Grateful Dead
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	MEMBERS: Jerry Garcia ~ Bob Weir ~ Ron “Pigpen” McKernan ~ Bill Kreutzmann ~ Phil Lesh ~ Mickey Hart ~ Tom Contanten ~ Keith Godchaux ~ Donna Godchaux ~ Brent Mydland ~ Vince Welnick BIRTHDAYS: Jerry Garcia (August 1, 1942 - August 9, 1995) ~ Bob Weir (October 16, 1947) ~ Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (September 8, 1945 - March 8, 1973) ~ Bill Kreutzmann (May 7, 1946) ~ Phil Lesh (March 15, 1940) ~ Mickey Hart (September 11, 1943) ~ Tom Contanten (March 19, 1944) ~ Keith Godchaux (July 14, 1948 - July 23, 1980) ~ Donna Godchaux (August 22, 1945) ~ Brent Mydland (October 21, 1952 - July 26, 1990) ~ Vince Welnick (February 22, 1951 - June 2, 2006) BIGGEST SINGLE: "Touch Of Grey" (1987) BIGGEST LP: Skeletons From The Closet (The Best Of The Grateful Dead) (1974) GRAMMY AWARDS: 1 (for Lifetime Achievement) ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE: 1994

The Grateful Dead spanned 3 decades of what seemed to be constant touring and a relentless fan base known as 'Dead Heads' spreading their melodic, sometimes psychedelic rock and roll sound. Although the group never won Grammy Awards or had multi-million-selling LPs, they left a mark on the history of music that is undeniable and unchallenged.

Jerry Garcia first met Bob Weir and later in the year Garcia, Weir, and Ron "Pigpen" McKernan performed as 'Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions.'

Garcia, Weir, McKernan, Bill Kreutzmann, and Dana Morgan, Jr. performed as 'The Warlocks' in California. In the middle of the year, Phil Lesh replaced Morgan on bass and by the end of the year, they were performing as the Grateful Dead.

The Grateful Dead released their first single "Don't Ease Me In / Stealin'."

The band members moved to the infamous Ashbury Street in San Francisco.

The Grateful Dead signed with Warner Bros. Records.

The Grateful Dead performed in San Francisco at the 'Great Human Be-In' anti-Vietnam protest.

The Grateful Dead was released.

The Dead performed at the 'Monterey International Pop Festival.'

Mickey Hart joined the group as a second drummer.

Lesh, McKernan, and Weir were charged with marijuana possession (charges were later dismissed).

Anthem Of The Sun was released.

Tom Constantine joined the band on piano.

Aoxomoxoa was released.

The Grateful Dead performed at Woodstock.

Live/Dead was released.

Controversy erupts over the use of the Hell's Angels gang as security when a concert goer is stabbed to death at a show which also featured the Rolling Stones and Jefferson Airplane.

Most of the band was arrested on drug possession charges in New Orleans (charges were later dismissed).
Constantine left the band.

Workingman's Dead was released.

Vintage Dead was released - a live LP from a 1966 San Francisco performance.

American Beauty was released.

Hart left the band.

Historic Dead was released - a live LP from a 1966 performance in San Francisco.

Keith Godchaux joined the Dead on keyboards.
Grateful Dead (Skulls & Roses) was released - a live LP recorded from the April shows in New York and March show in San Francisco.

The Grateful Dead was certified gold.

Donna Godchaux joined the group as a vocalist.

The Grateful Dead toured Europe.

Europe '72 was released.

Europe '72 was certified gold.

McKernan (lovingly known as 'Pigpen') died of liver failure due to alcoholism.

History Of The Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Bear's Choice) was released - a live collection from a 1970 performance at Bill Graham's Fillmore East in New York.

Wake Of The Flood was released.

Skeletons From The Closet (The Best Of The Grateful Dead) was released.

Grateful Dead From The Mars Hotel was released.

American Beauty and Workingman's Dead were certified gold.

Hart returned to the Grateful Dead.

Blues For Allah was released.

During the year the band only played 4 lives shows.

Steal Your Face was released - a live LP from a San Francisco performance in 1974.

Terrapin Station was released.

