News

Celebrity Guest DJ Series to Launch on Sirius Satellite Radio's Exclusive Grateful Dead Channel

ccasal — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:56:30 -0700

Jimmy Buffett to host first show for the new series

NEW YORK–June 30, 2008– SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced today that SIRIUS’ Grateful Dead channel will launch a new weekly series of celebrity-hosted shows. The full-hour show will be hosted by various music icons, including Jimmy Buffett, Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes, Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule and others.

Jimmy Buffett, who has his own SIRIUS channel, Radio Margaritaville channel 31, will host the first show in the series on Monday, June 30. Buffett will tell stories of his experiences with The Grateful Dead and introduce his favorite songs by the band.

The special celebrity-hosted shows will air on Mondays at 9:00 pm ET. The shows will be rebroadcast on Tuesdays at 5:00 pm ET, Wednesdays at 9:00 am ET, Fridays at 1:00 am ET, Saturdays at 8:00 pm ET and Sundays at 10:00 am ET.

The Grateful Dead Channel which launched exclusively on SIRIUS Satellite Radio last year, features music spanning the band’s career with unreleased concert recordings and original shows hosted by band members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann. The channel also features rare archival interviews with Jerry Garcia and contributions from Grateful Dead experts David Gans and Dead archivist David Lemieux.

For more information, visit www.sirius.com/gratefuldead.

On the next "Tales From The Golden Road" - Celebrating "American Beauty"

almanac — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:36:58 -0700

On Sunday, June 29, "Tales From The Golden Road" on Sirius Satellite Radio's Grateful Dead Channel will focus on one of the Grateful Dead's best-loved records, 1970's "American Beauty."

We'll talk to special guests who were involved in the making of this landmark album, feature archival excerpts from interviews with band members and play some tracks from the record itself, choice live performances and beautiful interpretations of some of the songs by other artists.

As always, listeners are invited to join the conversation by calling 1-888-89-SIRIUS

"Tales From The Golden Road" airs every Sunday from 4 to 6 pm ET on the Grateful Dead Channel, Sirius 32. The program is rebroadcast Monday at 9am ET and Tuesday at 5pm ET.

Additionally, there will be encore broadcasts of the "American Beauty" episode beginning Sunday, July 6, as part of the Grateful Dead Channel's 4th of July Weekend celebration.

Baltimore Symphony to Perform World Premiere of Lee Johnson’s “Dead Symphony” August 1st

Analise Dubner — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:53:04 -0700

Last year composer Lee Johnson released the premiere recording of his acclaimed “Dead Symphony,” an orchestral tribute to the music of the Grateful Dead performed by the Russian National Orchestra and conducted by the composer. dead.net’s Blair Jackson described the Symphony as “a work of great passion, depth, subtlety and imagination” (for Blair’s full aricle on the Dead Symphony and its composer, go here).

Now, more than a year after its recorded debut, Lee Johnson’s bold transfiguration of some of the best known and loved Grateful Dead melodies in an orchestral setting is about to receive its world premiere in concert (and we all know that the Dead’s music is best heard live), when it is performed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on August 1^st (Jerry Garcia’s 66^th birthday). For this one-night-only event, the lobby of Baltimore’s Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall will be transformed into a gallery of Grateful Dead and other countercultural art and artifacts, including rare images by Fillmore East photographer (and Baltimore native) Amalie R. Rothschild, which will be auctioned at the performance and online to benefit the Baltimore Symphony.

For tickets and detailed information, visit the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra website.

Listening Party -- Road Trips No. 1, Vol. 3!

Jonathan Lane — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:20:21 -0700

Legendary Artist Alton Kelley Passed Away

ccasal — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:12:52 -0700

ALTON KELLEY
1940 - 2008

Legendary artist Alton Kelley created a graphic style that rocked the world beginning in the psychedelic Sixties. His concert posters, logo designs, LP album covers, and fine art have forevermore defined that time. Kelley, born June 17, 1940, passed away peacefully at home June 1st of complications from a long illness.

He is survived by the true love of his life, Marguerite Trousdale Kelley. He also leaves his mother Annie, sister Kathy, and beloved children Patty, Yossarian, and China, and beautiful grandchildren Life and Lacoda.

