BOOK

Deadheads: Stories from Fellow Artists, Friends and Followers of the Grateful Dead

Foreword Thoughts …

Something I wrote caught the attention of my college professor. The story interested him, and he wanted to hear more.

I’d been writing down the ideas flying around in my head ever since I was little girl, but having an outsider walk into that world with me made me realize that I was the only one who knew the territory, who could navigate the way around this otherwise hidden place—my mind. This was my creation, and now someone wanted to visit. My soul was filled with a soothing feeling of hope, inspiration, and optimism.

I grew up with a big creek running through my yard, and I spent many long days down there by myself, digging in the dirt, looking for frogs, racing leaves downstream—curiosity guiding me. Something always happened, a story always unfolded right before my eyes, keeping my imagination fresh because I never knew what to expect. I never knew what I would find. That voice of “wondering” lures my soul to this day, and hundreds of collected memories run through my head like water rushing down that creek out back. I continue to gather as many as I possibly can. There’s always something just around the end, something new always on its way.

Magic’ll come at ya if you’re open to it. As did this book. Out of nowhere.

So many stories came at me from so many people for this project, there are thousands more I didn’t get to hear due to time restraints. I connected with a variety of people, gave them an idea of what I was curious about, then let them lead the way. I merely followed them, recorded the memories as we went along, gathering experiences inspired by this band called the Grateful Dead, whose music weaves the road the whole way there.

Just what was it about the Grateful Dead that made them rock and roll’s most beloved band? In Deadheads, those with the real story, who were there and are still listening to the music, explain it all.

Grateful Dead lyricist John Perry Barlow talks about his lifelong friendship with Dead guitarist Bob Weir. Cajun chef Rick Begneaud shares his memories of feeding the Dead, John Popper of Blues Traveler recalls playing with the Dead at Bill Graham’s memorial tribute, while publicist Dennis McNally shares some wild adventures of working with the band for more than thirty years. Author Linda Kelly recalls being dragged to her very first Dead show, hanging with Jerry in New York City, and more.

First-show revelations, backstage adventures, parking-lot hoopla, how-to-live-life philosophies, strange tangential experiences stemming from being in that certain place at that certain time — these intriguing anecdotes evoke wonderful images, lots of smiles, and a close look into a fascinating phenomenon in the history of music.

This twentieth-anniversary edition of Deadheads celebrates fifty years of music and includes the best stories from the original 1995 edition, two new chapters, as well as new interviews with various friends, artists, and followers of the Grateful Dead.

Contact me at tigressa27@gmail.com, let me know your mailing address, how many you’d like to order, and I’ll mail you as many signed copies of  Deadheads and trucker hats your heart desires!

Book/Hats, $20/each. PayPal rocks: Find me on PayPal at Linda Kelly, tigressa27@gmail.com.