What A Long Strange Trip It's Been - The Best Of The Grateful Dead was released.

The Grateful Dead performed in Egypt at the Great Pyramids during a lunar eclipse.

Shakedown Street was released.

Keith and Donna Godchaux left the band.

Brent Mydland joined as a keyboardist.

Skeletons From The Closet (The Best Of The Grateful Dead) was certified gold.

Go To Heaven was released.

Keith Godchaux died in an auto accident in California.

Reckoning was released - a live LP of a 1980 performance in San Francisco.

Dead Set was released - a live recording of 1980 performances in California.
Europe '72 was certified 2x platinum.

The Grateful Dead officially allow taping of the concert performances after allowing a section of the concert floor be used for such taping.

Garcia was arrested on drug possession charges. He later plead guilty and performed community services.

The Grateful Dead begin touring with Bob Dylan and Tom Petty.
The Grateful Dead's tour was cancelled after Garcia collapsed into a diabetic coma.

American Beauty and Workingman's Dead were certified platinum.

The Dead resumed touring.
Skeletons From The Closet (The Best Of The Grateful Dead) was certified platinum.

# 93 Singles Artist of the Year

The Grateful Dead got their first Top 10 pop hit on the charts with "Touch Of Grey."
In The Dark was released.

In The Dark was certified platinum, Terrapin Station was certified gold, and Shakedown Street was certified gold.

The video for "Touch Of Grey" was nominated for 2 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Stage Performance Video and Best Special Effects.

Dylan And The Dead was released.

Built To Last was released.

Built To Last was certified gold.

Mydland died from an overdose of cocaine and morphine at the age of 37.

Vince Welnick (of the Tubes) joined the band as keyboardist.
Without A Net was released - a live LP of 1989 and 1990 performances.
Bruce Hornsby played his first concert with the Grateful Dead on the keyboards.

Without A Net was certified gold.

A compilation LP of Grateful Dead tracks, Deadicated, was released.
One From The Vault was released - a live LP of a 1975 performance in San Francisco.

Infrared Roses was released - the LP is a collection of the legendary "Drums" and "Space" performances that were a staple in Dead performances.

Two From The Vault was released - a live LP from a 1968 performance in Los Angeles.

Garcia introduced his own line of ties.

Garcia collapsed while on tour and the remaining tour dates were cancelled.

Dick's Picks, Volume One was released - the first of many "Dick Picks" releases. The performance picked for the first LP was a 1973 performance in Florida.

The Grateful Dead were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Skeletons From The Closet (The Best Of The Grateful Dead) was certified 2x platinum.

Skeletons From The Closet (The Best Of The Grateful Dead) was certified 3x platinum.

During a show in Washington DC, 3 fan were struck by lightning.

Garcia played his last live show in Chicago.

On August 9th, Garcia died from heart failure while at a drug rehabilitation center in California.
In The Dark was certified 2x platinum.

Hundred Year Hall was released - a live performance from 1972 in Germany.

Grayfolded was released.

The remaining members of the band announced they would never be touring again as 'The Grateful Dead.'

The Arista Years was released and Dozin' At The Knick was released - a live LP from a 1990 performance in New York.

Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock And Roll includes "Dark Star" and "Uncle John's Band."
Hundred Year Hall was certified gold.

Aoxomoxoa was certified gold.

Fallout From The Phil Zone was released - a collection of live tracks over the decades.

Fillmore East 2-11-69 was released.

Ranked # 54 on VH1: Greatest Artists of Rock & Roll (and # 24 on Rock On The Net's Poll).

Lesh toured as 'Phil and Friends.'

The Other Ones joined the 'Furthur Tour.'

The 5 CD set, So Many Roads (1965 - 1995) was released.

Dozin' At The Knick was certified gold.

So Many Roads (1965 - 1995) was certified gold.

During the summer, the Other Ones once again toured with the 'Furthur Tour.'

Ladies & Gentlemen... The Grateful Dead was released - a live 5 CD set of a performance from 1971 in New York City at the Fillmore East.

American Beauty was certified 2x platinum, What A Long Strange Trip It's Been - The Best Of The Grateful Dead was certified platinum, and Live/Dead was certified gold.