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.

About the Author
TONY SCLAFANI is a journalist and a regular contributor to NBC online (formerly MSNBC/Today Show.com). He has also written for the Washington Post and its free daily, Express, as well as Relix, the Village Voice, Harp (now Blurt), the Washington City Paper, Hittin' the Note, Pop Matters, Record Collector, and DC Magazine. He is a longtime fan of '60s psychedelic music and the Grateful Dead.


Book Information
ISBN 9781617130861
Author Tony Sclafani
Format Paperback
Page Count 376
Imprint Backbeat Books
Publisher Hal Leonard Corporation
Weight(grams) 603g
Dimensions(mm) 228mm * 154mm * 22mm