Author Description

"Not many rock groups have the inspiration or the stamina to stick it out for 25 years, but then the Grateful Dead have never been just another rock'n'roll band. Ever since they burst on the pop music scene in the psychedelic 60's, the Grateful Dead have been doing things their own way, and their open-ended. unconventional approach to making music has earned them the unquestioning devotion of legions of fans around the world. Focusing upon the unique experience of the Dead live in concert, Built to Last follows Jerry, Bobby, Mickey, Phil, Bill, and Brent from their earliest incarnation as house band for Ken Kesey's multi-media Acid Tests through the wild times of San Francisco's Summer of Love, then on to Woodstock and around the world, including tours of Europe and their now legendary concerts at the foot of the Great Pyramid in Egypt. Scores of photographs, many never before seen help put you in front-row centre at some of the best of the front-row centre at some of the best of the 2000-odd sjpws the Grateful Dead have played, the park to the stadium megashows with Bob Dylan. And through interviews conducted on the eve of the 25th Anniversary Tour, you can look back at the past through the eyes of the band and their extended famnily of roadies, managers, Deeadheads and friends. What a long, strange trip it's been."--Back cover.