Video: Grateful Dead :: Mountains Of The Moon (Live 1969 – Playboy After Dark) MP3: Jerry Garcia Band :: Mission In The Rain (San Francisco, 1976) MP3: Jerry Garcia Band :: Don’t Let Go (San Francisco, 1976) MP3: Jerry Garcia :: That’s What Love Will Make You Do (San Francisco, 1976) The issue will reportedly feature in depth interviews with bandmates, insiders, contemporaries, as well as those whose music has been influenced by the band. “We wanted to dig deep and show our readers that he’s an incredibly relevant and inspiring figure – an honest to goodness rock star who very much deserves his place in the canon of modern music.” Via Media Bistro: “There are so many misconceptions and prejudices regarding Jerry and his legacy,” says editor Alex Wagner. Be it folk, country, bluegrass, electronic (yes), rock & roll, jazz or noise rock the Grateful Dead and Garcia’s solo work explored it all and then some. Whether it’s Animal Collective or Comets On Fire, the Dead tread in those steps long before.

The Dead’s influence, whether direct or indirect, can be heard on half of the “indie”, “experimental” albums that are being regarded as so fresh and groundbreaking today. Having Garcia grace the cover of the magazines third annual “Icons” issue can, and will, introduce the band to an audience either to young, or too close-minded, to care in the past. The band, and it’s reluctant leader, have been profiled, both on and offline, numbering in the thousands, so why is the Fader coverage worth noting? Because of it’s reach.

“Their music touches on ground that most other groups don’t even know exists.” - Lenny Kaye Peel back the bullshit and you’ll find an unexpected trove of brilliance. I have long believed them to be one of the more misunderstood groups of the past 40 years, whose music and image is sadly enshrouded in tye-dye, dancing bears, and a few tunes on ‘classic rock’ radio. The upcoming issue of the hipster music rag Fader explores something I have discussed several times on these pages in the past: the vast, popular, misconception of Jerry Garcia and the legacy of the Grateful Dead.

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