"The plaza behind San Jose City Hall was filled with Deadheads and DJs on Thursday night, as the city distinctively celebrated its historic connection to the Grateful Dead by illuminating City Hall in light show of swirling colors, with the legendary band's music ringing out in the courtyard. The festivities marked the 60th anniversary of a momentous night when the band, just having changed its name from the Warlocks, played an LSD-fueled "acid test" at a house on South Fifth Street on Dec. 4, 1965."
"In the intervening 60 years, the house was moved to make way for City Hall, but a plaque commemorating the spot was unveiled Thursday night. Featuring the band's famous "Steal Your Face" logo, the plaque will be permanently affixed to the wing's south wall. "There's no acid test tonight, but I'm thinking there might be a little acid reflux, looking around," emcee Kim Vestal, a longtime DJ now doing traffic for KCBS, told the well-seasoned crowd."
"The ceremony leading up to the plaque's reveal included remarks from the two guys who have been spearheading this effort for years on behalf of nonprofit San Jose Rocks: founder Dan Orloff and former Mercury News sports columnist Mark Purdy. You think it's hard work trying to get a remodeling permit? Try getting a plaque on city hall commemorating an event where people took LSD (which, as was pointed out several times Thursday, was perfectly legal at the time)."
The plaza behind San Jose City Hall filled with Deadheads and DJs as City Hall glowed in a swirling light show and Grateful Dead music played in the courtyard. The celebration marked the 60th anniversary of a Dec. 4, 1965 LSD-fueled "acid test" at a South Fifth Street house just after the band changed its name from the Warlocks. The house was later moved for City Hall and a plaque bearing the "Steal Your Face" logo will be permanently affixed to the wing's south wall. Organizers Dan Orloff and Mark Purdy spoke, emcee Kim Vestal joked, and guests Ira Meltzer and Trixie Garcia shared memories.
Read at The Mercury News
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