The Grateful Dead... Yes or No and Why?

Personally, I love The Dead. I LOVE IT! There's no greater band in the world that has such great meaning and sound. Aside from Keller Williams, Richie Havens and String Cheese Incident, The Dead is my main inspiration for learning folk, Spanish and jam-style guitar. A lot of people are partial to their music or don't like them at all tho. It doesn't affect me none, but it does lead to wonder.

Do you like The Grateful Dead?

Yes or No? aaaand why?

 

Of fucking course. I listen to em' daily. There's nothing like listening to The Dead in studio or live... They were fantastic musicians who added something of their own to the music and every live show was unique. Even though I wasn't around for their career, they have been around for some important and fun events in my life so I love them to death.

Recently found Skulls and Roses 71 at my local vinyl shop. Have always loved it, such an inspiring album! I want to get as many Dead vinyls I can find.. I only have In the Dark and Grateful Dead but fucking A the Dead on vinyl is just full of good energy and it's like they're in the room with you since it's an analog signal

 

The Grateful Dead were a great band. (I don't believe in "best" in music.)

Love the Dead. They took other people's tunes and expressed them in the Dead's own fashion.
Its also interesting to look back at older interpretation of the Dead's music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBso-UG8R_E"]YouTube - Woody Guthrie - Goin Down The Road Feelin Bad (the Asch Recordings)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN5d4TY-wHM"]YouTube - Merle Haggard - Sing Me Back Home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBLgtKVwptA"]YouTube - Johnny Cash - Big River

This pair of versions shows why "best" isn't a good concept to use in music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEizEzCI2Gk"]YouTube - Grateful Dead - Mama Tried - 4.12.78
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDWu5QmsUjc&feature=fvwrel"]YouTube - Merle Haggard, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson - Mama Tried

 

I just thought of a way to compare the "greatness" of musicians.

How many other bands have a "hit" covering their music?

Viewed from that perspective, the Dead made many other bands "great". But, I don't know many Dead written songs have been covered well.

 

I listen to a lot of different music, I just happen to prefer the grateful dead over all else.

Please do not go on a road trip with me if you do not want to memorize the catalog.

 

While far from the best or most innovative bands there are or ever were, the Dead really are in a class of their own, and one of my all time favorites. They are more than a band, but more akin to an spiritual/healing entity that everyone should at least allow themselves to experience (unfortunately with the loss of Jerry, it is only possible to enjoy what they were through the new incarnation called Furthur).

This is not just due to the parking lot scene (for those who may not know what I mean). But to paraphrase Phil Lesh from his insightful autobiography, the Dead were searching for the way to tap into the group (or cosmic) consciousness through music (and maybe w some LSD).

They are still the only band I've ever experienced (or at least felt like we were all experiencing) for even those few fleeting moments, that the whole room's consciousness was part of one mind, looking into itself. But that's just one small facet of the diamond that was (and still is) the Grateful Dead. The Dead's music functioned on so many levels, that there was always something for everyone to enjoy.

"Some come to laugh their past away.
Some come to make it just one more day,
Which ever way you're pleasure tends,
If you plant ice, you're going to harvest wind."

To answer the OP, YES... LOVE THE DEAD!!!