How To Get Into The Grateful Dead

[@tstass1321]

Wake of the Flood started my 45 year un ending devotion to the many styles and sounds of the Dead.. By the way ...Phil Lesh is the greatest bass player in my opinion. His sound cuts through to your dancing soul

[@bjenkin100]

I love that... I agree but you don't hear that-- of course I confess I am extremely biased ; •)

[@Blaize24]

Heh. That was my gateway album, also, and also approximately 45 or so years ago.

[@brianlevine4802]

When I was 15 my "cool" aunt who lived in California came back home for a visit. My Aunt asked me what kind of music I was listening to. I grew up in fundamental type of church. My stepfather didn't allow non church media in the house. I listened to the radio but not at home. My Aunt had moved to the Bay area in the late '50's. She had used her GI Bill money to get a degree in Electrical Engineering. She got a job with Bayer,Weir and Pagliano, Civil Engineers. She met Bob Weir when he was a young boy. She says "This kid I know is in a band. They are getting some airplay now. They're called the Grateful Dead.". My Aunt was not a free love hippie by any standard. She did respect ability. Plus it really pissed off Mr. Weir that Bob had become a musician in psychedelic rock band. He expected to get a call any day from Bob that he was in terrible circumstances,needed money,was going to prison,etc. That call never happened. So my Aunt was telling me to find their music and give it a listen. Her alcoholism and the associated problems caused a rift between us but the gift of the Grateful Dead is what I choose to remember.

[@beachmasterX]

Nice, bro you are an og word of mouther

[@bjenkin100]

Nice, love how all these great and varied little stories we have lead us all down an inevitable path of destiny onto a collision course with each other whereby we become intertwined into a shared experience of one of the greatest phenomenon consciousness has ever created... that of the Grateful Dead

[@snerdterguson]

I was 19, my only experience with Grateful Dead was Truckin, Casey Jones and Touch of Grey. Then a friend told me to listen to Europe 72. So I borrowed his copy of the album that had bonus tracks. I enjoyed all of Disc 1, including what is now among my favorites, Morning Dew but then suddenly I hear, though I didn't know the name at the time, Bob Weir say "Time for a cryin' song" and they play what I still think is the best Looks Like Rain they ever played and I was hooked. No lie, I listened to the song for the next hour. I just kept it playing on repeat.

[@joonkim9860]

It was the Skulls & Roses album cover. I didn't know who they were or what they called themselves even...the strangest stuff I had ever heard. Been on the bus since.

[@phillspunt9992]

For me, I was like half on the bus back during high school, but I had grow an appreciation for country music before I could be a full-on deadhead. Wish I could've followed them back in the good Ole days man!

[@WhiskeySam1]

As cheesy as it sounds, “Skeletons from the Closet” was how I found them. Then I heard Unbroken Chain. And it went from there. Europe 72 (and it’s brilliant Vol 2. Follow up) is a great place to step into Live Dead. I’d also challenge anybody listen to Help>Slip>Franklins from Great American Music Hall 75 and not fall in love with this band.

[@bjenkin100]

yes and that "Eyes" too !

[@gregberry1812]

Europe is the best live album ever

[@Sasquatch64]

Not cheesy at all. I got into the Dead through the same album. What attracted me first was the album cover. After that, I was gone. The Dead became my life.

[@skeeter197140]

Same here. I was on a band trip in Florida when I was 14, and went into a record store and decided I was going to see what this whole Dead thing was about, and bought "Skeletons From the Closet". It took a while (I was a metalhead), and I ended up being dragged to a Dead show that summer, and that was all she wrote. 50 shows and 36 years later, here we are.

[@gregberry1812]

@@skeeter197140 had to drag you out after the encore.

[@jcolterh]

A combination of Workingman's Dead, Grateful Dawg and The pizza Tapes got me into the Dead. Basically, the country and bluegrass music sucked me in. Now, I love all their stuff. Especially, their 1970s work.

[@direwolf6234]

70 to 74 are my favorite years... great new tunes softer drugs youthful energy

[@snerdterguson]

I lucked out and saw Grateful Dawg in a little Indie theater. I often find myself singing to myself, will you where white, oh my dear, oh my dear. Will you wear white Jenny Jenkins

[@zerotoleranceforstupidpeop4301]

My introduction to the Grateful Dead was Shakedown Street, followed by Skeletons From the Closet, and then Go To Heaven. This was in 1986-87, my senior year of high school. I've been a Deadhead ever since.

[@sergiomoreira8196]

I’m a 70s deadhead.

