Episoder
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On the final day of Dead & Company’s 30-show residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas, I was honored to sit down with Huntington natives and fellow Deadheads, brothers John and Tommy Peer and Tommy’s son Thomas Peer. We spent our time together reminiscing about the multigenerational Peer + Staib family bond, the Huntington shenanigans that we shared together and a few war stories of old.
Tommy & John brought us back to the glory days of when the Peers and Staibs were roommates post-college at their legendary animal house on Carly Avenue.
Tommy shares his Villanova connection with Tom Staib, and takes us back to the late 80’s catching shows at the Philly Spectrum, among other famously epic venues.
Thomas, the youngest music fan in the room, gives us his impression of The Sphere and Dead & Company’s performance the night before, it being the anniversary of Jerry’s passing, and Tom Staib’s 60th birthday. And yes, Tom DID gift us with a Not Fade Away the night before. Thanks Tom!!
We also got out of the box and talked of music outside the world of the Grateful Dead, when John reminded me how ridiculously talented Green Day is and how I should give them a listen. Thanks John, I sure did!
Finally, I was asked what the initials “IFE” mean and why those three letters carry so much meaning to me. Thank you for asking, I loved sharing the backstory.
Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE
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In my second trip of the summer to catch Dead & Company at Sphere in Las Vegas, I was honored to host my friend of 40+ years, fellow Canterbury “Saint” (term used loosely), avid Deadhead, and all around amazing human being, my cohort Paco “Pac” Keville. By the grace of God, Pac has recovered from a near-death car accident only a few short weeks prior and was firing on all cylinders when we sat down together at The Venetian. He brings us back to his early days growing up in San Francisco, to his decision to trade the familiar comforts of the Bay Area for boarding school in northwestern Connecticut at age 14, to when he got on the bus in ‘85 and never looked back. Among several classic tales, Pac shares his encounter with NBA legend and lifelong Deadhead, Bill Walton, en route to the Dead’s legendarily awful show at Boreal Ridge.
We recorded our conversation on a particularly sentimental day, namely August 9th, it being the 29th anniversary of the day we lost Jerry Garcia and the day my brother, Tom Staib, would have turned 60 years old. We covered a lot of ground and we looked forward to what Dead & Company may have in store for us on this scorching Friday in Sin City. Maybe Tom would even grace us with a Not Fade Away? Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE
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Mangler du episoder?
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To kick off Season 3, I’m joined by lifelong friend and fellow Deadhead, Tommy Mills, with a special cameo by his better half, Ms Karin Mills. Karin proved to be an integral part of my conversation with her husband in that she served as “fact checker” for the tales being told, and I’m proud to report that Karin confirmed that all but one of the reported antics were, in fact, accurate. Well done Karin!
Similar to two of my previous guests, Doug “Pops” Smith and Rob “Monkey Man” Diestel, Tommy and I share a brotherly bond having spent our summers on the shores of Lake Champlain at a nearly magical “club” on the New York side of the lake known as Corlear Bay Club in the sleepy rural town of Keeseville.
Tommy shares his earliest memories at CBC and he also reveals how he opted to sacrifice a few trips to the lake and instead “got on the bus” in the early 80’s and traveled the country following the Dead. He recalls how he and his band of Deadhead brothers supported themselves on tour by selling PB&J sandwiches, pineapple kabobs, and ice cold ½ oranges from the back of their VW Golf.
He surprises us by admitting that his first love of Grateful Dead music came with the release of the album, Shakedown Street, but it wasn’t the heavy hitters like Fire on the Mountain or the album’s namesake that hooked him. It was….FRANCE. Go figure. He then widens our musical lens by introducing us to the likes of Donny Hathaway, and George Michael. Yup, that George Michael.
Finally, Tommy and Karin give us a peek behind the curtain as to what their three beautiful young adult “children” - Delilah, August and Avery - are doing in their 20’s, how the empty nest is treating them both and what love music they seek out today.
Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE #lovemyfriendofthedevil #loveourfactchecker
https://music.apple.com/us/album/truckin/663694969?i=663694987
https://music.apple.com/us/album/france/663672224?i=663672834
https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-ghetto-live/537033638?i=537033644
https://music.apple.com/us/album/friend-of-the-devil/663694969?i=663695014
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BIG thanks to all my guests on Season 2, it was an honor and a privilege to have hosted each of you! I loved my field trips to record the remote interviews in Charlotte, Hilton Head, and Las Vegas as well. Special shoutout to the Citizens of Sound team behind the scenes that help me create each episode of Grateful Dad & Friends - Will & Charis Retherford, and Leslie Dinsmore. You all ROCK! Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE
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In the closing episode of Season 2, I have the privilege of hosting fellow Huntington native and fellow Deadhead (and the only friend I know that calls me “Enzo”:), Mr. John Buckholtz, who I call Johnny B. Together we cover our glory days in the early ‘80’s at the The Bay Club on the shores of Huntington Bay and we share how we’ve stay connected over the years through our mutual love of the Grateful Dead, and more recently through Johnny B introducing me to the music of Pearl Jam. I’m even a new member of Pearl Jam’s fan organization, Ten Club. Yes, I’m now a member of a Pearl Jam fan club, and yes, that’s pretty out-of-the-box for me! Thanks Johnny B, for opening my eyes and ears to a new genre, I’m starting to expand my musical horizons! Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE
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On Day 2 of my recent pilgrimage to Las Vegas for the Dead & Company shows at Sphere, I sit down with the person that I have proudly seen the most concerts with over the years, fellow Canterbury School alum and lifelong Deadhead, Mr. Andrew “Garv” Hammer. Garv and I take a walk down memory lane revisiting life at boarding school, exploring the bonds that the class of ‘86 (my crew) and the class of ‘85 (his crew, affectionately known as The Bakers Dozen) had back in the day. Having the memory of an elephant, Garv brings us back to the highlights of his 100+ concerts with incredible clarity and amazing detail. We wrap up by diving into the brotherhood known as the Gentlemens Quarterly, aka the “GQ”, the unique institution that continues to stand the test of time after 23 years and over 90 consecutive outings. Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE
Fire on the Mountain https://music.apple.com/us/album/fire-on-the-mountain-live/291317313?i=291317362
Gloria
https://music.apple.com/us/album/gloria-live-at-richmond-coliseum-richmond-va-november/307796629?i=307796714
Rain https://youtu.be/GQIYJUYId3A?si=gI49k-DDJoQ1GtFL
Box of Rain
https://youtu.be/FAL5iBOD3q0?si=oOSCdWE68aF6wr5A
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Somehow, it took 8 months and 23 episodes of Grateful Dad & Friends before I was succesful in securing an interview with a Canterbury prep school friend. In Season 2, Episode 10, I have the pleasure of sitting down with the first friend I met at Canterbury back in the fall of 1983, lifelong Deadhead and all around amazing human being, Mr Geoff “Shafe” Shaffer. Me having entered Canterbury in my sophomore year and Shafe having entered a year earlier in his freshman year, he was not the newbie that I was, and he quickly connected me to a group of friends from across the country that would soon become, and remain to this day, some of my closest wingmen & women. Shafe and I recall the early days of our adventures at boarding school, when we both got on the bus, and where we’re at today in our now 40+ year friendship. The interview takes place in the heart of Las Vegas during Dead & Company’s run at Sphere where we’re about to reunite with a dozen fellow Canterbury “Saints” for our collective first experience inside this new mindblowing visual dome. Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE
Bertha & Jack Straw - https://youtu.be/1IsenzJJBxs?si=tIOh5oOKhgyXPOlz
Tangled Up In Blue - https://youtu.be/LpPegTcd3l4?si=rOF104nbgyDY17jJ
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The man needs no introduction, but for the few that don’t have the pleasure of knowing him, I’ll go out on a limb and introduce my friend. On Season 2, Episode 9, I proudly host Mr. Christopher John Campion, aka Campy, aka Old Sea Dog, aka Lights, aka America’s Guest, aka Marketing Genius, aka Jermaine Jackson. For any Huntington native, the Campion name is widely known and for good reason. Chris takes us back to his early days when he discovered his love music and his passion to perform. He recalls the evolution of his earliest band, Column 13 followed by The Knockout Drops (spolier alert…. the Drops will be reuniting and performing on the East End of Long Island later this summer, keep an eye and ear out for details). In addition to being an epic frontman, Campy is also a published author having penned Escape From Bellevue, and he’ll soon be hosting a new live show slated for Fall 2024, Gen-X-istentialism. After all these years, Old Sea Dog is busier than ever! Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE
https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Bellevue-Memoir-Recovery-Redemption/dp/1592405304
https://christopherjohncampion.bandcamp.com/track/passersby
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After a little nudging to get her past her hesitation to be on a guest on my admitedly music-centric podcast, I was honored to host none other than my mother, Ms. Edie Staib. Mom shares her story of how Al Staib swept her off her feet back in 1960 despite her being engaged to her high school sweetheart at the time, and how they were married less than a year, and went on to live a love story lasting over 55 years. She explains how she felt about her three children becoming Deadheads in the 80’s and how all she wanted was for us to “be safe”. Mom describes her life after losing the love of her life, and how faith, family and friends are what keeps her keeps her going. Finally, stick around until the end to find out why her new nickname is Speedy Edie! Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE
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I have the pleasure of introducing Mr. Mike “Comfort” O’Rourke to the world on Episode 7 of GD&F. Back in the early 1980’s, I was “Kathy and Tom’s little brother, Anzo” to Comfort but over the years he and I began to forge our own connection through our mutual friends, a shared love of music, and the occasional paddle tennis game. Comfort takes us back to the early days when Southern Rock was king in the 70’s, followed by the likes of Van Halen in the 80’s, and the indie tribal sound of The Bogmen in the 90’s, the indie rock band formed by none other than his two cousins, Huntington natives Brendan & Billy Ryan. Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE
Close To You
https://music.apple.com/us/album/they-long-to-be-close-to-you/1423766994?i=1423767002
One Of These Nights https://music.apple.com/us/album/one-of-these-nights/635829435?i=635829531
Jamie's Cryin' https://music.apple.com/us/album/jamies-cryin/976820530?i=976820541
Hey Jude
https://music.apple.com/us/album/hey-jude/265615609?i=265615705
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Hailing from Greensboro, North Carolina, these two gentlemen have become my newest wingmen, and although we’ve yet to meet in person we’re quickly bonding through our comradary and our shared love of music. Listen as Dave Dulaney takes us back to his first show in ‘74 and shares his recollections of the Grateful Dead’s legendary Wall of Sound, and describes his “BD” Before Dead and “AD” After Dead perspective on life. His wingman, Rusty Phipps, is the first taper that I’ve had the privilege of hosting on GD&F and was the source of countless pristine master recordings over the years. He shares how a health scare reignited his passion for taping and explains what it was like to be in the taper section of the shows, revealing taper section “etiquette”. Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #GBL #IFE
Playing in the Band ‘74 https://music.apple.com/us/album/playing-in-the-band-2-live-at-roosevelt-stadium/307798975?i=307799478
Jessica
https://music.apple.com/us/album/jessica-live/158040643?i=158041452
Black Mountain Rag>Poncho & Lefty
https://archive.org/details/billystrings2019-11-01.Gefel_aeta4MinX
News of Jerry Garcia’s Death
https://youtu.be/8WRo3j5XS-A?si=WWQ1hYEiJJ6lZOc9
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I was fortunate to share some very special quality time with my gracious and beautiful niece, Ms Carly Marie Staib. Carly recalls her recollections of “Loud Music Fridays” with the family, her first concert seeing “Uncle Billy” Joel, a Taylor Swift concert with Dad, and later Dead & Company. She explains how she faced and CONQUERED an unexpected and debilitating auto-immune condition called Myasthenia Gravis “MG” that struck when she was in her teens. Thanks to modern medicine and the grace of God, and with MG behind her, Carly then dove in to a career with L’Oréal where she has risen up the ranks and continues to thrive. We give a nod of love and affection to her dad and my brother, Tom Staib, as we recount family night at the Stones in Austin, Texas when Tom joined us…in spirit. Finally, Carly shares how she navigates her long-distance relationship with her significant other and current Duke University School of Law student, Mr Ryan Ciemny. Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE
Summer, Highland Falls https://music.apple.com/us/album/summer-highland-falls/259213439?i=259213506
Our Song
https://music.apple.com/us/album/our-song/1440913923?i=275621661
Bertha https://music.apple.com/us/album/bertha-live-at-the-pavilion-at-star-lake-burgettstown/1722014933?i=1722014946
Sympathy For The Devil https://music.apple.com/us/album/sympathy-for-the-devil-live/1666004641?i=1666008391
Always Gonna Be https://music.apple.com/us/album/always-gonna-be/1695554526?i=1695554769
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Join my BFAM Chris Kline aka Dudley and I as we share war stories from back in the day, including “Black Wednesday” in 1983, summers “dragging hose” the late ‘80’s, backpacking through Europe in late 1990, discovering “The Meadows” in the early ‘90’s, and recapping a few of the countless laughs we had along the way. Dudley reveals that in addition to his love of The Rolling Stones, he’s also a closet Richard Marx and The Outfield fan. We dive into the darkness of 2020 and share how we’re coping with the untimely losses of each of our brothers, Greg and Tom. We explore the tragic irony of those losses and explain how Greg and Tom are sending their messages of Get Busy Living and It’s Fucking Energy loud and clear. Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #GBL #IFE
https://music.apple.com/us/album/cant-you-hear-me-knocking/1440812661?i=1440812679
https://music.apple.com/us/album/purple-rain-live-in-syracuse-march-30-1985-2022-remaster/1616033743?i=1616034641
https://music.apple.com/us/album/for-you/1444031809?i=1444031828
https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-shack-edit-remastered/1464527564?i=1464527641
https://music.apple.com/us/album/beat-you-there/1602140839?i=1602140840
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Fellow avid golfer and devoted music lover, Bobby Rogan, joins me in the studio and recalls how the music of the 70’s shaped his musical tastes before he evolved into a Deadhead. We touch on the “glory days” on the golf course and we highlight how golf and music connects us through thick and thin. Bobby explains how he is facing a recent and unexpected health challenge that is making him truly appreciate each and every day. In other words, he’s Getting Busy Living. Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #GBL #IFE
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There are few Huntington families that are as musically gifted and universally loved as the Campion family. In Episode 2, I’m privileged to sit down with Kevin Campion, lifelong Deadhead and current lead singer for Huntington’s own Soghat.
