Originally Published 5 months ago — by Rolling Stone
The article highlights key moments from the last 30 years of the Grateful Dead, including post-Garcia band formations, major tours, tribute projects, and cultural impacts, showcasing the band's enduring legacy and influence in music and popular culture.
Jerry Day in San Francisco celebrates the legacy of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead with a free event in McLaren Park, featuring music, community, and Deadhead culture, while facing funding challenges and relying on donations and merchandise sales.
The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum has unveiled an exhibit titled "Jerry Garcia — A Bluegrass Journey," highlighting the Grateful Dead guitarist's deep connection to bluegrass music. The exhibit, which includes Garcia's instruments and artifacts, explores his 1964 road trip to become Bill Monroe's banjo player and his influence on the "jamgrass" scene.
David Lemieux, the archivist for the Grateful Dead, discusses the band's live recordings and the challenges of maintaining their extensive music archive. He highlights the energy and intensity of the band's performances in the 1980s, despite personal struggles, and recommends starting points for those new to the live Dead experience. Lemieux expresses his dedication to preserving the band's legacy and emphasizes the unique approach taken for each archival release.
On his 27th birthday in 1969, Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia played pedal steel guitar with the New Riders Of The Purple Sage at the Bear's Lair in Berkeley, California. The performance was recorded by Grateful Dead sound engineer Owsley "Bear" Stanley and later released as part of the Bear's Sonic Journals archival series. Garcia's pedal steel can be heard on various songs, including covers of Buck Owens, The Rolling Stones, and Hank Williams. This rare birthday performance showcases Garcia's intimate involvement with the New Riders and his exploration of pedal steel guitar.