Through his mind-expanding creativity and over several decades, Kelley gave rock music new colors, shapes, and themes expressing the optimism and enthusiasm of young people around the globe. His graphics defined youth culture as much as the music itself-in effect his art was a break-through collaboration with musicians and bands such as the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix. As Joel Selvin, rock critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, put it, “Kelley and Mouse drew the first face on rock music.”

Kelley and his life-long collaborator Stanley Mouse are best known for their posters for “San Francisco style” dance-concerts at the Fillmore Auditorium, Winterland Arena, the Fillmore West, the Avalon Ballroom, and a host of other Bay Area theaters and amphitheaters. They also created world-renowned posters and album covers for the Grateful Dead, Journey, Steve Miller, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, and others.

The two artists historically worked as a team, in their words “riffing off each other's giggle.” They joyfully appropriated from historic sources, in one instance re-working an obscure nineteenth-century etching to create their iconic Grateful Dead “skeleton and roses” design. They combined vibrant Sixties color with French poster-making joi de vivre enthusiasm, and their own adapted technique, to generate compelling pieces often issued on a weekly basis, ultimately dazzling millions worldwide. Thus, they changed advertising art forever, as their posters were key examples of what became one of the most important art movements of the latter part of the twentieth century.

When Kelley (a native of Maine) met Mouse (a native of Detroit, MI) in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district in late 1965 (the “Haight” was the epicenter of the hippie movement, culminating in the “Summer of Love” in 1967), they instantly recognized they were kindred spirits in what Mouse describes as “one of the juciest scenes of all time.” Their concert posters, commissioned by Fillmore promoter Bill Graham and the Avalon's Family Dog collective, were eagerly snapped up by bands and fans alike.

In the decades since, Mouse and Kelley's classics have established even greater popularity, rivaling the interest long shown by collectors of French turn-of-the-century Belle Epoque art made famous by Toulouse-Lautrec and others.

In his later years, Kelley joyfully turned to illustrating hot rods and custom cars, fine art paintings, and designs for t-shirts and other merchandise.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at the Washington Mutual Western Street branch in Petaluma, CA for a memorial bench in a Sonoma County Park. A memorial event will be announced shortly.

For members of the press: photographs, selected artwork, and video bites are available by contacting Jennifer Gross at 323-658-8700.

On the next "Tales From The Golden Road" - Whatever!

almanac — Sat, 17 May 2008 03:42:56 -0700

On Sunday, May 18, we'll be doing an "anything goes" edition of "Tales From The Golden Road" on Sirius Satellite Radio's Grateful Dead Channel. Unlike on our themed shows up until now, we'll be winging it, talking about whatever comes to mind, with you the listener invited to help direct the conversation.

Tell us about some great shows you've seen lately (or not-so-lately), what you're planning to do this summer, or whatever comes to mind.

Join the free-form fun by calling 1-888-89-SIRIUS

"Tales From The Golden Road" airs every Sunday from 4 to 6 pm ET on the Grateful Dead Channel, Sirius 32. The program is rebroadcast Monday at 9am ET and Tuesday at 5pm ET.

NOTE: We'd be especially happy to hear from you if you've been to any of the shows in what looks a pretty amazing Phil Lesh & Friends run at the Warfield this past week.

"Tales From The Golden Road" Presents A Mother's Day Special

almanac — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:52:36 -0700

"That's right, the women are smarter!"

As the May 11th edition of "Tales From The Golden Road" on Sirius Satellite Radio's Grateful Dead Channel coincides with the observance of Mother's Day, we can't think of a better way to celebrate than with a salute to women in the Grateful Dead world.

We'll be talking to women who have played a central part in the extended Grateful Dead family over the years, including Carolyn (Mountain Girl) Garcia and Donna Jean Godchaux, who had the unique distinction of serving as the only female member of the band.

If you have stories of your life as a woman in the Dead Head world; if you're a mother of Dead Head kids or a kid with a Dead Head mom; or even just a Dead Head whose mom showed extreme patience in putting up with your nomadic pursuit of the band - you're invited to join the discussion by calling 1-888-89-SIRIUS

"Tales From The Golden Road" airs every Sunday from 4 to 6 pm ET on the Grateful Dead Channel, Sirius 32. The program is rebroadcast Monday at 9am ET and Tuesday at 5pm ET.

On the next "Tales From The Golden Road" - The Trips Festival (encore presentation)

almanac — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:48:27 -0700

On Sunday, May 4th, "Tales From The Golden Road" reprises its debut program from this past January. The subject is the Trips Festival, the watershed cultural event held at San Francisco's Longshoremen's Hall over three days in January 1966, which helped put the Bay Area psychedelic rock scene, and especially the Grateful Dead, on the national map.

Hosts David Gans and Gary Lambert speak to filmmaker Eric Christensen, who attended the Trips Festival as a teenager and recently made a fascinating documentary on the subject. Other expert witnesses include Bob Weir and Carolyn (Mountain Girl) Garcia, both of whom where there, and Grateful Dead historian/biographer Dennis McNally.

As this is a rerun, we won't be taking phone calls. But listeners are invited to join the discussion every other Sunday from 4 to 6 pm ET, when "Tales From The Golden Road" is broadcast live on Sirius 32, the Grateful Dead Channel.

Grateful Dead Press Conference

Jonathan Lane — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:54:47 -0700

Grateful Dead Press Conference To Announce Partnership With UC Santa Cruz

The conference is over. We will be putting it up permanently on this page as soon as we get it.

(NOTE: Contrary to rumor, this has nothing to do with any sort of Dead reunion or tour)

Next on "Tales From The Golden Road" -- Amazing Taper Tales!

almanac — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:33:48 -0700

The April 27 edition of "Tales from the Golden Road" is all about TAPING.

You're invited to join the discussion with your own tales by calling 888-89-SIRIUS

"Tales From The Golden Road" airs every Sunday at 4 pm ET on Sirius 32, the Grateful Dead Channel, with repeat broadcasts every Monday at 9 am ET and Tuesday at 5 pm ET.

Bob Weir to Appear On History Channel Special

almanac — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:49:11 -0700

Beginning on Saturday, April 19th, The History Channel wiil be airing the award-winning 2-hour documentary "Peyote to LSD: A Psychedelic Odyssey an exploration of the evolution and social impact of hallucinogenic plants and chemicals from ancient times to the present. Noted anthropologist, ethnobotanist and author Wade Davis recounts the adventures of his legendary mentor, Richard Evans Schultes, whose plant explorations in the Amazon basin in the 1940s led to scientific breakthroughs that helped change the world.

Appearing on the special, along with such expert witnesses as Dr. Andrew Weil and LSD discoverer Dr. Albert Hoffman, will be Bob Weir, who comments on the impact of psychedelics on the culture of the 60s, and their influence on the music of the Grateful Dead. The show's soundtrack features GD music as well, with excerpts of "Dark Star" and "The Eleven" included.

There will be multiple showings of "Peyote to LSD: A Psychedelic Odyssey," commencing Saturday, April 19th at 10 pm, with encore presentations on Sunday, April 20 at 2 am and Saturday, April 26 at 5 pm. (All times Eastern)

A trailer for the documentary can be viewed at www.gryphonproductions.com and at YouTube.

"Peyote to LSD: A Psychedelic Odyssey" is also available on DVD. For ordering information, go here.

Next on "Tales from the Golden Road": Tales of Winterland!

almanac — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:02:20 -0700

On the April 13 edition of Tales from the Golden Road, we'll celebrate the release of Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings by inviting our listeners to tell their stories of going to shows at the legendary ice rink.

Join the conversation by calling 1-888-89-SIRIUS

"Tales From The Golden Road" airs every Sunday from 4 to 6 pm ET on the Grateful Dead Channel, Sirius 32. The program is rebroadcast Mnday at 9am ET and Tuesday at 5pm ET.

"Tales From The Golden Road" Goes Weekly On Sirius

almanac — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:53:09 -0800

When “Tales From The Golden Road,” the new roundtable discussion/audience participation program, debuted on Sirius Satellite Radio’s wildly popular Grateful Dead Channel in January, listener response was immediate and positive — so much so that Sirius quickly decided to turn the monthly show into a weekly one, beginning March 2nd. Every Sunday, hosts David Gans and Gary Lambert will interview guests in the studio and by phone, and take questions and comments from listeners on a wide variety of subjects of interest to the Dead Head community.

