Where it all Began
People recovering from drug and alcohol addiction often feel like an outsider on the fringes of the fun. Old triggers like parties and concerts or raves become environments to be avoided. No one embodies identification with a lifestyle and music more than a Deadhead, a group of die-hard Grateful Dead fans that worship Jerry Garcia for his genius and travel the country to follow the band. But what about Deadheads in recovery? A group called the Wharf Rats established in the 1980’s started when some Deadheads feared mentioning their allegiance to the Grateful Dead at their AA or NA meetings because of the negative connotation. They have been supporting sobriety and running meetings at concerts “ an extreme environment swirling with temptation” successfully for decades and they are the source of inspiration for many other sobriety groups.
Deadheads have long held the reputation of going to Grateful Dead shows to experience the ultimate trip while Jerry and the band jam for a three-hour show. But this lifestyle was unsustainable and harmful to many fans who still loved the music and the lyrics. This group of fans began the Wharf Rats AA, originally founded for “drug and alcohol free concert goers.” However, the group got into trouble when they had the AA moniker because the AA general office would have nothing to do with them. Especially after hearing they met only at Grateful Dead concerts. The group changed over time and was open to all people with any addiction including food, sex, gambling or people who can responsibly drink alcohol but wanted to be supportive. You are a Wharf Rat if you say you are- no judgments, no requirements.
Michael C., a Wharf Rat member since 1991, is a living example of the Wharf Rat motto “you are a Wharf Rat if you say you are.” The Wharf Rats have consistently accepted him and supported him throughout his struggle for sobriety. Michael C states, “I was sober in AA and still going to Dead shows and happened to find the Wharf Rat table at the Boston Garden in 1991. I stopped by the table and started talking with people and started going to meetings at the set breaks of shows.” Michael relapsed from 2001 to 2011, but immediately became active again in the Wharf Rats in January of 2012, however Michael “considers [himself] a member since May 1991.”
The Wharf Rats became important to other people in recovery seeking a safe zone at concerts and became a fellowship within a fellowship. Songs from the Grateful Dead took on different meanings essential to the members. With over 6,519 members on their Facebook page, the Wharf Rats describe themselves as a “group of friends sharing a common bond, providing support and information and some traction in an otherwise slippery environment.” Their unusual name comes from the Grateful Dead song “Wharf Rat,” about a wino named August West, who spent half of his life in jail, and the other half drunk on wine. His story includes his hope for redemption and a new start. “But I’ll get back on my feet again someday. The good Lord willin’, if he says I may.” Michael C. lives this and defines these lines as some of the most meaningful to him out of all of the Grateful Dead’s lyrics.
The Wharf Rats have been making themselves visible at concerts by attaching yellow balloons to their member staffed information tables at concerts for decades. Their purpose at shows is to make themselves available to offer “support, strength, and hope” and provide information for people underneath the tell-tale yellow balloons. Michael C. states that “the best part of being a Wharf Rat is the common bond of the love of the music, sober! Acceptance of everybody is welcome, being able to talk someone down from a ‘bad trip’ before (hopefully) authorities get to them, showing love and compassion to everybody at shows.” Michael C. recalls personally assisting a fan getting removed from the concert on a cart by EMT’s. Michael overheard the patient ask “do I have any other options” and that is when the Wharf Rat, Michael C. stepped in. He politely negotiated with the EMT’s and brought him to a Wharf Rat meeting at set break. In an age before cell phones, Michael C. lost contact, but says “it was nice to be able to help Joe, even just for that one show.”
The Wharf Rats are a very structured organization with contacts all around the country and Asia, making it easy to have a Wharf Rats information table at every Grateful Dead concert. The people working the table are members of the Wharf Rats themselves, and they have set rules and guidelines in order to make sure the table is being hosted by the very best. One of the rules for chairing the table includes having at least one year of sobriety, so that they have enough experience to help newcomers with any questions that they may have about addiction. Michael C. has not yet chaired a table at a concert, but he hopes to one day.
The inception of the Wharf Rats has inspired a variety of different groups that promote and support a drug and alcohol free status in other slippery environments such as, The Phish group, The String Cheese Incident, Disco Biscuits and others. Over the years the Wharf Rats have grown immensely and only continue to grow even with an aging fan base. Michael C stated that his favorite Wharf Rat experience so far was seeing how great the organization has become and how large the group is. Michael stated “When going to Wharf Rat meetings in the early 90’s on the East Coast, there were only 7 to 15 people at the meetings during set breaks.” But this past summer at the Fare Thee Well concert he was able to “look down at hundreds of Wharf Rats staying clean and sober at a Dead show. It gave me goosebumps!” Wharf Rats will continue to grow, inspire and support Deadheads staying sober during Grateful Dead concerts.
[photos taken from the Wharf Rats Facebook group]