A black-and-white photo of the above symbol was featured inside the album jacket of the self-titled Grateful Dead album along with the address below.

Deadhead or Dead Head is a fashionable name given to fans of the American jam band, The Grateful Dead.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} Image File history File links DEAS012. ... Image File history File links DEAS012. ... Black-and-white or black and white) can refer to a general term used in photography, film, and other media (see black-and-white). ... A photograph (often just called a photo) is an image (or a representation of that on e. ... An album or record album is a collection of related audio or music tracks distributed to the public. ... Grateful Dead is an eponymous live double album by the Grateful Dead, released in 1971. ... There are numerous unrelated definitions of the term deadhead, including: a transhumanist and science-fiction term denoting a person who hopes to see the future without having to experience the intervening time by hibernating in cryostasis in theater, it is customary to distribute free any unsold tickets to avoid an... Fans of Janet Jackson, at Much Music in Toronto The word fan refers to someone who has an intense, occasionally overwhelming liking of a person, group of persons, work of art, idea, or trend. ... The term jam band is commonly used to describe psychedelic rock-influenced bands whose concerts largely consist of bands reinterpreting their songs as springboards into extended improvisational pieces of music. ... Jerry Garcia later in life The Grateful Dead was an American rock band, which was formed in 1965 in San Francisco from the remnants of another band, Mother McCrees Uptown Jug Champions. ...

Origins

The term first appeared in print on the Grateful sleeve of Grateful Dead (also known as Skull & Roses), the band's second live album, released in 1971.^[6] It read, as suggested by Hank Harrison: Grateful Dead is an eponymous live double album by the Grateful Dead, released in 1971. ... // Many successful recording artists release at least one live album at some point during their career. ...

This phenomenon was first touched on in print by Village Voice music critic Robert Christgau at a Felt Forum show in 1971, noting "how many 'regulars' seemed to be in attendance, and how, from the way they compared notes, they'd obviously made a determined effort to see as many shows as possible."^[6] San Rafael (IPA: ; originally IPA: ), is the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... The Village Voice is a weekly newspaper in New York City featuring investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts reviews and events listings for New York City. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Music journalism. ... Robert Christgau (2007) Robert Christgau (sometimes abbreviated in print to Xgau), born April 18, 1942, is an American essayist, music journalist, and the self-declared Dean of American Rock Critics[1] His first reviews were published by Esquire in 1967. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

Eileen Law, a long time friend of the band, was put in charge of the mailing list and maintained the Dead Heads newsletter. It is estimated that by the end of 1971, the band had received about 350 letters, but this number swelled greatly over the next few years to as many as 40,000.^[6] In total, 25 mailings/newsletters reached Dead Heads between October of 1971 and February 1980. After this time, the Grateful Dead Almanac would succeed it, with this eventually being abandoned for Dead.net.^[6] Those who did receive the newsletter in the 1970s often found pleasant surprises sent along. One example is from May 1974 when Heads received a sample EP of Robert Hunter's upcoming album Tales of the Great Rum Runners as well as selections from Jerry Garcia's second album, Compliments of Garcia. This sample was titled Anton Round, which was an alias used by Ron Rakow.^[6] Robert C. Hunter (born June 23, 1941) is an American lyricist, singer songwriter, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. ... Jerome John Jerry Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) was an American musician, songwriter, and artist perhaps best known for being the lead guitarist and vocalist of the psychedelic rock band the Grateful Dead. ...

The phenomenon

The Grateful Dead's appeal to fans was supported by the way the band structured their concerts:

• From the early 1970s on, night to night song selection changed over subsequent shows.
• Also from the early 1970s on, it could be expected that the band would play two sets in a show.
• From the 1980s on, the second set usually contained a drum solo by Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann (also known as the "Rhythm Devils") followed by improvisational "space" jams (See the album "Infrared Roses").
• Due to the band's improvisational nature, each time a song was performed, it was different from the prior time it was played. Over time this led songs to undergo an evolutionary process where the current incarnation might sound radically different from the first time it was performed.

