You are walking around a parking lot full of almost clown like dressed people with long hair. The smell of patchouli oils cannot be escaped everywhere you turn. There are men and women with gray hair and young teens mixed in together. Volkswagen buses seem to be the vehicle of choice for many of these people. Every aisle you walk down people are selling clothing, food, pictures, bumper stickers, and an assortment of drugs. “Where am I?” you ask. There is only one place like this in the world, a Grateful Dead concert. This band started acquiring a cult following in their formation in the 1960’s and that following is still strong today. The Grateful Dead saw many happy times, as well as, many sad times. Jerry Garcia, the lead guitar player, died from a long life of drug abuse and accompanied bad health in 1995. The band also saw three keyboardists die while they were playing. Two died from drug abuse and the other died in a car accident. In this essay, I will give biographical details of this incredibly successful, popular band and their musical influences and roots. I will also talk about the many aspects of this band which make it different from other bands. I will

Some topics in this essay:
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