HOW THE GRATEFUL DEAD’S COOL NEVER DIED

[ghostsinthemachine]

The magazine editor who called that afternoon long ago had a simple, blunt question for me: “How do you feel about the Grateful Dead?”

Having bought Workingman’s Dead when I was 13, I didn’t have to think too long about it. “Well, I love that band, and I grew up with those records,” I replied. “Uh, why do you ask?”

Well,” he said, “they have a new record coming out.” And in a phrase I recall as clearly as he first time I heard “Casey Jones” on an FM clock-radio, he added, “And I’m trying to find someone to write about it who doesn’t hate the mere fact that they exist.”

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/05/05/how-the-grateful-dead-s-cool-never-died.html

[cyberswede]

1. I can't believe it's 50 years.

...though I've been a fan since the 1980s myself (having not been born yet 50 years ago).

[ghostsinthemachine]

2. What a long strange trip it still is...

Been my life since new years 68. I'll be seeing them in Santa Clara and never miss em hardly ever, even the post Jerry period. 20 years since jerry passed too.

[cyberswede]

3. Just got an email with this...

COUCHTOUR: WATCH FARE THEE WELL LIVE

Watch the Live HD Digital stream on any device

http://dead50.mlb.com/concert/dead50/?utm_source=20150501_facebook&utm_medium=payPerView&utm_campaign=preSale

[Ahpook]

12. Lucky you

Enjoy every second

Fresh as ever

[ghostsinthemachine]

4. happy birthday, Grateful Dead

http://www.sfgate.com/engineeringprototypegallerytestpage12345/slideshow/50-years-ago-the-Grateful-Dead-played-their-first-108727.php

[Enthusiast]

5. I have a working theory.

There are millions of unrealized Grateful Dead fans out there. With the proper stimulus they will become happy Dead listeners.

https://archive.org/details/gd77-05-25.sbd.shannon.13399.sbefail.shnf

[ghostsinthemachine]

8. once people get past the "drug band" stigma

They realize just how important the Dead were. I have a number of music loving friends, none of them into the band until recently, and now all they want is more. Around my town we have an as load of GD cover bands. Like 20 and they pack the place. One of them is a blues guy but plays a ton of dead songs, in his style, and it is funny seeing old straight people, who probably never saw them, dancing singing and knowing all the words.
Finally, they are getting some respect outside of the dead head community.

What really cracks me up is how ingrained they are in the American consciousness.420? Dead tour. Craft beer and Sierra Nevada? Jerry says his favorite beer is Sierra porter in Rolling Stone and the next day the lot switches from PBR to Sierra. The Game Of Thrones guy tells America he has ben sticking dead quotes into the series. Then there's Bil Walton.
Mostly though it is the musical legacy. So many artists say "I saw the dead and I knew that was what I wanted to do. Not just the obvious guys like Phish, String Chess, widespread panic, but musicians from every genre, rappers, jazz guys etc who were their biggest influences.

[Enthusiast]

9. There's Cherry Garcia.

[hifiguy]

6. "They've been going in and out of style

but they're guaranteed to raise a smile.'

I was a latecomer to the Good Old Grateful Dead but I have remained very much a fan since I arrived at the party.

[seveneyes]

7. The Pulse of the Dead goes on ...

[ghostsinthemachine]

10. The real estate mogul who spent 1.5 million to keep the Dead alive

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-05/the-real-estate-investor-who-spent-1-5-million-to-keep-the-grateful-dead-alive

[ghostsinthemachine]

11. Happy Birthday to the best week in Dead history.

Rocking this one right now 5-05-77.....: Incredible show during what is regarded as the best week ever Grateful Dead.

https://archive.org/details/gd77-05-07.sbd.bertha-ashley.26361.sbeok.shnf

of course tomorrow is the anny of the generally acknowledged BEST SHOW EVER 5-08-77. Even though some say that 5-09-77 is better (it does have that amazing "Comes a Time&quot .....And others can argue that 5-05-77 is often overlooked.

[ghostsinthemachine]

15. to end the best run ever 5-09-77

http://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1977/5/9
The "Comes a time" is magnificent.

[ghostsinthemachine]

13. Happy Birthday the bestest Grateful Dead show ever!

http://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1977/5/8
Wanna know what the big deal was, well listen to this. Absolutely amazing from beginning to end. All time best versions of at least 10 songs in one show. Morning Dew is so Intense.

Story: did the Grateful Dead play their best show ever on 5.08.77?

http://zumic.com/2014/05/08/did-the-grateful-dead-play-their-best-show-ever-at-barton-hall-ithaca-new-york-5-8-1977-archive-audio-stream-pics/

[ghostsinthemachine]

14. more on 5.08.77

http://www.jambase.com/Articles/121606/Full-Show-Friday-Grateful-Dead-At-Cornell-May-1977