Sunday, March 16th will bring a welcome visit from a great musician and an old pal, Mark Karan, who will bring along some of his favorite music, talk about his experiences as a longtime Dead Head who got to play Grateful Dead music with some the guys who created it, his recent triumph over a serious health scare, and his impending return to life on the road with Bob Weir and RatDog.

Listeners are encouraged to join the discussion by calling 888-89-SIRIUS.

Suggestions for future show topics and other comments are also welcome, at:

gratefuldead@sirius-radio.com

Donna Jean & The Tricksters Up to New Tricks: Debut CD, Rex Benefit, Tour

almanac — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:16:20 -0800

When Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay first hooked up with the Zen Tricksters at the Gathering of The Vibes in upstate New York back in 2005, it was clear to all involved that a very special connection had been made. That bond grew stronger still when Donna and the Tricksters collaborated again the following year, at a Rex Foundation benefit in New York. Within a very short time, the kindred spirits made it official by forming a band together, with vocalist Wendy Lanter and keyboardist Mookie Siegel joining Donna Jean and Zen Tricksters members Jeff Mattson, Tom Circosta, Klyph Black and Dave Diamond. They've been pretty much inseparable ever since, becoming an ever-more-popular attraction on the club and festival circuit.

Photo: Susana Millman

And now Donna Jean & The Tricksters take another big step forward, with the release of their self-produced debut album, an impressive showcase for the vitality and versatility of the band. One of the most striking things about the album is how naturally its music defies easy description. Among the 12 tracks can be found plenty of stuff to make a jam-happy rock fan even happier, but there are also songs (such as "All I Gotta Say") that are evocative of the Southern Soul music that Donna Jean loved and lived as a teenage session singer in her hometown of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Elsewhere you may detect a hint of Gospel ("No Better Way,") Afro-Beat ("Weight of the World,") or lush pop harmonies ("Shelter"), to name just a few of the flavors that make up the band's rich musical gumbo.

To celebrate the new CD, Donna Jean & The Tricksters will be doing a whole lotta live performing in the coming months, including a gala release party and benefit for the Rex Foundation at New York's Knitting Factory on February 23rd. To see if and when they'll be coming to your town, go here.

To order a copy of Donna Jean & The Tricksters or get other info about the band, check out the official website.

Holiday Shipping Dates

Analise Dubner — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:19:01 -0800

The holidays are busy for everyone, including our warehouse. Still, we want to do our best to meet your needs. In order to ensure that your items arrive by December 24th, we suggest you place your orders by the following dates. We cannot guarantee your items will arrive before the holiday, but this schedule should provide sufficient time for your shipment to make it to your door.

For This Shipping Method...	Place Your Order By...
US Mail	Friday, December 14
Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico:	Tuesday December 11
UPS Ground (5 Day Delivery)	Monday, December 10
Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico:	Thursday December 6
UPS 2 Day Delivery	Monday, December 17
Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico:	Tuesday December 13 (Delivery may take longer than 2 days)

Note: The cut-off time for all shipping methods is 9 pm Pacific Standard Time. Orders placed after 9 pm will be processed the next business day.

Unfortunately, we are unable to guarantee Christmas delivery for International Orders at this time.

::Dead.Net Store

Grateful Dead Channel Launches Exclusively on Sirius

Analise Dubner — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 09:19:59 -0700

Highly anticipated channel will feature original radio shows hosted by members of the band, rare concert performances and insider interviews.

NEW YORK – August 29, 2007 – SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) today announced the launch of the highly anticipated Grateful Dead Channel. Heard exclusively on SIRIUS, the channel will feature music spanning the Grateful Dead’s long and celebrated history. The channel will include rare and unreleased performances, original shows hosted by Grateful Dead founders Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, as well as rare archival interviews with Jerry Garcia.

The Grateful Dead Channel will make its debut on September 7 at 12 pm ET on SIRIUS channel 32 with an extremely rare concert broadcast of the band’s 1974 performance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California. This performance will be followed by a special show hosted by Bob Weir, the first by a member of the Grateful Dead on the new channel. The channel will also feature contributions from Grateful Dead expert David Gans, as well as Dead archivist David Lemieux, who will provide a unique look into the Dead’s lush past with daily insights.

"Since we announced the launch of the Grateful Dead Channel, it has become one of the most anticipated music channel launches in our history.” said Scott Greenstein, President, Entertainment and Sports, SIRIUS. “The loyalty and passion of Grateful Dead fans are the truest testament to the band’s legacy. Sirius is thrilled to bring exclusive content to this community and welcomes their continued participation as Sirius becomes part of the Grateful Dead family.”

“This is gonna be one fun channel,” said the Dead’s Bob Weir. “We, the guys in the band, get to be involved as much as we can and we'll make sure it's fun. We want the fans to be involved as well.”

The Grateful Dead formed in mid 1960’s San Francisco’s psychedelia and quickly became a staple in the local music scene. The historic summer of 1967, known as ‘The Summer of Love,’ is when the band first found world wide recognition as thousands of young people from around-the-world made their way to San Francisco’s Haight and Ashbury district to find a new social experience. The Dead, well-known for constantly touring, kept the experience alive for another three decades with a devoted community of fans, many of whom traveled the country with them.

The Grateful Dead Channel joins an exclusive line up of 24-hour, commercial-free music channels dedicated entirely to some of the world's greatest recording artists including Elvis Radio, the world's only official, all-Elvis Presley radio channel broadcasting live from Graceland; and Siriusly Sinatra, devoted to the music and legacy of Frank Sinatra. SIRIUS has previously dedicated channels exclusively to the music of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, The Rolling Stones, David Gilmour and Pink Floyd, George Strait, and most recently, The Who. SIRIUS is also the exclusive radio home of Shade 45, the uncut hip-hop channel co-created with Eminem, "Little Steven" Van Zandt's Underground Garage, channel 25, and Jimmy Buffett's Radio Margaritaville, channel 31.

To learn more about SIRIUS, please visit www.sirius.com or www.sirius.com/gratefuldead.

Bob Weir: Norway '07!

blairj — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:38:39 -0700

Completists will want to start looking for a copy of Bob Weir's latest musical appearance, as reported to us by our exclusive Norwegian correspondent, Peter Aas:

Last Saturday (8/25), Petter Olsen, billionaire philanthropist, organic farmer and Dead Head, arranged a private "Summer of Love Revisited, 40 Years After" festival at his estate just south of Oslo, Norway. Petter had invited Bob Weir over for the party as his private guest and Bob flew over right after his tour finished in NJ last Wednesday. We convinced Bobby to join the local tribute band, The Deadaheads, on stage and he finished their set with "He's Gone" > "Truckin'" > "The Other One" > "Not Fade Away" > "One More Saturday Night." The crowd had no idea that he was there and went bananas when he came on stage.

Thanks for that report, Petter! Sounds like a good time was had by all. Who knew that Oslo had a Dead tribute band? We ARE everywhere!

Air Dates For 'Dead Ahead' on PBS

ccasal — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:39:20 -0700

Station	Date	Time	City
WXEL	8/10/07	Fri/11:00 PM	West Palm Beac, FL
KOZK	8/13/07	Mon/10:30 PM	Springfield, MO
KOZJ	8/13/07	Mon/10:30 PM	Joplin, MO Pittsburg, KS
KTNW	8/30/07	Thu/9:30 PM	Yakim, Pasco, Richland, Kennewick, WA

Mickey Hart & Zakir Hussain Reunite

Analise Dubner — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:41:26 -0700

MICKEY HART & ZAKIR HUSSAIN GLOBAL DRUM PROJECT

In stores October 2

Over three decades as the innovative percussion engine of the Grateful Dead, Mickey Hart's ear for global sounds brought numerous unpredictable guests to the Dead's stage performances.

Hart's 1991 release Planet Drum was the natural outgrowth of this adventure, showcasing his gift as a supreme catalyst in convening the world's finest percussion talent for a dazzling collaboration - including Indian tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain, who is an international phenomenon in his own right. Zakir began his career as a child prodigy has gone on to win many awards, founded his own record label Moment! Records, and starred in two documentaries, 2003's "The Speaking Hand: Zakir Hussain and the Art of the Indian Drum" and 1998's "Zakir and His Friends". Planet Drum was recorded in Hart's Sonoma County home and studio, with the Dead's legendary crew turning virtually every room in the house into a work zone for each musician. The album won the first-ever Grammy® for Best World Music Album, spent an unprecedented 26 weeks at #1 on the Billboard chart, and sells as a perennial favorite to this day.

Fifteen years have passed, and the friendship and musical partnership of Hart and Hussain, which began in the early 70s with their world fusion experiment Diga Rhythm Band, has continued to flourish. Their 2006 Planet Drum reunion tour was immensely well-received and germinated the idea to revisit "Planet Drum"

Hence this fresh collaboration of tranced-out grooves, elegant electronic programming and hypnotic tuned percussion that is the Global Drum Project. Masterfully produced by Hart and Hussain, the Global Drum Project once again enlists the great partnership of Sikuru Adepoju (Nigerian talking drum) and Giovanni Hidalgo (congas), as well as Taufiq Qureshi (brother to Zakir Hussain) on percussion & vocals, Niladari Kumar on sitar, Dilshad Khan on sarangi, and sampled vocals by the late, great Olatunji. Global Drum Project will be in stores October 2nd, 2007. The ensemble will again tour the U.S. this fall in support of the release.

In addition to the Global Drum Project, Shout! Factory will be reissuing a series of catalog titles that will be made available digitally in October, and physically released in 2008. The titles include Diga Rhythm Band (One of the first "world music" recordings, a crystalline, remixed celebration of drumming and percussion featuring Hart, Hussain, nine other rhythmatists, and Jerry Garcia on two tracks), At The Edge ( Companion to his acclaimed book debut, Drumming at the Edge of Magic (Harper San Francisco 1990), this exploration of the music of primeval man unfolds a serene soundscape of tuned percussion, ambient natural sounds, and guitar treatments by Jerry Garcia), Mystery Box ( An effervescent, pop-inflected album, full of breezy songs with layered vocals by England's Mint Juleps - and a vocal debut by Mickey Hart), Supralingua: Hart continued to push the "tribal space" boundaries of percussion and sound, beyond his Grammy-winning Planet Drum, with some of the same stellar guest personnel.

Global Drum Project:
Selection Number: 10706
Price: $18.98
Release Date: October 2, 2007

::See Global Drum Project Tour Dates

Here's Your Chance to Help Mark Karan!

blairj — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:54:15 -0700

We promise not to make a habit of soliciting donations from Dead Heads, but this opportunity was too good to pass up, as it benefits someone we dearly love: Mark Karan. To explain, we're passing the baton here to our good friend David Gans, of Grateful Dead Hour fame:

I just had a nice long conversation with Mark Karan and his wife, Maile Hatfield. Mark has made it clear in his postings that he is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances, and I was very happy to hear personally how positive and upbeat his tone is.

When my wife was undergoing chemo a few years back, she spent a week in Commonweal's Cancer Help program, a week-long retreat in Bolinas specifically for people with cancer. It was tremendously helpful to her spirit and practice. We suggested to Mark and Maile that they take a look at it, and when they expressed an interest in attending, I decided to make it my mission to raise the money to send them both.

Another thing that our community did for Rita and me during her chemo was to get us a gift certificate from Jessie et Laurent, a Marin County-based company that delivers high-quality meals to the home, ready to be heated up as needed.

So what I'd like to do is raise $5000 from the people who love and admire Mark and want to assist him in his journey. This will cover the cost of sending both of them to Commonweal (spouses are encouraged to attend) and a good-sized Jessie et Laurent gift certificate.

If you would like to make a contribution of any amount, please contact me directly. I'll be receiving the funds and handling matters with both Commonweal and Jessie et Laurent.

No contribution is too small, and of course none could be too large. Insurance covers most of the medical stuff, but there are always plenty of related expenses, and additional comforts to make things easier for Mark and his family will be most welcome.

Email david@trufun.com for more information.

--David Gans

The good news, too, is that since word started to spread about this fine effort, donations have been pouring in at a good clip. Don't tell me this scene ain't got no heart!

--BJ

Even better news: the goal amount of $5000 has been met, so no further donations are needed. Yet another reminder of how wonderfully big-hearted and generous the Dead Head community is. Thanks!

If you still want to participate in Mark’s healing process, we suggest that you visit www.carepages.com, a website dedicated to providing support and nurturing community for anyone coping with illness. A page has been established where friends and fans can get updates on Mark’s treatment and recovery, and send messages of support to Mark and his family. Just register at the site and sign in to the “getwellmark” page.

--GL

Help On The Way for RatDog: Kimock Steps In For Karan

Analise Dubner — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 22:36:10 -0700

Central Park, NYC, 7/9/07
(Photo: Gary Lambert)

When life looks like easy street… well, you know how the rest of that song goes. And danger could not have announced itself much more dramatically at RatDog’s door than it did last month, with the news that the band’s great guitarist (and more important, our dear brother), Mark Karan, had been diagnosed with throat cancer, and would have to take a break from touring so that he can get the best and most thorough treatment available. Just days before the start of a long summer trek, the members of RatDog were faced with multiple challenges: dealing both personally and professionally with the absence of such a close pal and vital musical collaborator; and finding someone who could, on dauntingly short notice, step into Mark’s shoes. The latter task was made immeasurably easier by the availability of a longtime member of the extended family: Steve Kimock.

“Steve is an old friend and a good friend,” Bob Weir explained when we caught up with him a half-dozen stops into the tour. “He already knew a lot of our repertoire, having played it in various contexts over the years, and Steve and I know each other’s sensibilities. So we couldn’t have been luckier, given the situation.”

Kimock, Barefoot in the Park
(Photo: Gary Lambert)

It takes more than luck, though, to incorporate a new musical element into a close-knit unit like RatDog. There’s also a lot of time and effort involved, and this band clearly has the resolve and work ethic to make it happen. As of this writing, the concept of “down time” had not yet been introduced to the touring party. On the tour bus, in the backstage rehearsal room and in every available moment, the musicians work and re-work the material, figuring out how to incorporate Kimock’s distinctive, gorgeously melodic playing into the ensemble sound, and how to tailor their own playing to complement his. As Weir notes about RatDog: “There’s a collective sense of orchestration that only occurs when you’re together for a long time.” Asked how he thinks Kimock is doing at finding his way comfortably into that collective, Bob adds, with great admiration, “Steve astonishes me several times a night.”

The audible evidence of the tour thus far emphatically suggests that the astonishments will keep right on coming.

Another source of delightful discovery on the July leg of the tour has been the immensely entertaining presence of Keller Williams, who has been opening the shows with his uncanny solo act, using high-tech looping devices to transform himself into a kind of one-man jamband. Williams has also been sitting in with RatDog at various spots in the shows, with Mr. Weir returning the compliment by guesting on a few tunes in Keller’s set each night. “Keller is a whole lot of fun to play with,” Bobby notes, “and we’ve been figuring out tunes we can do together on the fly, just running through ‘em once or twice and then seeing what happens to ‘em on stage.”

The August leg of the tour will commence at one of the best events of any summer, The Gathering of the Vibes, which returns this time around to Bridgeport, CT, after several years in upstate New York.

Bobby and Keller
(Photo: Gary Lambert)

From there it’s on to Lowell, MA, hometown of Jack Kerouac, for a very special event celebrating the 50th anniversary of Kerouac’s great and hugely influential novel, On The Road. Before the performance, Bob Weir and Grateful Dead historian Dennis McNally (who also wrote Desolate Angel, an acclaimed Kerouac biography) will take to the stage to discuss Kerouac and Neal Cassady, who was immortalized in the novel as Dean Moriarity and would later be a pivotal force in the formative years of the Grateful Dead, as primary driver (“Cowboy Neal at the wheel”) of the legendary Merry Pranksters bus known as “Furthur.”

The summer wraps up with a bunch of dates pairing RatDog with another bunch that has a lot of distinguished history behind it and a lot of great music still in it, the Allman Brothers Band.

Healing vibes to Mark!

A Message From Ratdog

Analise Dubner — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:06:25 -0700

As many of you know, RatDog’s sterling lead guitarist, Mark Karan, is experiencing a health problem. Said Chief Dog Bob Weir, “The docs want to have a close look at our brother Mark over the next few weeks, and we're gonna have to go with that. Our old friend Steve Kimock has graciously offered to cover for him for this tour, and so we're thinking we should go with this. We'll be in touch with Mark daily, and if his docs cut him loose, we'll bring him out. The show must go on, I think, in everyone's best interest. Here’s to Healing…”

Steve chipped in. “First, I'd like to wish Mark a speedy recovery, and secondly, I'd like to thank Bob Weir & RatDog for this opportunity to serve our music, family, friends and community during Mark's absence. Love is a service done. Gratefully, SK."

Finally, we checked in with Mark. “I really appreciate all the love and good vibes I’ve received since announcing my need to take a ‘healing break.’ I’ll be very sorry to miss all these great summer shows this July, but I’ll be back ASAP and I’m sure my ol’ TOO-mate Senor Kimock will do his best to add something special to this run. Keep me in your prayers, and meantime…”Hey, hey…come right away…come and join the party everyday.”

Hmm, good thinking. See you down the road, Milwaukee first.

Sirius Satellite Radio And Grateful Dead To Create Grateful Dead Radio Channel

Analise Dubner — Thu, 24 May 2007 11:47:23 -0700

NEW YORK-May 22, 2007

SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) and the legendary Grateful Dead announced today a new radio channel dedicated to the music of Grateful Dead and its band members.

Grateful Dead Radio will be heard exclusively on SIRIUS and feature music spanning the band's long and storied career, live performances from the band's own archives, bootleg performances from fans, previously unreleased recordings, and even special shows hosted by members of the band. Grateful Dead Radio is expected to launch on SIRIUS this summer.

"We have fans who've driven hundreds of miles to see us," said Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart. "Now you can save on greenhouse gas emissions with SIRIUS without driving a mile."

"Grateful Dead's importance in the history of rock n' roll is undeniable. In the 60s they helped to define a generation with their music and their creativity, in the 70s they virtually pioneered the concept of 'jam bands,' and in the 80s and 90s they were among the preeminent live touring bands. They have continued to amass a significant and extremely loyal fan base to this very day," said Scott Greenstein, President, Entertainment and Sports, SIRIUS. "This unique musical relationship makes SIRIUS the premier home for Dead Heads across North America and Grateful Dead Radio will bring the band's music into the future of audio entertainment."

"Listen up, and listen good," said Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir.

Grateful Dead started a musical revolution in the psychedelic landscape of the 60s. The band, well known for constantly touring, kept the hippy spirit alive during the following decades, creating a devoted community of fans. Grateful Dead's numerous studio recordings were often collected from material that they originally played in concert.

Grateful Dead Radio joins a line up 24-hour, commercial-free music channels dedicated entirely to some of the world's greatest recording artists such as Elvis Radio, channel 13, the world's only official, all-Elvis Presley radio channel broadcasting live from Graceland in Memphis. SIRIUS has previously dedicated channels exclusively to the music of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, The Rolling Stones, David Gilmour and Pink Floyd, George Strait, and most recently The Who. SIRIUS is also the exclusive radio home of Shade 45, channel 45, the uncut hip-hop channel co-created with Eminem, "Little Steven" Van Zandt's Underground Garage, channel 25, Jimmy Buffett's Radio Margaritaville, channel 31, and Siriusly Sinatra, channel 75, the only channel dedicated to the music, time and spirit of Frank Sinatra.

Vibes for Peace

PatRhino — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:03:58 -0700

On Saturday, November 18th in New York City the New Riders of the Purple Sage performed at the intimate and elegant Concert Hall of the New York Society of Ethical Culture at 2 West 64th Street. Rex Foundation pre-concert guests enjoyed a sound check party, drinks, dinner and reception with the artists, along with premium orchestra seating for the concert.

On Friday, December 1st, at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, Rex presented VIBES FOR PEACE - A Celebration of Music and Benefit for the Rex Foundation. This evening was the West Coast premiere of the Rhythm Devils featuring Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Mike Gordon and Steve Kimock, with special guests including Bob Weir.

Grateful Dead Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

PatRhino — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:03:13 -0700

The Grateful Dead, among others, were honored at the 2007 Grammys with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. "This year's group of accomplished honorees are as diverse as they are influential as creators of the most renowned and prominent recordings in the world," said Recording Academy President Neil Portnow in a press release. "Their contributions exemplify the highest artistic and technical standards that have positively affected the music industry and music fans." Past honorees include Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Woody Guthrie, and Bob Marley.

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ALTON KELLEY 1940 - 2008

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Help On The Way for RatDog: Kimock Steps In For Karan

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Sirius Satellite Radio And Grateful Dead To Create Grateful Dead Radio Channel

Vibes for Peace

Grateful Dead Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

ALTON KELLEY
1940 - 2008