Song
Dark Star
205 plays · 1967 – 1995
Stats
Peak year
1969
65 plays
Peak era
Primal
95 plays
Years in rotation
17
avg 13.6/yr
Usually
Set 1
57% of plays
By decade
60s
95
70s
97
80s
7
90s
33
Often comes in from
- 5%Drums(10×)
- 4%Me and My Uncle(9×)
- 4%Good Morning, Little School Girl(8×)
Often leads into
- 35%St. Stephen(80×)
- 13%Drums(30×)
- 5%Morning Dew(12×)
The Dead's signature improvisational vessel. Debuted late 1967, peaked in spring 1972, vanished October 1974. Across the next 15 years brief Dark Star fragments would surface as teases — the Closing of Winterland 12/31/78, a couple early 1979 nights, NYE 1981, the 1984 Greek — but the song proper didn't return until 10/9/89 at Hampton Coliseum (the legendary 'Formerly the Warlocks' run). Every version is different — the song is the structure, the jam is the song.
Best versions · Curator's picks
More high-scoring versions
By Curator Score across all shows that played Dark Star.
Every time Curator has written about it
29 mentions across the listening journal.
Numbers show each show's Curator Score · how it works
Crazy Dark Star (mariachi style solo.)
(3rd night of 5 night run at Winterland.) Darkstar darkstar darkstar everywhere.
Dark Star turns into freaky jazz jam was also on tape.
24 minute Dark Star to start.
Dark Star with the sax is unbelievable!
F****** amazing 37 minute long Dark Star!
30 minute Dark Star.
Unbelievable Dark Star.
Dark Star gets really f****** far out.
Really tight Mountains of the Moon (one of my favorites anyway) after Dupree and then a tease at Dark Star leading into China Cat.
Stellar Dark Star into the first ever live performed Wharf Rat.
Perfect Dark Star into St.
KICKASS Darkstar to start second set into Playing in the Band.
Duane, Gregg, and Mick Fleetwood all come out and play on Dark Star-Spanish-Lovelight!
Just when you think this incredible show is over they come out and give a 16 minute Dark Star for an encore!!!
- 2/11/69listened 12/19/16
Dark Star gets really far out there.
Great Dark Star into a particularly great Space.
Dark Star gets real far out there.
Incredible 25 minute Dark Star into a breath taking 19 minute Eyes.
Really Killer 30 minute Dark Star that gets REALLY FAR OUT!
Smoking show once they gear up with Dark Star into St.
Awesome Dark Star (Seven and a half minutes in before Jerry's starts verse.) Out of Dark Star and into Eyes which is neat.
Dupree-Mountains of the Moon-Dark Star-Other One-Mercy-Rag-Stephen-Eleven-Lovelight.
They weave Dark Star into four tracks throughout the show.
Definitely get some Dark Star teases during back half of Playing.
Playing-Uncle John’s Band-Playing is tremendous sandwich PLUS it is followed by the first Dark Star in 5 years!
Incredible 35 minute Dark Star and I swear it sounds like they are working out the main part of Eyes around 20 minutes in.
Incredible Dark Star with Mind Left Body Jam followed by Eyes.
30 minute Dark Star into an almost 15 minute, stellar He's Gone.
Listen to Dark Star from 1972-08-27 — official release