[@tourhead]

Well done! I like this video!! I've been a Dead Head since the late 70's. First record I heard was one of the sides of Europe 72. First one I bought was Skeletons From The Closet. Next was Skulls and Roses. First show. 3-14-81 Hartford Ct. Last show. 1-19-20 Mexico. So many roads between.

[@joergie6008]

Hey now head

[@tourhead]

@@joergie6008 Hey now Joergie!!!!

[@jefftaich2761]

American beauty all the way! Keith and Kevin Looney had the album playing at their home in Larkspur California when I walked in and heard Sugar Magnolia. I asked who it was I have never heard the song before or the grateful dead although I grew up in the land of Dead! That's basically mostly all I've listen to now for the last 50 years. It never gets old I find something new every time I hear a song. Thank you Keith and Kevin. RIP Kevin❤️

[@erichanhauser3190]

The Grateful Dead Movie.

[@pc1972]

We had tickets for the Dead at Wembley 1971. Then the Lyceum with New Riders a month later. Holy cow. Dead Head ever since.

[@squigtonianmayhem4602]

I had always dug the music, growing up. Good tunes. No brainer. In '94, I went to my first Dead show, Noblesville. Didn't even have a ticket, never got in to the show. Didn't need to. I was hooked. Sadly, only a little over a year later, we lost Jerry, things would never be the same again. But, the magic allows us to live and relive it forever.

[@beachmasterX]

I miss Deer Creek🤣

[@bjenkin100]

@@beachmasterX me to ... 1990-1992 Summers great times , and especially what joy compared to the dreaded Buckeye shows a few days apart.

[@jerryakbar6147]

Hate to tell ya but Jerry was already way gone in 94. Thanks to John Kahn and Jerry’s no holds barred attitude when dealing with drugs. I started seeing them/ him in 79. Went to all the radio city shows and something like 150 JGB shows. Tickets 7.50. I went to a DSO show a few years ago. Never thought that would happen. It was the best dead show I’d been to in over 30 years. Do the math.

[@Handletakentryagain]

I found the grateful dead with a nitrous balloon and a 1976 row jimmy from portland Oregon I believe. For sure a 76 row jimmy. Pure magic.

[@tourhead]

Portland shows were always killer!!!!

[@RobertJones-st3wj]

I agree more with what Joe Rogan said I didn't hate them I just didn't really click with them

[@beaverwithachainsaw]

If you don't already get it, there's no amount of explaining will clarify it for you.

[@lenny3804]

Exactly you got it or you don’t

[@MyCheriAnolani]

I miss Jerry ❤️

[@daveh640]

Greatest of all time. No close second on my list. 89- to that terrible day august 9th 1995 jerry and the boys brought happiness where i danced without consequence or judgement from others. I love the greatful dead and i will love them till my last breath. Thanks for this video sir!

[@RobHollanderMusic]

It helps if you enter in a transcendent state. Good starting albums would be American Beauty/Workingman's Dead, Live Dead, Europe '72, and the Garcia and Weir initial solo albums. By the way, Garcia was rated #13, not #44, in the Rolling Stone Greatest (Rock) Guitarists shtick - still not high enough. I put him at any position in the top 5 myself. RS has the habit of confusing fame, rock stardom, headlines, and record sales for ability on the frets. I remember them putting Keith Richards, an infamously likable rascal but hardly a great player, at some spot in the top 10 and just groaned.

[@joebaby555]

“Without a Net” is a wonderful introduction to Live Grateful Dead , put it on while hiking,or driving or riding a bike..they are the soundtrack of my life’s activities.🔥

[@andrewptob]

Best album to get into them is Skull and Roses, but that’s what hooked me, so I’m a bit biased

[@Perromedico]

Europe 72 here

[@gregberry1812]

@@Perromedico ditto

[@arlenmargolin1650]

@@Perromedico that was a great record and when they came back I went to see a concert in Baltimore where I spied a speaker cover from that tour that was thrown out into a dumpster so after I got done tearing it off the frame and stuffing it into my backpack I proceeded to hitchhike home back to New Jersey where one of my good friends managed to steal it from me which I found out years later I still haven't gotten this thing back but I'm still waiting for the day when I see it because I am going to reappropriate but anyway back to your comment that was a great record

[@dondon747x]

Being a Deadhead I started seeing Jerry and the band play. It was not a buy the album band. The Dead were a live band concert thing. I really liked the experience of seeing them. Every show was different and every time they played a song it was different. Some concerts were great and some not so good. Getting into the Grateful Dead and being a Deadhead are different things.

[@kevinjones9685]

My GD primer for new ears is something like: Two From The Vault, Fillmore East 1971, One From The Vault, Reckoning and Without A Net. Stepping Out With The Grateful Dead is an honorable mention

[@jamesmoore3694]

to listen to the dead thru the years can be looked upon as one would look at monet's paintings of haystacks. same haystacks (songs) just at different points in time. the joys of shadows and light. my 1rst show was in 77

[@johnr8820]

You don’t into The Dead....The Dead gets into you.....

[@nankypooh655]

Who are The Grateful Dead, and why do they keep following me?

[@michaeldesimone8763]

Let me know if you like The Grateful Dead, and if there's any other bands you'd like to hear my thoughts on.

[@henrysimon2463]

I love both the dead and licorice.

[@analogkid4957]

Michael thank you for the video. Growing up in the 1980’s as a teenager I was a huge Rush fan. My older brother was a Deadhead. However I think both bands are similar in a way. Both Rush and The Grateful Dead changed their sound with each album. Both bands have thoughtful lyrics that transcend time and bring new fans. Both bands have loyal hardcore fans and toured a lot. The Dead though changed their set each night. I recently found out that the late Neil Peart and Mickey Hart respected each other and attended each other’s concerts. Neil wrote about meeting Mickey Hart in his book.

[@gregberry1812]

@@analogkid4957 wow I can just se Neil in a tye dye frying off his ass dancing like a fool with a rose in his teeth.

[@joebarr725]

Little Feat, Radiators, Los Lobos, NRPS, ABB, Quicksilver, Cold Blood. And I adore the Grateful Dead.

[@nankypooh655]

@@analogkid4957 There's most definitely a technical proficiency in both band's music, although I prefer GD to Rush. I love Rush up to Permanent Waves, but they lost me when they became more synth driven. I'm glad to hear there was a mutual appreciation society between Mickey and Neil, but, I have to admit, as good as Neil was, I really didn't like his style of drumming. He was a good drummer, but I always felt that he drummed like he had something to prove, and after a while I just wanted to scream, "OK, Neil! You got the job. Just chillax, and don't try so hard!" But, you know, that's just me. I'm sure many will disagree with my take.

[@glennwiltsee7405]

I came to the Dead through GrayFolded.

[@nankypooh655]

Not a bad entry level.

[@raymondtilley2957]

How to get into the grateful dead is very simple… Buy the album Europe 72! I got the album for Christmas back in 1974 and wore it out I had to buy another one and then wore that out and got the CD!

[@cheesemcsqueeze8845]

Don’t know if you happen to be a Zappa fan but I love him and the Dead almost equally, though right now I’m on more of a Dead kick. Anyway would love to see some Frank content

[@Sasquatch64]

Me too. Two of my favorite artists.

[@s.tepper4030]

I'm a Zappa-phile and a Deadhead. Bands led by two people with completely different approaches, but with stellar results in the studio and live.

[@Sasquatch64]

@@s.tepper4030 You had the "freaks" and you had the "hippies". I think both could find common ground.

[@cheesemcsqueeze8845]

@@Sasquatch64 Indeed as I am both lmfao

[@nankypooh655]

Sadly, old Frank didn't think very highly of The Grateful Dead or their fans, but I always found it amazing that, more often than not, many GD fans are also fans of Frank Zappa. Good music is good music, and I happen to be one of the many who like both.

[@godfreydaniel6278]

200+ show Deadhead here - from the Haight to Dead and Co. The wisest thing I know about considering the Dead as a musical entity and social phenomenon is to keep in mind that the Grateful Dead are like a joke - either you get it or you don't. If you get it - nothing more needs to be said. If you don't - no amount of explaining will help you...

[@gregberry1812]

Explaining no. Lsd maybe.

[@mcganahanskjellyfetti7722]

Estimated Prophet 10/29/1977

[@jonathanrubino2577]

No better way than taking some LSD and listening

[@gregberry1812]

Mushrooms maybe but thats just preference

[@psst...heyyou6508]

​@@gregberry1812This. Music was born out of the LSD experience

[@tylerkoaltrain8612]

I love all deadheads man❤️💙❤️

[@nankypooh655]

I'm NOT a "Dead Head"! I'm GRATEFULLY DEADICATED, but I'm sending the love back to you, friend. :)

[@riomasanicur2977]

I discovered them only recently with 44.What a shame. But now, I enjoy.

[@OGRE_HATES_NERDS]

the halloween 1980 concert is what finally made the whole thing "click" for me

[@Lowtech14]

I think American Beauty is a way to get someone on board. If they lean toward hard rock or punk, I’d start with Live/Dead’s 1-2-3 kapow of St Stephen/ Eleven/ Lovelight.

[@pedropolin]

Great video!! Lovely

[@SeattleSpursFan1882]

Setlists were used post Brent.

[@direwolf6234]

you skipped over the first studio album with godchaux 'wake of the flood' which was incredibly well crafted and gave us so many classic tunes while having a biblical edge ....

[@arlenmargolin1650]

Wow where did you come up with this information I mean I've never heard of this stuff

[@KarlKrogmann]

I love licorice.

[@direwolf6234]

red or black..??

[@jeffdavis146]

Some Deadheads let me hang out with them. It caught on.

[@thetruckersmanifesto3873]

So many roads best song

[@joergie6008]

How cute🌹😎☠️Magic is what we do, music is how we do it - Jerry Garcia

[@InfamousMedia]

Lsd helps

[@patswayze7359]

Put on a live set and just sit back and melt

[@seanoconnell2123]

Hate licorice, Love the Dead

[@Rose-z3s]

Thanks for the helpful video!

[@giovannito858]

kinda weird that he doesn't start off just telling people to listen to live dead. live albums or live shows, doesn't matter, just make it live. here's a nice primer and what i started with way back in the day. europe '72 grateful dead (the live album) aka skull & roses live dead without a net all of those should be easy to find on spotify, apple, etc. if ya make it past those albums and want to proceed, then the internet archive's grateful dead portal is your best friend. just go to the shows with the most listens and you're golden.

[@JayRiemenschneider]

Great advice tho I’d steer anyone away from 69 Dead at least to begin with. Dead Set is a good kickoff too. Get that live sound and feeling in your bones is the right advice.

[@giovannito858]

@@JayRiemenschneider for sure. i hear you about including live/dead. thought about it before adding it. the reason i did is it's a classic. anyone that really wants to know what they were about, should listen to live/dead.

[@JayRiemenschneider]

@@giovannito858 oh yeah absolutely, but a new listener could just say to hell with this tho hahaha. One from the vault would be great too, that one really turned the corner for me

[@marcbernicker206]

St.Stephen, Dark Star, nfa, gdtrfb

[@chris7brook]

the only way to get into the Grateful Dead is to go see an actual Grateful Dead concert with Jerry Garcia and that's over forever and ever and ever 💀☠️👽

[@gratefulkm]

To presume that the magic that was created that is the Grateful dead only works in a few ways, Would be a rash conclusion about the most powerful music ever created and yes music is most defiantly magic

[@nankypooh655]

I saw every show that passed my way 1987-95. I wasn't a tour head, but a hometown host. I think that while Jerry is gone, that doesn't take away from the experience, it's just slightly different now. I saw The Other Ones, and The Dead, and had a good time. I've seen Bob Weir, both with Rob Wasserman, and Ratdog a few times, and had fun. I've seen Micky twice and had a great time. IMHO the closest thing to recreating, replicating, and duplicating what an original GD concert was like was/is seeing Phil Lesh, and The Terrapin Family Band. Of course, I'm a Phil-Head so my opinion might be biased, but it always seemed to me, that as far as style and sound is concerned, it's the closest thing to an actual GD concert. And I refuse to see The Dead and Co. until Bill and Phil make peace, and he comes back.

[@niku30504]

I took acid and went to a Dead show in 1978, without knowing any of their songs. And the rest is ….. obvious ….. 😏

[@Perromedico]

Keith was a much better piano player then Brent.

[@analogkid4957]

I like Brent he was the Generation X guy Keith was in the 1970’s. Brent was more organist and Keith was more traditional pianist/keyboards

[@Perromedico]

@@analogkid4957 exactly

[@andrewptob]

Keith’s improv was not as good as Brent’s, but Keith supported the songs a bit better with his sound.

[@Perromedico]

@@andrewptob Hmmm,I dunno .

[@terrybull2903]

and blue is prettier than green

[@stratjed]

How do we get all the new comers to stop coming ? This past summer D&C shows were a overcrowded Schiff show ! Real deadheads (those who saw jerry LIVE ) aint into that scene MAN. The dead was Counter culture for the adventurous not pretend hippies with bags of CASH .

[@shaneharris3586]

I dont want everyone into them.

[@WaterKreature]

This too much for me, just let the music play to get into it

[@TM-vq1bf]

Aoxomoxoa