The_Grateful_Dead

The Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead, a name known by many and memorialized by fans as a strange spiritual journey. The Grateful Dead embodied more than just the music they produced, but also the sense of community they conveyed to their audience. They were revered by fans as a unique rock band, blending the genres of bluegrass, rock and blues, with several side projects ranging from jazz to drum orchestras. The shows were parties and the fans were their guests, on some occasions actually getting complimentary breakfast because the show went so long (Dec. 31, 1978/ Winterland). Through the thirty year journey The Dead worked through many phases, starting out as the young rock band predominantly in bars and local festivals and ending as the graceful veterans. As a Dead show collector (200+ shows), I have noticed these phases and the people or actions that warranted them. The death of Ron “Pigpen” Mckernan in 1972 eased them off their edgy bar band image. With Mickey’s hiatus and the addition of the Godchauxs’ they eased into their funky three years 76’-78’ and then acquiring Brent in 79’. The addition of Brent Mydland with his soulful voice and his grateful, dead, jerry, out, years, music, band, fans, new, brent, through, show, pigpen, phil, last, after, year, tour, later, two, rock, played, play, one, mickey, left, died, death, bob, weir, warlocks, three, stage, shows, respect