Product Description

The Grateful Dead were one of the most fascinating rock bands and cultural phenomena of the 20th century. Although they had few mainstream or Top 40 hits, over the 30 years of their history they acquired a dedicated following of fans, known as Deadheads, mostly through their live performances. Known for their concerts replete with tie-dye-clad fans and an array of drugs, and of course for their music with its long improvizations, inspired by blues, folk and country, the Grateful Dead were more than just a fun-loving rock band; they were akin to a religion or a cult, argues this text. Although the Grateful Dead formally disbanded in 1995 after lead singer Jerry Garcia's untimely death, the band's legacy and its fans live on through a host of writings, tributes, biographies, fan magazines, online discussion groups, and web sites. This book collects the most important and illuminating writings by and about the band, its members, and its fans, aiming to provide a rich account of the Dead and their importance in rock music and popular culture. It includes interviews, profiles, concert and record pieces, and fictional accounts, each introduced and placed in context by the volume editor. This book is intended for "Deadheads" and other rock fans as well as scholars of popular music and culture.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1282956 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Review
"An engaging, thoughtfully selected collection of the best writing about the Grateful Dead's remarkable journey, by some of its savviest critics--Ralph Gleason, Richard Melzer, Robert Christgau, Blair Jackson, Steve Silberman--as well as "insiders" like Robert Hunter, Dennis McNally, David Gans, and Alan Trist. A must-read for anyone interested in the Grateful Dead, 60s counter-culture, or the achievements of American popular music." -- Fredric Lieberman, Professor of Music, U.C. Santa Cruz
"At last a literary road map for the long strange tripster in us all."-Wavy Gravy

About the Author
David G. Dodd and Diana Spaulding are a husband-and-wife editorial team. David is a branch manager with the Marin County Free Library in San Rafael, California. He co-edited (with Robert Weiner) the definitive Grateful Dead bibliography, The Grateful Dead and Deadheads. He also maintains the Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics site on the Internet. Diana is a reference librarian for Fireman's Fund Insurance. They live in Petaluma, California.