Remembering Brent Mydland: The Impassioned Final ‘Maybe You Know’

Grateful Dead keyboardist Brent Mydland died on this date in 1990 after an overdose at his home in Lafayette, California. Mydland’s 11-year tenure with the band was the longest of any of those who held down the Grateful Dead keyboard seat between their formation in 1965 and Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995. Instrumentally, Brent brought a completely different approach to the Dead’s music upon joining the band in 1979, but also added his husky, unmistakable vocals to the band’s arsenal.

Brent was also a capable songwriter whose credits include “Hell In A Bucket,” “Tons Of Steel,” “Just A Little Light,” “Blow Away” and the tender “I Will Take You Home.” Mydland’s voice and approach was also on display for a number of covers the Dead performed during his time in the group such as “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” “Hey Pocky Way” and “Gimme Some Lovin’.” Sadly, Mydland had his demons which led to his tragic death 26 years ago today.

On April 21, 1986 Brent’s demons were on display during the Grateful Dead show at the Berkeley Community Theater in Berkeley, California. Mydland stuck around during the “Drums” segment and then starts performing “Maybe You Know” which had been shelved since April 26, 1983. The version of “Maybe You Know” just features Brent and a bewildered pair of drummers who seem confused about what’s going on. The keyboardist, who was dealing with an on-going divorce and the potential separation from his daughter, shouts out a final verse of “maybe you don’t know how I’m FUCKING feeling, but maybe to you it don’t seem so real.” Listen to how it went down:

The rest of the band finally emerges and Jerry quickly segues into “Going Down The Road Feelin’ Bad.” Brent barely touches his keyboards on “GDTRFB” and supposedly Garcia sung the “Morning Dew” that followed directly to Mydland. Musicians are human beings and this show gives an insight into the tortured but talented soul of Brent Mydland. Twenty six years later we still miss him.

On a more positive note, watch a video montage honoring Brent Mydland: