I’ve been processing the death of Bobby Weir ever since I heard the tragic news Friday night. I never got to meet him, but I’ve loved his music and thoroughly enjoyed all of the homages dedicated to him. He seemed like an absolute gem of a human. Not only a gifted artist, but a caring individual who believed deeply in the connectivity of the planet and the greater cosmos. At the same time, he didn’t appear to take things too seriously - he embraced imperfections, was spontaneous, whimsical, loved to laugh and commune. As a founding member of the Grateful Dead, he was a leader/part of arguably the most important, influential band in history. A band that not only created amazing art but showed the world how art can be a catalyst of a cultural movement and create community.
Yes - the Beatles and many others had more “number 1 hits” and lots of bands are more recognized around the world but I can’t think of another band that embraced, co-created and perpetuated a cultural shift, way of thinking and living like the Grateful Dead did. I’ve often spoken about music as the most powerful art form, the one that most easily, readily and directly connects to our core. The coming together of words, harmony and rhythm can bring us into ecstatic states of joy or make us shudder and cry. While many bands are able to tap into that vein for humanity, I can’t think of another band who’s sound and ethos resonated so much with people that they dedicated their lives to following them on tour for months on end. A band who unabashedly tapped into, literally drove "the bus" of a cultural movement. A lot of band’s had fan clubs, still do, but the Grateful Dead was the first band that really focused on their fans, a distinct culture and a sense of community. They did this by creating wonderful songs, studio albums, that took on singular life through live performances.
A band that could only come from America. Rooted in American Folk music and embracing the improvisational roots of jazz on a musical mission to explore the edges of harmony, dissonance, rhythm and human creativity - in the early years fueled by psychedelics - fans knew that every show would be drastically different and wanted to be there to see, feel what might happen. The band would often free flow from one song to another, tapping into the particular moment of the venue, the crowd…everyone was a participant, everyone had an impact. As an attendee you felt like you mattered, you did. Forums would be created dissecting each show’s pluses and minuses. The band embraced live recordings of their shows, tapes of which would be coveted and shared. While there are plenty of healthy dialogues about “who created” nearly all musical genres, there isn’t a debate about who created the Jam Band movement.
Going to a Grateful Dead show was more than a 3hr musical experience at a venue. It was a cultural circus steeped in anti-corporate capitalism, freedom, alternative culture focused on peace and love. It was truly an experience and when the Dead came to town, it was usually for a couple days and it’s presence would hit, stimulate a city. Many times folks wouldn’t even go to the show, they’d just go to the parking lot at the venue, stadium. Cruise around "Shakedown Street", buying hand made t-shirts (The dead encouraged people using their various logos/arts on bootlegged products), pipes. Snagging a veggie burrito, drink a few beers, smoke weed or score mushrooms. Find some space to connect with your friends, meet others and wax poetic about life, its possibilities. I’ll never forget my first Dead experience at RFK in DC. I’d heard, read about this counter culture but to experience it was something else. I’d never seen people so free, so different.
A Hippie and The Grateful Dead were synonymous. The Grateful Dead’s lyrics encouraged us to think outside the box. They weren’t anti-establishment in the sense that they directly criticized authority as much as they presented a different world view that embraced peace, love, nature and set of priorities that were more humane, conscientious and fun. While there were certainly lots of important bands in the 60s that added to and helped shape the cultural renaissance of the 1960s, none was as important, connected to or a guide to the scene as the Grateful Dead. The resulting civil rights, environmental and humanist movements are ones that motivate and inspire me and Bump ’n Grind, daily. I wear the hippie badge proudly. I’ll forever love the Grateful Dead. It’s musical message of hope and love, perfect imperfection, questioning, humanity, joy and connection to the cosmos but personally it's most lasting and important lesson is the power of using Music to create and perpetuate community and a culture. I encourage everyone to surround themselves with a bit of the Dead today, or in the near future. My personal favorite album is American Beauty and the Documentary about the making of it (Anthem To Beauty) is one of the most moving pieces about music on film I’ve ever seen.