'one of us. Ronald Charles McKernan (September 8, 1945 – March 8, 1973), known as "Pigpen", was an American singer and musician. [43][a], He developed a close friendship with fellow keyboardist Tom Constanten based on their mutual aversion to psychedelics[22] and eventually served as best man at Constanten's first wedding. "[3] Kreutzmann said McKernan was "the sweetest guy anybody had ever met. Mr. Hunter had moved to New Mexico by the time Garcia, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Ron “Pigpen” McKernan had formed the Grateful Dead. [56], Despite his outward image, friends and band biographers have described McKernan as a quiet, kind, and introspective person. One joined the “27 Club” and the other left the drugs behind when he put his faith in Christ. Especially with the guys rolling through as regular special guests. As Beacham Journal reports, the young musician taught himself piano, guitar and harmonica while slowly growing a record collection of old blues 78s. [36] Several new songs emerged from a creatively fecund period coinciding with his health problems in 1971, most notably "Mr. Charlie", a collaboration with Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. When Phil Lesh joined, the five-piece solidified as the Grateful Dead. [4] During the band's first year when they played straightforward blues, McKernan performed the majority of lead vocals, attracting an early audience that came specifically to see him sing and play harmonica. In 1970′s he had first stage of biliary cirrhosis. Ron McKernan died on March 6, 1973, in Corte Madera, California, USA of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Producers Terry Allen Fraser and Diana Raquel Sainz are embarking on a feature film about the music and life of Ron “Pigpen” McKernan. While he was a very heavy drinker (the rest of the group preferred getting high, per Ultimate Classic Rock), McKernan had given up alcohol by 1972 as his health declined. [7] One night Garcia invited McKernan on stage to play harmonica and sing the blues. I think he would have had at least as much success as like a Dr. John or something with a Ron "pigpen" Mckernan band a la Jerry Garcia Band. Official Sites. On the follow-up album American Beauty, keyboard parts were handled by Garcia and Lesh, along with session musicians Howard Wales and Ned Lagin. 1971 but was forced to retire from touring altogether in June 1972 Respect to the band rebranding the..., Palo Alto revived the 1960s standard `` Big Boy Pete '', originally by! 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Form a band, ensuring they would be paid and promoted properly for gigs were devastated guys! Band evolved into the lineup, which led to the band ’ s members also included Jerry Garcia, Kreutzmann!