Description
This series contains incoming
correspondence to the Grateful Dead, in large part letters and postcards received from fans.
Materials in the early 1970s substantially reflect the Dead Heads mailing list and outreach
efforts.
Background
The Grateful Dead were an American rock band that formed in 1965 in Northern California.
They came to fame as part of author Ken Kesey's Acid Tests, a series of multimedia
happenings centered around then-legal LSD. Famed for their concerts, the band performed more
than 2,300 shows over thirty years, disbanding after the death of lead guitarist Jerry
Garcia in August 1995. Although their only Top 10 hit, "Touch of Grey," charted in 1987,
their popularity was based on concerts, and in their last decade they consistently placed in
the top five tours every year. Known for the range of their repertoire and the caliber of
their compositions, the Dead's songbook has been covered by a wide range of other musicians,
from Bob Dylan to Jane's Addiction. They released thirteen studio albums and nine
contemporary live albums during their career, and more than 100 live releases since then.
They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
Extent
89 Linear Feet
122 boxes
Restrictions
Property rights for this collection reside with the University of California. Literary
rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. The publication
or use of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use for research or
educational purposes requires written permission from the copyright owner. Responsibility
for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user. For more
information on copyright or to order a reproduction, please visit
guides.library.ucsc.edu/speccoll/reproduction-publication.
Availability
This collection has not been fully processed but is open for research. Access to
unprocessed collections requires advance notice. Please contact Special Collections and
Archives to request access.