I know several musicians, starting off in the 60s, who didn't care that much for the hits but purely the music and musicality. They held Moby Grape in the highest regard. A prime example of how talent doesn't equal success at all.

Back in the day, Texico used to give out Columbia sampler albums when you bought a tank of gas. My mom brought one home and my older brother and sister eschewed it with tongue-jutting distain, so it fell on my lap. The last cut was "Omaha", and on hearing it for the first time, it electrified my brain. I must have played it at full volume on my record player 100 times the first two days and drove my family crazy. I just knew then that The Monkees were going to no longer cut it with me....

One of the finest bands ever-their debut album is a classic.

God bless you, Jerry Miller and the rest of Moby Grape. Truly sad what happened to Skip and that wonderful chemistry that didn't win stardom...maybe. Those who've heard the Grape will never forget you. So maybe you're all where you should be. You're still making music - a blessing and a gift to yourselves as well as the world.

Thanks for posting this interesting piece of trivia. R.I.P. Skip Spence.

❤ peace, jerry miller, rest in peace, beautiful heart and person and maestro on the guitar. I sang with him three days before he died on his stage. What a privilege.

Got to love it... The Moby Grapes. Good songs and great musicians. I picked up the bass and it took me months toget Bob Mosley's bass on "Changes."I am 70 now and still listen to my original vinyl LP. You know... some things we just can't figure out and Moby Grape is one ofthose that was a top group in SF and then.... WOW.... pisses me off.. Rip Skip and Bob.

What a great band. I saw them plenty at the Fillmore. Matthew Katz screwed so many good bands and created so much havoc that he should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What a slimeball.

I lived in Seattle for years, and in the early 2000s, I remember walking down the street in North Seattle where I lived, and seeing a sign on a hole-in-the-wall tavern "Moby Grape Live!" It made me freeze for a few seconds - I remembered that group! In the late 60s I was in college trying to be a guitarist, and a friend who was a really good guitarist told me about Moby Grape and how one of their players - I think it was Peter Lewis - had been noted by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's fastest guitarist. Their records literally blew my mind - I never wanted so much to be a rock player until after I heard them on those disks! To find them performing six blocks from my house years later was mind blowing again! I went and there were four of the five members - Peter Lewis, Jerry Miller, Bob Moseley, and Don Stephenson. This was shortly after Skip Spence died. And there was a bonus - Sam Andrew was guesting with them that night! (I knew of Sam Andrew from Big Brother and the Holding Company, Janis Joplin's backing band.) They put on an electrifying show! I still remember that as a touchstone in rock music history, and most bands come up way short!

Mike Douglas was a great place to find musical exposure. Many thanks to Mike Douglas. 🌹

Jerry is a great guitarist!

One of the lost great bands - so much promise, blown away by the times.

In the 60's Moby Grape rocked San Francisco. One of the best singer songwriters in the city.

Moby Grape was one of the first of the first bands I looked for when I got to San Francisco in the mid sixties. (There were at least a half dozen or so). Also Included were The Greatful.Dead,Jefferson Airplane,Country Joe.and the Fish,and also Steve Miiler to nsme s few. Others. I still listen to them all. Their music takes me back to special memories,and special times !

Jerry's a great guy and a special talent.

Excellent. RIP Skip. Great Band. Thanks

I heard the tune Hey Grandma on local radio in mid-1967 and have been a fan of the band ever since then.

Jerry Miller is one bad ass guitar slinger. God bless Skip, where ever he may be on his journey home. Truly fine citizens indeed.

When I think of bands that changed my way of looking at music and life there was The Grateful Dead, Frank Zappa and Moby Grape.

All albums they released were superb, in my opinion. Some people, though, might need to listen them a couple of times to realise that haha. I mean, really. They are all awesome.

