Of Jerry Garcia bobbleheads, kazoo world record attempts, and Bill Walton

It was Jerry Garcia Bobblehead Night at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Monday (it’s the 15th anniversary of his death), but unfortunately I couldn’t attend, as I have issues with second-hand smoke. Too bad, because I could have participated in the Guinness World Record attempt for most kazoos played simultaneously. Seven thousand of the tiny plastic noisemakers were handed out and the chorus was led by the Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart and noted Deadhead and former NBA player of some note, Bill Walton, from atop the Giants dugout.
Accounts differ as to the success of the kazooathon, but does it matter? Garcia, Walton, Deadheads, Tim Lincecum, wafting clouds of funny-smelling smoke … Monday night could not have been more quintessentially San Francisco unless Patty Hearst showed up wearing Emperor Norton’s uniform.
Videos following the jump.

Fun facts on the night from the San Francisco Chronicle:

Before the game festivities, Rabbi Joseph Langer will be marking the “yahrzeit” (death anniversary, but according to the Jewish calendar, it was July 24 this year) of Jerry Garcia just outside the ballpark. “For Jerry,” said the spiritual leader, “it has to be something in the parking lot.” At Dead shows, said the rabbi, “the miracles came down in the parking lot.”

Official rules for recent Jerry Day festivities in the amphitheater named for him, included: “No alcohol or drug sales (including nitrous oxide) tolerated anywhere. … Anyone caught selling or distributing illicit substances will immediately be ejected from the festival. Further legal repercussions are likely.” Was this like banning cocktails at a cocktail party?

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Bill Walton Leads Kazoo Ensemble At Giants’ Game to Honor Jerry Garcia [NESN]
Bill Walton and The Grateful Dead lead San Francisco fans in kazoo version of ‘Take Me Out To The Ballgame’ [Big League Stew]
Photo: ClubhouseCancer.com