The varied song selection allowed the band to create a "rotation" of songs that was roughly repeated every 3 to 4 performances ("shows"). The rotation created two phenomena. The first was the desire of deadheads to hear their song or hit a good show, which meant that deadheads began traveling between various cities on tour to see the band. The second phenomenon, was that the large number of traveling fans also permitted the band to perform multiple shows in a single venue and be assured that the performances would be mostly sold out- as almost all were from the early 1980's on. With large numbers of people thus attending strings of shows, a community naturally developed out of the familiarity. As generations turned from the acid tests to the 1970s (and onward), tours became a time to revel with friends at concerts, old and new, who never knew the psychedelic age that spawned the band they loved.^[7] As with any large community, Deadheads developed their own idiom, slang and touchstones which is amply illustrated in books about the Grateful Dead such as the Skeleton Key. The deadhead passion for the band and desire to travel was not well understood by society at large, but deadheads did impact greater society by bringing their slang into general use (e.g. "What a long strange trip it's been"). Deadheads' societal impact was conspicuous on college campuses, as many schools had deadhead fraternities, and on early FM rock radio, which was willing to play the longer length Dead songs. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Mickey Hart (born September 11, 1943) is best known as one of the two drummers from the rock band the Grateful Dead. ... Bill Kreutzmann (born May 7, 1946 in Palo Alto, California) was the drummer for legendary rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire 30-year career. ... Improvisation is the practice of acting and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of ones immediate environment. ... Somewhere toward the middle of the second set of a Grateful Dead concert came a period of improvosation. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Deadheads use the term "X Factor" to describe the intangible element that elevates mere performance into something higher.^[8] Publicist and Jerry Garcia biographer Blair Jackson stated that "shows were the sacrament ... rich and full of blissful, transcendent musical movements that moved the body and enriched the soul."^[9] Phil Lesh himself comments on this phenomenon in his autobiography by saying "The unique organicity of our music reflects the fact that each of us consciously personalized his playing: to fit with what others were playing and to fit with who each man was as an individual, allowing us to meld our consciousnesses together in the unity of a group mind.".^[10] Jerome John Jerry Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) was an American musician, songwriter, and artist perhaps best known for being the lead guitarist and vocalist of the psychedelic rock band the Grateful Dead. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Phillip Chapman Lesh (born March 15, 1940 in Berkeley, California) is a musician and founding member of the rock band, Grateful Dead; he played bass guitar in that group throughout their entire 30-year career. ...

Jackson takes this further, citing drummer Mickey Hart as saying "The Grateful Dead weren't in the music business, they were in the transportation business." Jackson relates this to the Deadhead phenomenon directly by saying "for many Deadheads, the band was a medium that facilitated experiencing other planes of consciousness and tapping into deep, spiritual wells that were usually the province of organized religion ... [they] got people high whether those people were on drugs or not." (For more on the spiritual aspect, see Spinners in the section below). It was times like these that the band and the audience would become one; The Grateful Dead and the Deadheads were all in the same state of mind.^[11] Bass drum made from wood, rope, and cowskin A drum is a musical instrument in the percussion group that can be large, technically classified as a membranophone. ... Mickey Hart (born September 11, 1943) is best known as one of the two drummers from the rock band the Grateful Dead. ...

Rock producer Bill Graham summarized much of the band's effect when he created a sign for the Grateful Dead when the group played the closing of the Winterland Ballroom on December 31, 1978 that read:^[12] Cover of Bill Graham Presents Bill Graham (January 8, 1931–October 25, 1991) was a well-known rock concert promoter, who flourished from the 1960s until his death. ... The Winterland Ballroom, often simply referred to as Winterland, was an old ice skating rink and 5,400 seat music venue in San Francisco, California. ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ...

