The three posts currently atop the Music, Video and Et Cetera columns are all "Dead."

I am into all styles of music, the crucial factor being that it is well done. Classical, punk, folk, jazz, rap, reggae, etc. It all has it's virtuosity.

The Dead are amazing. The most consistant live performances I have ever seen of any band. Amazing concert sound, incredible jams. Always get that rush that hits you in the soul. Drugs or not. The performance is the drug.

Anyway, I'll agree with your choice.

Thanks Douglas, I appreciate he support. I was very surprised how much animosity was expressed toward the Dead in the comments here.

dang, i could have sworn that Joan Osborne had become a permanent member of the Dead.

i guess not.

God became one of us and vetoed it.

And, you know, they always get knocked for their studio work. And in reality, their studio albums are not bad. Some are very good. For instance, "Uncle Johns Band" from the 'Workingman's Dead' album features some very good engineering. Notice the use of very crisp echo on the final chorus.

You know the old 80-20 theory. It applies to music. If you only listen to one music catagory 80% of what you hear is schlock. I like the top 20% of all catagories. The Dead fall in that department. then again, they are pretty much their own catagory...

YEAH! The music never stops.

I've seen dozens of Dead shows... so glad to be able to continue the tradition. Yowzah!

RE:"God became one of us and vetoed it".

"What if God was one of us...Just a slob like one of us...Just a stranger on the bus, trying to make his way home".

RE:"The three posts currently atop the Music, Video, and Et Cetera columns are all "Dead".

Why, we are in Rock-n-Roll Heaven, of course !Stephen King said so, he reads my dreams :0)

Anyway, the Dead was ahead of my time, but the more I read about them, the more interested in them I get.The colsest I ever come to being a Dead fan, was owning a GD T-shirt in high school, cause it was a cool thing to do.Even though I didn't listen to any of their music, plz don't hate me now.

Only love for you, Sheri. That Very Best Of at the top of the Amazon list would be a great place to start.

Have any of you deadheads (or anyone else out there) read Tiger in a Trance, a recent novel by Max Ludington? The novel isn't perfect, but for those who went to HS and college during the Dead revival of the late 80's-early 90's will be amazed at the accuracy of Max's scenes.

It's a sprawling, well-observed novel about Dead Tourists in the era, and may really take you back -- if you were there in the first place.

Me, I hate the boring, derivative Dead. Of course, I am unable to judge objectively; when I went to school, "put on some music" literally meant "choose a Grateful Dead live tape from the hundreds we have in the rack and press play." sked their favorite album, many of my friends would answer "Hampton Coliseum '84" or "Byrne Arena, second night, '82."

If I hear one more "Scarlet/Fire" I will forever cease sharing the women or the wine.

IMHO opinion, Jerry should have practiced his scales at home.

But read Tiger in a Trance. Max is a nice guy whom we should all encourage. Here's the amazon link, for some reviews et al...

There's an interesting movie, Festival Express which will be shown at the SF Film Festival and start opening in theaters over the summer. It chronicles a 5 day train trip in 1970 in Canada with the Grateful Dead, the Band, Janice Joplin, Buddy Guy, and many more.

There are a bunch of performances from the concerts, but the heart of the film are the jam sessions on the train.

I have always stayed clear of Deadheads in groups (other than at concerts, of course), so I have never been inundated by the band's music or its fans, and have just picked and chosen what I have liked of their prodigious output (official releases only) as I have gone along over the last 30+ years.

Approached that way they have all kinds of great stuff, but I would never approach them (or any other band, for that matter) as a way of life.

I've heard it on good authority that the Dead (remnants) were about to pack it in when they saw Eric's Top Ten list on MSNBC and were so fortified by his high esteem, they organized this tour.

Suckup. ;)

hey, i've got a DeadHead story...

during the summer before my last year of college the Dead came to play at the university of maine. i did go to the show but i got a direct 'viewing' of the DeadHead scene as i took a run from my off campus apartment...running through the huge parking lot next to the hockey arena and fieldhouse i came across the largest collection of weird folks ever assembled in orono, maine.

the next day at work (umaine computing center) i found out that one of my coworkers was on the arts committee. the previous night his job at the concert was to pick up Jerry and bring him to the show...Jerry only said one thing during the from hotel to arena:

"A lotta freaks out there, eh?"

I am pleased to hear my influence is finally beginning to rise to the level it so richly deserves.

I just read your article on the top 10 all time rock bands and I want to compliment you on your insightful analysis. I totally agree with your top four, but would have included some of your honorable mentions in the top ten. Of particular note, is the DEAD at #4, Rolling Stone Mag didn't even include them in the top 50!!!! What fools.

Thanks Kardo, very kind of you. I don't expect anyone to agree with the list as is - it's pretty well guaranteed to aggravate - but I'm glad you read it in the spirit in which it was written. Thanks again!