Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 2, 1991                   TAG: 9103020239
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Joel Turner
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

GRATEFUL DEAD SHOW UP IN AIR

City officials are still talking with a promoter who wants to book the band in Victory Stadium for a show, said George Snead, director of administration and public safety. But no decision has been made on leasing the stadium, he said.

The Grateful Dead was in Roanoke for two nights of concerts at the Civic Center in July 1987. The concerts drew 21,000 fans and generated $1 million for the city's economy, but there were complaints by city residents about the fans' behavior.

Snead said earlier that city officials were concerned about problems that were created by the 1987 concerts. He said the city was "considering all of the issues and facts, including being sensitive to the First Amendment rights of promoters to use the stadium."

More than 60 people were arrested on felony drug charges. An estimated 2,000 people camped in the civic center's parking lot during the band's visit. Most were peaceful, but officials said there were complaints about trash and fan behavior.

Peddlers sold everything from food and trinkets to drugs in the civic center parking lot. There were reports that some people came down with dysentery. One person was charged with indecent exposure after running naked through the parking lot.