Deadheads through the years

• 1970s - essentially known as the "second generation of Deadheads," the new Deadheads of this time can either be traced to "an older sibling who had turned them on by spinning Workingman's Dead or Europe '72" or through college and university dorm rooms.^[13]
• 1980s - The early 1980s brought about what would later become known as "Shakedown Street" (in reference to the Grateful Dead album of the same name). Started during the New Year's Eve shows at the Oakland Auditorium in California from 1979-1982, Deadheads began to realize they could sell their wares (anything from tie-dye t-shirts to veggie burritos) in order to follow around the band more. Also during the early '80s, Deadhead tapers grew exponentially, resulting in the band designating a taping section in October of 1984.^[14] With the success of their album In the Dark (and the single "Touch of Grey"), 1988 started the "Mega-Dead" period.^[15]
  • In the Darkers - also known as "Touchheads" (a reference of the album for the former and the single for the latter), these fans "dissed the fragile ecosystem" of a Grateful Dead show, in the words of Jackson. This led to "wiser" Deadheads, with the backing of the band, to mail SOS's and hand out show flyers telling people to "cool out."^[15]
  • Minglewood Town Council - this group was a direct result of the Touchheads and were a "tribal council" consisting of Deadheads and the Hog Farmers Calico and Goose. They handed out garbage bags at shows for people to pick up trash afterwards and tried to keep the masses mellow.^[15]
• 1990s - The Deadheads of this time "tended to be young, white, male, and from middle-class backgrounds -- in short, they were drawn from much the same demographic base as most rock fans." The band also tended to attract a large percentage of fans from high-income families. The main draw for these Deadheads to travel to shows seemed to be the sense of community and adventure.^[16]
• The Spinners - also known as members of the Church of Unlimited Devotion. These people "used the bands music in worship services and were a constant presence at shows."^[16]
• Wharf Rats - Deadheads who helped each other remain drug and alcohol free while staying in the Dead scene.[1]

Workingmans Dead (Warner Brothers 1969) is one of the most commercially successful albums by the American rock/folk group the Grateful Dead. ... Europe 72 is a 1972 live triple album by The Grateful Dead, from performances on their Spring 1972 tour of Western Europe. ... Shakedown Street is the tenth studio album by the Grateful Dead. ... New Years Eve is December 31, the final day of the Gregorian year, and the day before New Years Day. ... Track Listing Touch of Grey Hell in a Bucket When Push Comes to Shove West L.A. Fadeaway My Brother Esau Tons of Steel Throwing Stones Black Muddy River Personnel Jerry Garcia Mickey Hart Bill Kreutzmann Phil Lesh Brent Mydland Bob Weir ... Touch of Grey is a 1987 single by the Grateful Dead often known by its refrain I will get by. ... Drawing of a captain and radio operator, titled The S.O.S SOS is the commonly used description for the International Morse code distress signal (· Â· Â· â€” â€” â€” Â· Â· Â·). This distress signal was first adopted by the German government in radio regulations effective April 1, 1905, and became the worldwide standard when it was... The Wharf Rats are a group of concert-goers who have chosen to live drug and alcohol free. ...

Deadheads and recordings of the gigs

At almost every Grateful Dead show, it was common to see fans openly recording the music for later enjoyment. This can be traced to shows in the late 1960s, with the number of tapers increasing yearly. Fans were also known to record the many FM radio broadcasted shows. Garcia looked kindly on tapers (he himself had been on several cross-country treks to record bluegrass music prior to the Grateful Dead), stating "There's something to be said for being able to record an experience you've liked, or being to obtain a recording of it ... my responsibility to the notes is over after I've played them." In this respect, the Dead are considered by many to be the first "taper-friendly" band.^[17] FM radio is a broadcast technology invented by Edwin Howard Armstrong that uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. ... Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and/or video signals which transmit programs to an audience. ... Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music which has its own roots in Irish, Scottish and English traditional music. ...

It is a matter of strict custom among Deadheads that these recordings are freely shared and circulated with no money ever changing hands. Some bootleg recordings from unscrupulous bootleggers have turned up on the black market, but a general "code of honor specifically prohibited the buying and selling of Dead tapes." These recordings, sometimes called "liberated bootlegs," still are frowned upon by the community and that feeling "has spread into non-Grateful Dead taping circles."^[17] An assortment of bootleg recordings A bootleg recording (or simply bootleg or boot) is an audio and/or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist, or under other legal authority. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into underground economy. ...