Kevin takes us back to the late 70’s when he got on the bus, and explains how today he pays tribute to his late brother, “Hollywood Bob”, by sitting in as the front man in Bob’s Grateful Dead cover band, Skeleton Crew, in Southern California. We paint the picture of just how much a select few Jerry ballads mean to each of us, including Black Peter, Wharf Rat, Stella Blue and Attics of My Life.
We share how each of us treasure the memories of our beloved brothers and recall how each of them paved the way for us by breaking in our parents ;) The episode is the first of two conversations that will include the Campion brothers. Next up, younger brothers Chris and Billy of the Knockout Drops and Bogmen, respectively. Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFEhttps://music.apple.com/us/album/dicks-picks-vol-10-12-29-77-winterland-arena-san-francisco-ca/307801079
https://youtu.be/5Ms0COQQbE4?si=KOy8MiwIvUMBceeU
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Season 2, Episode 1 of Grateful Dad & Friends kicks off with a conversation with a gentleman who is a true treasure to me, and who reminds me of my own father, His name is Doug Smith.
To those who know him best, his real nickname is Pops, but for the sake of adding context to the conversation, I consider him as wise as they come and therefore will also refer to him as a gentle, yet Wise Old Owl.
He was kind enough to host me in the comfort of his home in Charlotte, North Carolina and shared the tales of his service in the United States Navy, as well as his five tours in Vietnam, his courtship of his wife of 58 years, Joan Fleming Smith, and what he considers the three of the most important values in life. And although this Wise Old Owl and I do not exactly share the same tastes in music, he enlightens me with music that I never, ever gave much thought to…namely, Broadway Musicals, and OPERA! As we approach the end of the episode, we are joined by a very special guest, namely his better half. Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE -
Before I recap Season 1 of Grateful Dad & Friends and provide a brief glimpse of Season 2, it may prudent to share why I launched this podcast in the first place.
The purpose of GD&F is to be a gift. A gift to my guests, and a gift to their friends and family. Let me explain….
A few years back, on my way to Lake Champlain, I was driving with my parents and I had an opportunity to “interview” my father about his 35-year experience in the family business. I recorded that conversation on Voice Memos on my iPhone and the audio quality is mediocre at best but the content was gold, and having Dad’s voice will forever be timeless, and priceless. I wish I had recorded more of those conversations.
And when I lost my brother, Tom, among a whole host of emotions that one would have after losing their hero, I realized that the few voicemails that Tom left for me in the weeks leading up to his untimely death, would be some of the few treasures that I have hearing Tom’s voice. I wish I had more of those treasures.
My hope is that the conversations that take place on GD&F will be a gift to those who know and love each of the guests that I am lucky to call my family and my friends
Season 1 guests ranging from neighbors, including my inaugural guest Mr. Fred Weiss… and former clients, such as Cary Crane… both of which went to the legendary ’72 shows at the Academy of Music, the ’73 Summer Jam at Watkins Glen and ’77 at Englishtown Raceway.
David McQuaid, one of my newer friends, who tours the country catching shows with his family in his retro-decked out school bus, appropriately named Sugaree, recapped some of his tales from the golden road and an encounter with NBA legend and lifelong Deadhead, Bill Walton.
We spoke with Cornell Bouse, an attorney and property owner by day and lead singer by night. We learned about his thoughts and views about Elvis, and among other topics, his plans and evolving wake-list for his own funeral.
We sat down with Ted Bahr, collector of some of the country’s most vintage psychedelic posters proudly displayed at The Bahr Gallery.
