Buried Here – Ron (Pigpen) McKernan, Founding Member Of The Grateful Dead

Buried here:

Ron (Pigpen) McKernan

Pigpen was a founding member of The Grateful Dead. His contributions to the band included vocals, Hammond organ, harmonica, percussion, and occasionally guitar. He played with them from 1965 to 1972.

The other members of the Grateful Dead liked to indulge in psychedelic drugs, but Ron preferred to drink alcohol. By 1971, his health had been affected by alcoholism and liver damage and doctors advised him to stop touring, and he did, for four months and then resumed touring with them in December 1971. Due to advancing poor health, he was forced to retire from touring altogether in June 1972.

His last performance as a member of The Grateful Dead was on June 17, 1972 at the Hollywood Bowl.

Ron was found dead of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage at his home in Corte Madera California on March 8, 1973, at the age of 27.

Grateful Dead Discography

1967 – The Grateful Dead
1968 – Anthem of the Sun
1969 – Aoxomoxoa
1969 – Live/Dead
1970 – Workingman’s Dead
1970 – American Beauty
1971 – Grateful Dead
1972 – Europe ’72
1973 – History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One
1973 – Wake Of The Flood
1974 – From the Mars Hotel
1975 – Blues for Allah
1976 – Steal Your Face
1977 – Terrapin Station
1978 – Shakedown Street
1980 – Go to Heaven
1981 – Reckoning
1981 – Dead Set
1987 – In the Dark
1989 – Dylan & the Dead
1989 – Built To Last

Alta Mesa Cemetery
695 Arastradero Road
Palo Alto CA 94306
650 493-1041