Folktales from various cultures depict an afterlife wherein the ghost of a dead person bestows benefits to those who pay off his or her debt or cover burial costs, known as “grateful deads” or “deadheads,” even today. This “grateful dead” or “deadhead” spirit remains very much present today and bestows benefits upon those who satisfy this debt or love the sound of rock and roll.
They were proud of being American, and their song catalog from 30 years of live performances represented America as a place of freedom, opportunity, diversity and communal purpose. Such themes remain relevant even today in an age of uncertainty and unrest, so why not show your love for some of the greatest with the following ways to represent your fandom.
1. Get a Grateful Dead T-shirt
The internet offers all the merch you need to show your devotion to the Dead and show your fandom, from iconic dancing bear t-shirts to Steal Your Face designs – so there’s sure to be something here that speaks volumes about your devotion.
Preshrunk cotton t-shirts are best in general, but also ideal for showing off your love of them! Look for a shirt or Grateful Dead hat featuring Owsley Stanley as well as their trademark lightning bolt skull logo on its front. Most garments have an abstract dancing bear on its back – all different colors are symbolic references to Owsley Stanley and the music respectively.
Another great way to show your Grateful Dead pride is with a t-shirt featuring their iconic skull and lightning bolt motif – they’re most recognizable imagery.
2. Go to a Grateful Dead Concert
They were an iconic rock band who forges their own path musically, shrugging off conventional rock band conventions to craft unique concerts each night with a repertoire of 25-30 songs that they improvised upon in real time during live shows – thus guaranteeing each show was an entirely unique experience!
Experiencing The Dead’s music live is undoubtedly one of the best ways. From early 60s psychedelic jamming sessions to Keith Godchaux-era jazzier arrangements in the 1970s, there’s sure to be something here for every taste and musical preference.
Though not every show was flawless (they weren’t), The Dead were known for getting audiences up on their feet and dancing. They excelled at improvising live, making every performance unique. To this day, the remaining band members rock hard.
One of the best-known examples is “Scarlet > Fire”, an unforgettable live performance by the band that began with playful banter but ended with a powerful rocker. The transition was flawless and mesmerizing; it perfectly illustrated their distinctive creative energy that made them such an irreplaceable group.
3. Attend a Grateful Dead Festival
Grateful Dead fans are legendary for their dedication and enthusiasm when attending concerts or festivals featuring them, always having a good time while showing their appreciation of their music. Their unique improvisational style has inspired other bands to incorporate similar elements into their performances while their marketing and merchandising strategy has made them one of the most profitable rock bands ever.
The band was established in San Francisco during the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Composed of Jerry Garcia (lead guitar and vocals), Bob Weir (rhythm guitar, vocals), Bill Kreutzmann (drums), and Phil Lesh (bass guitar), this band became renowned for their eclectic musical styles and eclectic influences.
As members of the band (https://www.discogs.com/artist/246650-The-Grateful-Dead) continued performing after lead singer Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995, various combinations of musicians continued performing together with them. Since then, some former members have also pursued solo musical careers; Weir has played as Bob Weir & RatDog while Lesh as Phil Lesh & Friends.
As part of their legacy, the band’s remaining members continue to host concerts and festivals dedicated to them, such as the annual Skull & Roses Festival held at Ventura County Fairgrounds with over 30 bands performing genres including rock, blues, jazz and improvisational music.
Grateful Dead fans understand the best way to experience their band is at an enjoyable live show. Since the early 1960s, they have been touring around with shows featuring songs from their extensive catalog played live at each performance – giving the band an intimate feeling during each concert performance.
The Dead’s shows were always highly improvised, often exploring unexpected musical territories they hadn’t explored before. Their spontaneity is one reason so many fans love them; it also inspired artists such as Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth who credits The Dead as his source of inspiration when creating his feedback jams.
While The Dead’s studio albums are great, their live recordings truly shine. One such show from Cornell University’s Barton Hall attests to that fact – an exquisite document from an uncertain period in their evolution when they were trying to strike an effective balance between acid dance energy and bar band aggression of their jams with Garcia’s haunting but alluring lysergic romanticism of Garcia’s songs.
Shows like these often feature stunning renditions of “Scarlet Begonias,” turned into “Fire on the Mountain.” For you to experience what everyone’s talking about, watch this live recording of this magnificent show!