I introduced my friend, Rob Diestel, aka Monkey Man and we learned about his 20-year passion project, a musical that he wrote called Growin’ Up Asbury Park, weaving in characters from Bruce Springsteen’s most influential ballads.
We spent time w/ my sister, Kathy Staib, and our mutual friend Rainer “TITAN” Jenss and heard about how and when they got on the bus and how Rainer is facing a life-threatening disease with the ultimate in courage, in class, and in grace.
We talked music and a little shop talk with my nephew/business partner, TJ Staib and my COO, John Gulino and shared what we think we do well and what we could probably do better at our five-generation, family label printing business.
The Ryan brothers, founding members of indie rock band The Bogmen, spent some time with me and painted the picture of the evolution of their music and the related cultlike following.
We went back to the late 60’s and early 70’s with Richard Sutton, who shared his experiences living in communes and who was in the heart of the scene leading up to the infamous fundraiser concert that the Grateful Dead performed to save the Springfield Creamery from extinction.
Rob Barraco, keyboardist for Dark Star Orchestra, was kind enough to take the time to share his journey from wedding band performer to joining Jeff Matson in the Zen Tricksters, and then The Other Ones, The Dead, Phil & Friends, and ultimately Dark Star Orchestra. We learned what life is like on the DSO tour bus and what’s on tap in 2024 for the band.
Last but certainly not least, the four most special women in my life – my wife Margaret aka Margs, and our daughters Hannah, Hope
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Well, it doesn’t get much better than wrapping up the first season of Grateful Dad & Friends by sitting down with the four most special women in my life - Margs, Hannah, Hope and Lilly. The ladies share their earliest recollections of music, and my daughters reveal some secrets about how they really felt about Grateful Dead music way back when. We challenge Margs by testing her uncanny ability to name-that-tune and the girls then put me to the test in their own way by having me name-that-year. They each share the songs that have come to be “our songs” over the years, and we close by sharing the Grateful Dead song that became our lullaby. Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE
Links: Send Me On My Way https://music.apple.com/us/album/send-me-on-my-way/1440931328?i=1440931590
The Weight https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-weight/1440841468?i=1440841469
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life https://music.apple.com/us/album/you-are-the-sunshine-of-my-life/1440808973?i=1440808975
How Sweet It Is https://music.apple.com/us/album/how-sweet-it-is-live/169629332?i=169631442
We Bid You Goodnight
https://music.apple.com/us/album/we-bid-you-goodnight-live/307793560?i=307793783 (edited)
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In Episode 11 of GD&F, lifelong music-lover Richard Sutton gives us a firsthand peek into the buildup to the Grateful Dead’s August 27th 1972 benefit concert in Veneta, Oregon to help save the nearly bankrupt Springfield Creamery. In what would turn out to be one of the Dead’s most legendary performances, Richard was behind-the-scenes working with the Kesey family & friends in the sweltering 100+ degree heat helping prepare the venue for the band and estimated 20,000 people who would ultimately be in attendance. Richard describes his life on the road leading up to the epic ‘72 concert in fascinating detail. He paints an amazingly colorful picture of his experiences living on communes and shares his incredible tale of when he stumbled onto a Grateful Dead rehearsal. He recalls his crosscountry journey to the East Coast where he fell in love at first sight, married a beautiful model and never looked back. Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE
https://music.apple.com/us/album/intro-live-at-veneta-or-8-27-72/680077190?i=680077195
https://music.apple.com/us/album/bertha-live-at-veneta-or-8-27-72/680077190?i=680077204
https://music.apple.com/us/album/ive-been-all-around-this-world-live-at-the-fillmore/1676232099?i=1676232357
https://music.apple.com/us/album/workin-for-a-livin/723912623?i=723912769
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What a treat to have Long Island native and longtime keyboardist for Dark Star Orchestra, Rob Barraco, join me on Episode 10 of Grateful Dad & Friends! We cover when Rob “got on the bus” in ‘72, through his musical collaborations with among others, Freddie Jackson, The Zen Tricksters, Phil & Friends, The Other Ones, The Dead, and Dark Star Orchestra. He shares his insights into his long strange trip and his current life on the road. Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE
Truckin' https://music.apple.com/us/album/truckin-live-at-academy-of-music-new-york-ny-march-25-1972/307799408?i=307799459
Where You Want To Be - https://music.apple.com/us/album/where-you-want-to-be/182113015?i=182113555
Hard To Handle https://relisten.net/dark-star-orchestra/2021/11/27?source=855001
- Se mer
