You know, Grateful, anytime you want to pen an original TIMH would be just fine with us.
From WeakSideLB's March 2016 post:
"On September 8, 1945 Ronald McKernan was born. Nicknamed 'Pigpen' for his funky way of life and sanitation, he was a founding member of the Grateful Dead. He befriended Jerry Garcia and played with him in a few bands, before suggesting they start their own band. He played harmonica and organ, and was the original frontman for the Grateful Dead. Over time, he would play a gradually declining role in the band.
Pigpen was heavily influenced by the blues, and was the one who brought most of the old blues songs into the Dead's repertoire. His father was a blues DJ who went by the name 'Cool Breeze.' He had a unique look, often looking like a Hell's Angel biker. As Garcia and Phil Lesh became more involved in psychedelic drugs and music, Pigpen struggled to keep up with the changing music. Due to this, the band hired a second keyboardist, Tom Constanten, who was friends with Pigpen.
Pigpen did not share his friends' newfound joy of psychedelics, but very much enjoyed whiskey, wine, Thunderbird, and Southern Comfort. In 1968 Garcia and Lesh felt Bob Weir and Pigpen were holding them back musically, and told their manager at the time to fire them. Weir promised to improve and stayed, Pigpen was upset, but after 3 days also vowed to improve, and stayed with the band. He started taking music lessons. However at this point, Tom Constanten was a full member of the band and did most keyboard work, with Pigen being relegated to percussion instruments and some vocals.
In the early '70s Tom Constanten left the band, and Pigpen was then sole keyboardist for some time, until declining health forced the band to hire Keith Godchaux to play keyboards. Diagnosed with congenital cirrhosis, Pigpen was advised by doctors to stop touring as his health deteriorated. He went on to tour Europe in 1972 with the band, the well-known "Europe '72 tour." He played his last show as a member of the Grateful Dead in June 1972. On March 8, 1973, aged 27 he was found dead of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage at his home. Prior to his death, he broke off all contact with his former band members, saying he didn't want his friends to see him die.
His death hit his fellow band members hard. Garcia spoke at his funeral, saying "We can go on calling ourselves the Grateful Dead, but we all knew this was the end of the original Grateful Dead." Many of the songs Pigpen used to sing continued on with the band, with Garcia or Weir handling lead vocals.
Pigpen was good friends with Janis Joplin, and a few times she joined the Dead to duet with him on "Turn On Your Lovelight." Pigpen, Janis, Jimi, and Jim Morrison, all died at age 27."
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/forum/anything-else/2016/03/68611/fillmor...