Cool ! just ran across this segment on Moby Grape! When I was in college, in the 1960s, I had a friend, Russ Ingle, who was a rock guitar player. He filled me in on all the really good rock groups, and one of them was Moby Grape. The Grape was so good, I became a fan for years. Then, years later, I took up guitar and started playing classic rock and blues. In the early 2000's I lived in north Seattle, taking care of my elderly parents. I was surprised to be walking down the street in Seattle that I lived on, and a little hole in the wall tavern had a sing out front, "Moby Grape featuring Sam Andrew." I went to that show, and man, I couldn't believe how totally hot they were! I don't remember whether there were three our four of them, but they played quite a few of their old songs, some songs that they had written recently, and some covers of songs from people they knew or had played with. There was an extra thing, as Sam Andrew, lead guitarist for Big Brother and the Holding Company and Janis Joplin, joined them. It just smoked! One of my fondest memories, and I found out by pure chance!

They and Quicksilver were my favorites in the late 60's

moby grape are one of my favourite bands

never knew vh1 made this about moby grape. these vh1 productions from the late 1990s to early 2000s saved tv from being a deadzone.

Peter Lewis's mother was Loretta Young. I met him around the time of his solo release album in the 1990's. One of the Doobie Brother's guitarist Jogn McFee was colaborating with him on it. Peter Lewis writes amazing music to this day. It remined me of CSNY but even better harmonies and guitar work. No doubt when they broke up they would have been a force for years to come as the Moby Grape. I believe even The Beatles believed this. A lot like Badfinger in the luck department of fate and stardom.

I listen to their songs so beautiful

I Saw Moby Grape in 1968 along with Janis & Big Brother, Buddy Guy Blues Band, Chambers Bros., Vanilla Fudge, all who played an incredible gig at the Quaker City Rock Festival. A Truly life-changing experience. There was a revolving stage, and these guys tried to keep the amp wires that went through the center of the revolving stage from getting twisted as the Chamber's Bros., w/the exception of the drummer, decided to walk counter-rotation-wise and therefore appeared not to be moving on a revolving stage while they played, "Time!", and laughed, which i did too. As far as these days and music in general, it's always been a largely under-the-radar-process - Musicians play music. But sometimes a great band rises up, Like Moby Grape; and kicks ass with original songs such as "Changes", "Omaha", "Indifference", "8:05"... It is encouraging to hear, and be influenced by music that reminds us of stuff we like to hear, and play.

I love Moby grape..

First met Jerry when I played rhythm guitar just for a few shows in mid-80s.. "for some dude that needed a player". At a small bar called Prositos in Tacoma... sitting at the bar after a show, I mentioned that in a Led Zeppelin book Plant mentioned a "Jerry Miller" and a name of a band that I always thought was funny ever since I was a kid... "Moby Grape"... Then it hit me....... holy crap. Jerry chuckled... (and... years later... he got me backstage at Plant and Page in Tacoma Dome).

Thanks for posting this Jeff!

Where is the Mike Douglas Show of our generation?

Wanted to see this for a long time. Thanks

Skip just wanted to ax him a question.

I just wanted to say hello to my old forgotten friend,,,,Jerry Miller.

They try to do a limited number of shows each year with Skip Spence' son standing in for him. Although Jerry Miller plays all over, he can be seem most in his hometown of Tacoma, where he is always very gracious and talks to everone. He turns 70 this July and still one of the best guitartist.

Jerry Miller passed away on Thursday night. RIP friend.

Bob Mosley last real gig was in 1977, Neil Young put together a band in Santa Cruz called The Ducks... Hear my Duck Tapes on You Tube.. Sorry to say , Bob is a casualty, he was wrestling with heroin then.. Jerry Miller still gigs around Santa Cruz... DRUGS SUCK ... They robbed us of lots of great music.

Sparking one up for you right now, Skip... Peace and love my cosmic brother from another planet.

Another greedy manager destroys the golden goose. 1967 The Summer of Love was an all too brief moment in time. After that things started going to hell and haven't stopped since.

I hang 5 lp covers on my wall. Meet The Beatles (original 1964), Ogden's Nut Gone Flake - The Small Faces (round Import lp cover), Sgt. Pepper (mono Import), Her Satanic Majesties Request - The Rolling Stones (3-D front cover) and Moby Grape (with the finger on the washboard). They were awesome, until . . . they weren't.

