Grateful Dead’s Legendary Duck Party: How a ‘Hell in a Bucket’ Shoot Went Off the Rails

The making of the Grateful Dead’s "Hell in a Bucket" music video was just as wild as you'd hope from a band famous for their cosmic chaos. Len Dell’Amico, the Dead’s go-to film and video director, spills all in his new memoir, "Friend of the Devil: My Wild Ride with Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead." His behind-the-scenes stories stretch from 1980 until Jerry Garcia's death in 1995, painting a picture of love, happy chaos, and—let’s be honest—a mountain of pot.

But the real star of the 1987 video wasn’t a Deadhead or even a human. It was a duck, decked out in leather, who managed to get absolutely trashed on champagne during filming. Dell’Amico, still slightly in disbelief, claims Bob Weir—the band’s founding member—was likely responsible for the duck’s foray into the bubbly. Apparently, Weir had just come back from vacation, looking sharp as ever, and by all accounts, in high spirits. So high, in fact, that he decided the set needed a real party—duck included.

Dell’Amico says he tried to keep things professional by ordering fake bottles for the bar scene, but someone (looking at you, Bob) snuck in the real stuff. Suddenly, the duck started sipping from Weir’s glass, and before long, it was slumped over, looking less like a trained animal and more like the life of the afterparty. Dell’Amico admits he originally thought the bird was just tired, but soon realized it was totally hammered. The result? Hilarious footage, and one heck of a story for the memoir.

Adding to the spectacle, Weir also insisted on a Bengal tiger for the video—a nine-foot, 400-pound beast that, thankfully, didn’t join in on the drinks. It’s almost like he was aiming for a rock ‘n’ roll Noah’s ark, but with more leather and less flood.

The next day, Dell’Amico fielded a furious call from the duck's trainer, who was none too happy about his feathered friend’s champagne binge. Turns out, the duck had a taste for white grapes, making champagne irresistible. After some frantic apologies, Dell’Amico learned the duck would henceforth be trained on different treats. The good news? The duck was fine, but apparently developed a serious aversion to white grapes. (Who among us hasn’t sworn off something after one wild night?)

The duck’s performance—sampling from Bob's glass and eventually passing out—became a subtle but hilarious highlight of the video, according to Dell’Amico. As for Bob Weir, he’s yet to comment, but the legend lives on.

Beyond the animal antics, Dell’Amico’s stories about Jerry Garcia reveal a surprisingly humble and down-to-earth rock legend. Garcia, he recalls, lived modestly and preferred talking philosophy over fame. Even with all his flaws, Garcia’s warmth and wit made him beloved by everyone around him. He’d rather pay for his own meal than accept a freebie, and he always steered conversations away from his own greatness.

Garcia died in his sleep at age 53 from a heart attack, not an overdose as some rumors suggested. Dell’Amico is adamant: Garcia lived more in his 53 years than most could hope for, and his approach to life—and death—was marked by gratitude rather than fear. "Animals aren’t afraid of dying, so why should we be?" Garcia once mused, ever the philosopher even at the end.

So, if you ever find yourself at a bar with a duck and a rock star, maybe keep an eye on the drinks. And if the duck starts demanding white grapes, you’ll know you’re in good company.