First published 2015
Bill Kreutzmann sits behind his drum kit as the Grateful Dead takes the stage for another night of musical exploration. As one of the band's founding members, he witnessed every moment of their thirty-year journey from the San Francisco hippie scene of 1965 to their final bow. Kreutzmann played drums at all 2,300-plus concerts, watching from his perch as the band created a new form of American music. He shared stages with Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, and The Who. He experienced the chaos of Altamont and the magic of Woodstock. Through it all, he pushed every boundary he encountered, living without limits in a world of drugs, music, and endless adventure. The band faced devastating losses and celebrated remarkable victories, but the music always remained at the center. Kreutzmann's story captures both the wild excess and the sonic innovation that made the Dead the ultimate improvisational band, revealing how their outlaw approach to art became the soundtrack to American counterculture.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, american, autobiography, non-fiction, music
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, music-industry
Setting: Altamont, San Francisco, Woodstock
Period: 1965, 1960s, 1970s
400 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press
Content warnings: drug-use