Friend of the Devil: My Wild Ride with Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead

by Len Dell'Amico

272 pages, Hardcover

Published April 15, 2025

Reviews

[Maia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you father for lending me this book. I loved every moment of reading this and implore you to read it. It tells such a personable, emotional, and endearing story about Jerry Garcia, his relationship with those around him (the author in this book), his altruism, and purpose for creating music. Len honored this man’s legacy in a way that was light, funny, and captivating. Fantastic read.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

There.are a lot if books about the Dead and the import of Garcia's outsize role in their music but this one offers insight into the man behind the music, both good and bad. The good part is that Dell'Amico had a ring side seat during the Dead's most 'productive' years in the 80's and early 90's, because of his role as their video producer/documentarian. He grew close to Jerry, filming >50 shows and directing videos for "Hell In A Bucket" and "Touch of Gray" which took the Dead from the underground into the mainstream.

The best part of the book are the bits that show Jerry as a dedicated and truly great musician and the moments when his rich sense of humor and everyman sensibility shine. No surprise to anyone who is a fan Dell'Amico also shows Garcia to have a deep humanitarian side, to be a be a good sketch artist and a deep thinker. The part I didn't care much for is the emphasis on the importance video played in the evolution of the band, partly due the times (MTV?) and due to the band's increasing need for cash to support their big lifestyles and extended families. The book discusses Jerry's deepening drug habit likely accelerated due to the need to separate himself from the rigors of endless travel and an invasive fan base. That said, if your one of Jerry's kids this memoir will bring you as close to the man with the elegaic voice as you get.

[Steve Johgart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read maybe 20 books related to the Grateful Dead, and this one is one of the best. The book is all about the author's friendship with Jerry Garcia, and their shared passion for film and their work on some of the Grateful Dead's films. The depiction of Jerry is wonderful, shows him much more casually and intimately than most Dead books, and though it doesn't avoid his drug use issues, it doesn't make them the focus of the story at all. The primary focus is on Jerry as a friend in his ordinary life persona (as ordinary as the person considered, against his wishes, the head of the Grateful Dead can be). Dell'Amico provides a delightful representation of what it must have been like to just hang out with Jerry Garcia.

[ki · Rating 5 out of 5]

the writing felt cinematic and fast paced while also delving into deep issues like spirituality and issues with fame. the author was very good at immersive storytelling which felt like being friends with jerry myself. i’m not a huge dead head but i enjoyed this book a lot!

[Michael Maher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! I thought Len did an outstanding job of letting us in on what it was like to be Jerry and offered a very unique perspective from inside the inner circle of the Dead.