Playing in the Band: An Oral and Visual Portrait of the Grateful Dead

by David Gans, Peter Simon

Celebrating the life and career of the late Jerry Garcia, an updated edition of the best-selling history of the Grateful Dead discusses the evolution of the band and its music and profiles the members of the group. Reprint.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, History

221 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Elyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was going through my books to sell or give away and I just couldn't part with this one! I have a much older version of this book. My high school friend gave it to me for my birthday sometime in the mid-80s. The Grateful Dead were still going strong and I was just beginning to explore their music and hearing some of their songs for the first time. I am sure this updated version is even better, but the book I have is a relic from my teen years and the beginning of 20+ years of being a GD fan.

[Xavier University Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing in the Band tells a generalized history of the Grateful Dead through pieced together interviews over the years while showing the history through photographs from concerts, candid shots, or promotional shots. This book is a nice introduction to the band if someone has a casual interest in music. Overall, it was a quick and fascinating read about one of the most enduring bands of the 20th century.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading just for the photos alone! Nothing to groundbreaking that is covered elsewhere, lots of great photos. Interesting quotes on Keith

[David Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing in the Band:  An Oral and Visual Portrait of the Grateful Dead by David Gans (St. Martin's Press 1996)(780.92+/-) is one of the better Dead-oriented volumes of art, poetry, and tradition.  My rating:  7/10, finished 3/11/13.

[Jeff Fabrizio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a huge fan of the type of narrative (done like an oral history, comprised mainly of quotes), but some of the photography is amazing. Well worth it, and a quick read. Definitely one I would flip back through in the future.

[Douglas Graney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gans does a good job. Worth getting if you're a fan.

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

DJ.