GRATEFUL DEAD
The theory that it came from the Egyptian Book Of The Dead has been denied by each member of the band. The original line-up comprised Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan and Bill Kreutzmann. The Grateful Dead have been synonymous with the San Francisco/Acid Rock scene since its inception in 1965 when they took part in Ken Kesey's Acid Tests.
Their music, which started out as straightforward rock, blues and R&B, germinated into a hybrid of styles, but has the distinction of being long, wandering and improvisational. By the time their first album was released in 1967 they were already a huge local cult band. Grateful Dead sounds raw in the light of 90s record production, but it was a brave, early attempt to capture a live concert sound on a studio album. "Cold Rain And Snow" and "The Golden Road To Unlimited Devotion" are short compositions that could have been successful pop singles, had Warner Brothers known how to market the band.
In concert, the band were playing longer and longer sets, sometimes lasting six hours with only as many songs. Their legion of fans, now known as "Deadheads" relished the possibility of a marathon concert. Nevertheless, the sounds produced sometimes took them to breathtaking heights of musical achievement.
The Grateful Dead felt all the emotions of rock, folk, soul, R&B, blues and country music, and they played it always from the heart. The resulting sound was a hybrid that was unique to them. Love or hate, black or white, it is impossible to be indifferent about the Grateful Dead's music. Quite simply, you either get it or you don't.
|