Many deadheads now freely distribute digital recordings of the Grateful Dead's music, and there are several websites which provide and promote legal access of lossless music. The following are some among the most notable: Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco, California. ...

• dead.net
• etree.org
• archive.org's Grateful Dead collection

Celebrity Heads

The following celebrities have claimed to be deadheads or have had media reported on them saying they are deadheads:

• Tony Blair - played in "Mars Hotel"-inspired student band^[18]
• Joseph Campbell - proclaimed deadheads as "the world's newest tribe."^[18][19]
• Pete Carroll (sourced here)
• Bill Clinton^[18][20]
• Ann Coulter (sourced here)
• Owen Chamberlain - claimed the Rhythm Devils gave him "interesting ideas"^[18]
• Al and Tipper Gore^[18][21][22]
• Keith Haring^[18]
• Phil Jackson^[18][22]
• Patrick Leahy^[18][23]
• Carl and Larry Page^[24]
• Bill Walton^[18][22] (also sourced here) - known as "Grateful Red", frequently included Dead references in interviews
• Al Franken^[22]
• Nancy Pelosi CBS News (2006).^[25]
• Jerry Greenfield^[26]
• Henry Rollins and Greg Ginn of Black Flag^[27]
• Tucker Carlson^[28]
• William Weld- Former Govenor of MA.^[29]

For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Joseph John Campbell (March 26, 1904 – October 31, 1987) was an American professor, writer, and orator best known for his work in the fields of comparative mythology and comparative religion. ... Peter C. Carroll (born September 15, 1951, in San Francisco, California) is the current head coach of the University of Southern California football team, having held that position since 2001. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... Ann Hart Coulter (born December 8, 1961)[1] is an American best-selling author, columnist and political commentator. ... Owen Chamberlain Owen Chamberlain (July 10, 1920 – February 28, 2006) was a prominent American physicist. ... Albert Arnold Gore, Jr. ... Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson Gore (born August 19, 1948), known as Tipper Gore, is the wife of former Vice President Al Gore and was Second Lady of the United States from 1993 until 2001. ... Harings Radiant Baby Keith Haring (May 4, 1958 - February 16, 1990) was a pre-eminent artist and social activist whose work responded to the New York street culture of the 1980s. ... Philip Douglas Phil Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. ... Patrick Joseph Leahy (born March 31, 1940) is the senior United States Senator from Vermont. ... Lawrence Edward Larry Page (born March 26, 1973 in Lansing, Michigan) is an American entrepreneur who co-founded the Google internet search engine, now Google Inc. ... William Theodore Walton III, better known as Bill Walton (born November 5, 1952), is a former American basketball player and current television sportscaster. ... Alan Stuart Al Franken (born May 21, 1951) is an Emmy Award–winning American comedian, actor, author, screenwriter, political commentator, radio host and, recently, politician. ... Nancy Patricia DAlesandro Pelosi (born March 26, 1940) is currently the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. ... Jerry Greenfield (born March 14, 1951) is an American entrepreneur, a co-founder of Ben & Jerrys. ... Henry Rollins (born February 13, 1961 as Henry Lawrence Garfield[1]) is a singer and songwriter, spoken word artist, book author (prose and poetry), radio and TV personality, occasional movie actor, comedian, and voice-over artist. ... Gregory Regis Ginn (born June 8, 1954) is a guitarist, songwriter and singer. ... Black Flag was a hardcore punk band formed in 1976 in southern California, largely as the brainchild of Greg Ginn: the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes. ... Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson (born May 16, 1969) is a political news pundit who formerly co-hosted Crossfire and currently hosts Tucker, a national television news show, which is broadcast weekdays at 6 p. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

See also

• Phish Head

Pharmers Almanac staff and friends at Deer Creek 2000 Phish Heads, also known as Phish Phans were ardent followers of the band Phish before the its disbanding in 2004. ...

References