In 1967, there were two bands with three great guitarists, Moby Grape and Fleetwood Mac with Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer and Danny Kirwan. both bands had big problems with guitarists on drugs.

Vh1 used to be so great. Now they became BET part 2.

Jerry records with Jan Hill as the Remington Riders and also plays in Spokane Washington at a place I think it's called Sam's Place....don't quote me on that...he's a fine, fine guitar player to this day. I loved Moby Grape in the early days.

Mike DOuglas show was awesome!

Just saw the 2012 performance. So The Grape Lives!

Aww the pictures of Skippy were sad to see

I remember as an 11 year listening to these albums with my older sister who had them in her room. Gazing at the album covers really sparked something in me. Also recall the album covers to Spirit, Are you Experienced, Steve Miller Band where they're holding a sphere of the world I think, Cheap Thrill album, Inagaddaveda? She ran away to HaightAshbury but only made it as far as Sacramento where I saw her a year later. She was totally different, I knew something had happened to her. She's still a zippy little hippie and never took on more than she could handle, leaving nothing much but herself.

I'm really shocked that something from a "reputable" source like VH1 could let so many inaccuracies (even in a six minute segment) be included: -Skip only spent a couple of nights in The Tombs for the axe attack. However, he did spent six months in Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital. -The band didn't "break up" after 1969's Truly Fine Citizen (at least not permanently, although it was their final album for Columbia) as they released 20 Granite Creek (which included Skip) in 1971 (on Reprise) -They weren't acquitted on the "contributing" charges.. the charges were dropped within days because the DA (with good reason) didn't think they had a strong enough case to win.

Bob Mosley also has schizophrenia. He was found in a card board box by a band member years later but Mosley believed someone was trying to kill him .There were no farther contacts . Something like that. This footage is almost 17 years old but i can see Mosley got a bit better later on. I hope.

Interesting. I was just recalling a similar experience I had as Skip's only in SF, but I chose to go a different path and stayed out of the hard stuff. I'm so glad I made the right choices now. For all of the non-conformity and rebelliousness the music business was supposed to embrace, it was remarkably unforgiving if you didn't conform with its "norms". There was tremendous pressure on any young talent to play the proverbial game. If you didn't you were out. For all the challenges I've faced since then, I'm glad I wound up "out". At least I'm still alive and my liver is still intact. RIP Skip - your msg finally got through.

In 1994, Guinness named Moby Grape's Moby Grape as the 101st best album of all time, beating albums such as this: 102. Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends 103. U2 - Achtung Baby 104. Band - Music from Big Pink 105. Queen - A Night at the Opera 106. Crowded House - Woodface 107. Steely Dan - Can’t Buy a Thrill 108. Dylan, Bob - John Wesley Harding 109. Eagles - Hotel California 110. Petty, Tom & the Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes 111. Waits, Tom - Swordfishtrombones 112. Seger, Bob - Stranger in Town 113. Pink Floyd - Wall 114. Beach Boys - Surf’s Up 115. Prince - Parade 116. John, Elton - Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player 117. King, Carole - Tapestry 118. Traffic - Low Spark of the High Heeled Boys 119. Costello, Elvis - Get Happy! 120. Sinatra, Frank - Nice ‘n’ Easy 121. Eagles - Desperado 122. REM - Green 123. Zappa, Frank - Hot Rats 124. Simon, Paul - There Goes Rhymin’ Simon 125. Hendrix, Jimi - Axis, Bold as Love 126. Sinatra, Frank - In the Wee Small Hours 127. Belafonte, Harry - Calypso 128. Velvet Underground - Velvet Underground 129. Eurythmics - Revenge 130. Morrison, Van - Avalon Sunset 131. Pet Shop Boys - Actually 132. Doors - Waiting for the Sun 133. Harrison, George - All Things Must Pass 134. Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac

That Lost Horizon - tremendous tune.

Best band of the sixtees.period.

The late Skip Spence is legend!

Whoever f’d them out of the royalties needs to get their asses kicked.

magnific..

At 2:58 It was like an American version of Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett with Skippy, except after they dumped Syd, Floyd eventually had a remarkable comeback.

matthew katz lives or lived in malibu. at synoguge?

