The Grateful Dead FAQ: All That’s Left to Know about the Greatest Jam Band in History

Ever wondered why the Grateful Dead once added a modern classical composer to the ranks? Or how they pioneered the "double live" rock album concept? Or what a final studio album by the Dead would have been like? These questions and more are answered in The Grateful Dead FAQ. Subtitled "All That's Left to Know About the Greatest Jam Band in History," the book explores subjects that Deadheads have long discussed on message boards and blogs. In all, it's comprised of 130,000 words and 39 chapters in which author Tony Sclafani investigates unexplored terrain but also includes basics for beginners. The Grateful Dead rose out of San Francisco's 1960s underground rock scene blending strains of rock folk, classical, and blues, and boldly advocating the use of drugs for the purposes of mind expansion. The book takes a look at the band's rise to prominence, their studio albums, bootleg recordings, and sociological significance. Chapters are also included about the Dick's Pick's series, David Lemieux's archiving activities, and the band's appearances at the Monterey Pop and Woodstock festivals. Sclafani thoroughly examines the band's impact on rock music and pop culture, explaining how the Dead influenced and drew from outside sources. The Grateful Dead FAQ is a roadmap into the magical, sometimes bumpy, yet always exhilarating world of one of the most unique groups that rock music ever produced.