Died On This Date (July 26, 1990) Brent Mydland / Grateful Dead

By themusicsover July 26, 2010 #Bob Weir, #Bobby & The Midnites, #Brent Mydland, #Grateful Dead, #Keith Godchaux, #Vince Welnick

Brent Mydland
October 21, 1952 – July 26, 1990

Brent Mydland was the keyboardist for the Grateful Dead for an eleven year period that would see the band’s highest charting successes. Born a military child in Munich, Germany, Mydland moved with his family to San Francisco as an infant. As a child, Mydland learned to play the flute, accordion and piano. After graduating from high school in 1971, played in bands in and around the Bay area, ultimately landing in the Bob Weir Band in 1978. A year later he replaced Keith Godchaux in the Grateful Dead. He also played in Weir’s other side project, Bobby and the Midnites. Mydland wrote several of the Dead’s 80s period songs including such fan favorites as “Tons Of Steel,” “I Will Take You Home,” and “Hell In A Bucket.” Mydland significantly contributed to the band vocally as well, both as lead in some songs, and as a prominent harmony vocalist, adding a new flair to many of the bands older songs in concert. Brent Mydland died of a drug overdose at the age of 37 on July 26, 1990. He was replaced by Vince Welnick who committed suicide in 2006.