“Big” Steve Parish. Courtesy Photo.
By John W. Barry
Scarlet>Fire.
China>Rider.
Estimated>Eyes.
These are some of the most iconic phrases—song segues, actually— introduced across generations, by the Grateful Dead, into the modern Dead Head lexicon.
Well, now you can add another two-word phrase into that lexicon, courtesy of “Big” Steve Parish, an anchor of the Grateful Dead family whose contributions to mankind could never be quantified.
Chonga Bonga.
Decades ago, Parish and Grateful Dead lead guitarist and vocalist Jerry Garcia were outside the Hotel Navarro in New York City, later to be the Ritz-Carlton, about to get into a limousine. A car materialized out of nowhere and someone handed out the window a white shoebox. Inside was a white chameleon and a letter, which Garcia read out loud.
“It says, ‘This is the lizard god, Chonga Bonga,’” Parish recalled. “Keep him alive and he is your responsibility now.”
Perplexed, the Grateful Dead team were unsure of their next move. Continuing on the road, crew member Kidd Candelario came up with a plan to steam up the Dead’s hotel party room. Chonga Bonga was pleased
“Everybody knew to respect him and loved him, everybody got to know him,” Parish said. “We’re on this tour. We were going everywhere across America. We went into the Midwest. We kept him alive, day-after-day. And now, I believe, because of that effort, he’s worthy of a shirt.”
And a poster, and a hat, and a mug, and a bubble-free sticker—all emblazoned with the image of Chonga Bonga, with a joint in some images, a guitar in others.
The Chonga Bonga merchandise is one way that Parish is reaching out to Dead Heads to strengthen an already timeless bond of friendship.
“Big” Steve Parish, a critical member of the Grateful Dead tribe for decades, has launched a working relationship with Retroactv. Parish is working with the merchandise and live event operation to share memories, experiences and memorabilia with fans of one of the highest-grossing touring bands to ever hit the Great American Highway.
Parish knows from whence he speaks.
He first joined the band as a roadie in 1969 and it wasn’t long before he became Garcia’s trusted gear handler. Parish managed the Jerry Garcia Band; was the best man at his wedding; and was at Garcia’s bedside when he fell into a coma in 1986. Parish was also Garcia’s last friend to see him before his untimely death in 1995.
Speaking to Dead Heads during an interview with Retroactv Co-Founder & CEO Martin Bispels, Parish said, “You’re part of it, and let’s have fun with this.”
Through Retroactv, Parish is making available “Big Steve Parish” merchandise, an outgrowth of his hugely popular program on SiriusXM, “The Big Steve Hour.” These items include a foam trucker hat; unisex organic cotton t-shirt; eco tote bag; and heavyweight long sleeve t-shirt.
“This is a new thing,” Parish said. “This is a new way of communicating with people, for this modern age.”
This merchandise initiative also includes a sketch of the Grateful Dead’s “Wall of Sound” audio system, from Parish’s collection of memorabilia, emblazoned on mugs, shirts, posters and jigsaw puzzle.
Merchandise with the sketch of The Wall of Sound, the Grateful Dead’s once-in-a-lifetime sound system, Parish said, celebrates members of the Grateful Dead crew who came together, “through destiny, to do the work, and to build this thing, and to take it all over the world, which is what we did.” The reproduced image is dedicated to those crew members—Ramrod, Sparky, Joe Winslow, and Rex Jackson, From Big Steve Parish.”
Click here to watch the interview that Bispels conducts with Parish. And listen as Parish regales all with his compelling stories, from his life with Garcia and the Grateful Dead, as only he can.
And tune in to SiriusXM Satellite Radio’s Grateful Dead Channel 23, at 5 p.m. est each Thursday, and at 9 a.m. est each Friday, to listen to “The Big Steve Hour.”
Parish discusses his history with Garcia and the Grateful Dead; takes listener calls and questions; welcomes guests from the world of the Dead; and plays his favorite songs by the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia and more.
Click here to learn more.
And we bid you goodnight.
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