Home Before Daylight

My Life on the Road with the Grateful Dead

By: Steve Parish, Joe Layden - contributor, Bob Weir - foreword

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Steve Parish was never one to walk the straight-and-narrow, even during his childhood growing up in Flushing Meadow, Queens. Busted as a teenager for selling acid in the summer of 1968, Parish landed in Riker's Island. The experience changed him, and after getting out, he did his best to stay out of trouble, securing a job moving music equipment at the New York State Pavilion. The first show he worked was a Grateful Dead concert in July of 1969, and Parish was captivated by the music. A life seemingly headed nowhere had suddenly found its calling as he fell in quickly with a band of like-minded misfits who formed the nucleus of what would be the greatest road crew in rock 'n' roll history.

Parish traveled to California, where his apprenticeship began. Working for the band for free and learning his craft, Parish got to know Jerry, Bobby, Phil, Billy, and Mickey, and through the years they forged an unbreakable bond. He became very close with Garcia in particular, acting as his personal roadie and later manager for his solo performances and Garcia Band shows.

Home Before Daylight is a story of friendship, of music and redemption. It is a piece of music history, one that reflects the American spirit of adventure and brotherhood. Seen through Steve Parish's eyes and experiences, the Grateful Dead's wild ride has never been so revealing.

©2003 Steve Parish, foreword copyright 2003 by Bob Weir (P)2019 Tantor

More Fascinating Than Expected

Knew nothing about The Grateful Dead prior to this book. Considering I started off with “Orange Sunshine”, then “Chaos: Charles Manson, The C.I.A. And The Secret History of The Sixties”; to my surprise, I found this book more enthralling and entertaining than the prior two.

must read for every dead head

Steve perfectly encompasses what it was to be a part of the traveling circus known as the Grateful Dead along with the ups and downs of the roads, the band, and live in general. great listen with perfect narration

Heavy focus on the darker parts

Raw and real and from an insider point of view. It is worth saying that the outsider view (the effect this music and culture has on its fans) may ultimately be more important. This book has an emphasis on the struggles of Jerry by the man who unquestionably knew him best. The stories are insightful and most of them new to me (I thought I knew just about everything about the GD - nope). Really enjoyed listening to this.

Home Before Daylight

Great job, Steve and Joe. A fair and honest review which changed my opinion of the guy who threw me off the stage more than once. The band members were my heroes and bigger than life. I enjoyed every minute of your retelling.

Detailed and enjoyable

Previous to listening to "Home before Daylight" I had read/listened to 9 or 10 other books about the history of The Grateful Dead.Knowing what a key figure in the GD road crew and in Jerry Garcia's personal everyday life Steve Parish was this book was one I've been curious about for a long time.Steve did not disappoint in relating important details of his overall experience with being a member of the GD road crew and also with being one of the people closest to Jerry Garcia as well as with being one of Jerry's best friend's and confidantes.To really get a good solid picture of what was happening in the GD inner circle throughout the years you have to read the accounts of everyone involved and Steve's personal story is one of the most important out there.

Though it would have been better to hear this book read in Steve's voice I can completely understand why the book was read by someone else.Steve reading it is the only thing that I think could have made it better but besides that I think this book was one of the best I've encountered about The Grateful Dead and the life of Jerry Garcia as well as about one of the most prominent members of the GD's amazing road crew.Thank you Steve for taking the time to write down your story and for making it available in the audiobook format.Thank you also for your dedication to your job on the road crew and for doing your best to take care of Jerry and for helping him to live longer than he may have without your undying love, friendship and dedication to his well being.I wish you nothing but happiness Mr. Parish,somewhere Jerry is smiling down on you.....may he rest peacefully forever more and may you continue to enjoy a happy and peaceful life with your wife and children.🙂🎸🎶☮️🎵⚡💀

Steve was close to Jerry

I loved his story, honest but real. The good and the bad. Thanks for this book, Steve. The end hurt, but was cathartic.

Fantastic Book

Highly recommend for any deadhead and a great inside peek at the band over the decades!

Wish Steve had read it!

However, many timed during my listen I could hear his voice - the writing sounded like him. I haven't read any other Grateful Dead related Audible books, except for Phil's (and i also read that one, with my eyes) but Steve's story-telling is brutally honest, and yet very sensitive. It's completely believable and I was enthralled start to finish. Listened to on 2 road trips and the quality of the storytelling made the miles fly by
Outstanding job!

Narrator-Blaa

The one thing I absolutely love about Steve Parrish is his voice. HIs story would have been amazing if read by himself. At times, I would imagine his voice telling some of the stories.

Jerry's best friend

You won't find a better book about garcia. I loved garcia n saw many shows 84 on... But i saw him in a new light. Like the man not the rock star.. No spoiler but big Steve tells his story but he tells the story of the downfall of a great band... Im glad I read (listened to) it... Its actually a very sad story....