GoFundMe launched to support legendary Grateful Dead lighting designer Candace Brightman

Photo credit: Susana Millman

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the financial and medical needs of the Grateful Dead’s legendary lighting technician, Candace Brightman. A recruit of Bill Grahame, Brightman initially worked at the Fillmore East before serving as the Dead’s lighting technician for several decades, lighting the stage and one of the music world’s most revered acts.

According to the official GoFundMe page, organized by sound engineer and archivist of fellow San Francisco artist Steve Kimock, Charlie Miller wrote, “I am raising money for the Grateful Dead’s longtime lighting designer, Candace Brightman, who is having financial and health issues. She is becoming weak and can no longer fully care for herself and cannot afford to hire people to help her. I know she will really appreciate the help.”

In a Relix In her 2014 article “The Process of Illumination,” Brightman spoke about her time with the Dead: “At first I thought Grateful Dead audiences would be offended by distracting lighting effects, so I slowly got used to it.” She continued, “Then there was an ‘aha’ moment. (Crew chief) Dan English, who was in charge of audience lighting, wanted to move the lights from the stage to another spot and accidentally opened the shutters as they were heading for full ceiling during ‘Terrapin Station.’ It happened at the perfect moment: at the beginning of the instrumental after the ‘Terrapin’ chorus. The audience seemed to love it. That was a huge revelation for us.”

To support Brightman, visit GoFundMe.com. And read a 2015 interview with the lighting expert here.