Description

The Grateful Dead rose out of San Francisco s 60s underground rock scene with an unprecedented sound and image. Its members steeped in rock folk classical and blues; their instrumental prowess; and their refusal to bow to commercial conventions helped originate jam band music. Unapologetic in its advocacy of drug use as a means toward mind expansion the Dead helped catapult psychedelic music. After performing at the Monterey International Pop Festival and Woodstock the group became iconic without ever scoring a hit single. A large devoted fan base a Deadheads a began to follow the band everywhere. The group suffered a tragedy when bandleader Jerry Garcia slipped into a coma in 1986 but returned the next year with a top-selling album and surprise hit single Touch of Grey. By 1993 the Dead was the top-grossing live act in the United States. The band ended when Garcia died in 1995 but the music lives on with a stream of live releases.THIn EGrateful Dead FAQE Tony Sclafani examines the band s impact and influence on rock music and pop culture. This book ventures into unexplored areas and features a host of rare images making it a must-have for both Deadheads and casual fans.