OMG! MONTEREY POP FOOTAGE!

❤

mike douglas was cool

Drug abuse never ends well............

This is the only time I've seen there footage from Monterey Pop.

I believe they sounded similar to The Grateful Dead… but that’s just my humble opinion.

Jerry plays for Eilen Jewell and he’s an excellent guitarist!...Check out the band if you get the chance! 👍

RIP Skip 🎗

Oh... and have a few videos of Jerry playing at the Westgate Inn in Tacoma from a few months ago in Tacoma on my KZfaq channel. Type "Jerry Miller 3-16-13 Tacoma"...I think..... Still incredible.

One of Jerry Garcia's favorite bands.

What Month and Date was aired in 2000?

so....where's the rest of the show?

..at least with three piece bands, you limit potential disasters to just three individuals.

In credable!!!

Jerry can be found living in or around Cave Junction Oregon, at least he's not dead yet.

"The Moby Grapes" totally, man - air-head flatulence

Just listen......

Where the FUCK is the Monterey film already?!!

Actually Spence did go to jail but not for six months. Instead, he spent time at the Bellview Mental Hospital for six months. When he was released he rode his motorcycle, while wearing his pajama's, to Nashville and made his solo album Oar.

Doobie Brothers idols.

"The Moby Grapes"?

I have a bunch of videos of Jerry at a bar in TacomaPaul (KZfaq) from 2013... keep scrolling on my page.

Those were tough times if you had long hair. Long hair was probable cause for the cops to stop and arrest and Judges to find you guilty and jail you and in the south a road work chain gang is where you get that long hair cut off.

A'int it a shame

Pigs don’t sweat!! I’m sick of the lies.

I like skip spence oar album more than the gapes stuff but then again I too am fucked in the head

8:05

So sad, another talented band screwed out of royalties and greater acclaim just like Badfinger.

It s said that this GREAT band was jinxed & I believe it !!! I LOVE every member !!! But, look !!! You can`t even find live footage of them in their prime where the quality is any good... Monterey Pop they got stuck out there playing first, and that footage was not even in the movie !!!! They got fucked over sixteen ways to sideways when they were at their best !!! David Rubinson is the only reason for them getting 4 or 5 albums out & well recorded BTW !!! Yes, rock & roll is just a job & I get that, but those 5 dudes were really as good as the Beatles, when you consider that they sang great & could tackle ANY music style & actually Moby Grape were better musicians than everybody in rock at that time, except for maybe Ten Years After & Hendrix !!! Of course I`m not knocking the more famous acts !!!! Poor management, the band being ugly dudes did not help... Also, those 5 were hard core west coast musicians & they in the thick of 1967.... Young, dumb & full of come !!!

Greedy non-artist type people ruin those with talent.Look at my candles here everyone wants a piece of them but will not lift a finger to help me make it happen. It has made me sick to see my friends fight over them.At this point I give them to other artist NRPS Hot Tuna and light their lives up.Thats where my friends missed the point its the light do not play with it or you will get burned and they have.And still they dont understand.My heart sinks with that in mind ENOUGH

LED Zep took Moby Grapes 🍇 Song Never And renamed it Since I’ve Been Loving You. Took All the Lyrics And put their Names on it as the Songwriters. I don’t know if Moby Grape ever Sued for Compensation but they should because they were Ripped Off! Shame on Page and Plant!

Their first album is so strong. They could all write and sing. Yes, Mike Douglas had them on, but his grasp of what was happening around him was zero. What a douche. Before the networks would allow groups on The Douglas show was one of just a few to venture into booking rock acts. Who was Douglas's talent coordinator? Douglas sure didn't pick rock acts. He was out of Philly, hardly a hub of psychedelia. But kinescopes of the Grape are few and far between. Donald O'Connor had the only daytime show to book occasional rock acts and he to was so condescending towards his rock guests. Carson almost singlehandedly destroyed the Youngbloods. You can find details about all these shoddy treatments of artists. Most important of all though is the involvement of Matthew Katz with this group. His ripping them off was the single biggest reason they were denied stardom. Shame, shame, shame.