Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 8, 1995 TAG: 9507110016
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GARY GRAFF KNIGHT-RIDDER/TRIBUNE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The Grateful Dead is indeed that band - though you won't find any tie-dye on the musicians themselves.
But during 30 years of music-making, the Dead has established itself as far more than a traveling '60s revival show. In music, technology and commerce, the San Francisco-based band is responsible for pioneering standards that are emulated throughout the music world. And its concerts remain state-of-the-art affairs.
Need proof of the Dead's impact? Consider these 10 areas of influence:
Tapeheads: The Dead's taping section is legendary; a special group of seats in which fans can freely record the concert and then distribute copies of their tapes in a kind of black market the Dead tacitly encourages - in fact, the group sells its own bootlegs through the ``Dick's Picks'' series. Metallica was the first group to follow this model. This year, former Led Zeppelin frontmen Jimmy Page and Robert Plant - after attending a Dead concert at Madison Square Garden - set up a taping section at their shows. And the Black Crowes and the Dave Matthews Band allow any fan to record their concerts.
Kick out the jams: The Dead's practice of improvisation and constantly changing its repertoire hails from the jazz and blues performers who influenced many '60s rock bands. But current disciples of the Dead abound, ranging from Bruce Springsteen - who always tinkers with his set list - to the H.O.R.D.E. of younger, jam-oriented bands such as Blues Traveler, Spin Doctors, Phish, the Dave Matthews Band, Big Head Todd & the Monsters and others.
Voices carry: During the '70s, the Dead solved the problem of keeping the singers' microphones quiet while they weren't singing. Via a pedal on the stage, each musician is able to turn his microphone on or off with his feet. It's now standard equipment for rock 'n' roll tours.
Everybody wang chung tonight: The parking lot party at a Dead show - alternately referred to as the Bazaar, the Festival, Shakedown Street or Jerryville (after the Dead's Jerry Garcia) - is also the stuff of legend, a trippy, counterculture tailgate party. Its blend of communal vibes and free-market merchandising have been institutionalized as sideshows for the Lollapalooza and H.O.R.D.E. tours. Community and police complaints have curtailed some of these activities at their shows. Overnight camping, for instance, is no longer allowed.
Tickets to ride: The Dead was the first to set up its own mail-order system for ardent fans - something Pearl Jam has done for members of the Ten Club, its fan organization. The Dead sells about half of its tickets, up to 900,000 tickets a year, this way. Unlike Pearl Jam, however, they sell the rest through Ticketmaster.
Hangin' on the telephone: When its mailing list grew to an unworkable 160,000, the Dead instituted another innovation - a telephone hot line to provide tour and recording information. There are now two taped hot lines - 1-201-744-7700 and 1-415-457-6388 - that receive up to 10,000 calls a day, though they're only able to answer 2,000.
Shop around: The Dead's extensive merchandising operation has been envied and emulated throughout the music community. Grateful Dead Merchandising Inc. now offers more than 100 items, from standard-issue T-shirts and CDs to golf balls and computer mouse pads. The company fills up to 4,500 orders a month, not counting purchases at concerts.
Lazy summer nights: Conventional rock 'n' roll wisdom dictates that you tour when you have something to sell - usually a new album. The Dead thumbed their noses at that notion, and its sell-outs show that people will come out for the music and the vibe, regardless of any new tunes. That kind of thinking has kept Jimmy Buffett, the Beach Boys, Steve Miller and Santana coming back year after year.
Before and after: The Dead's lengthy shows usually bar an opening act at arenas, but the group has turned its stadium shows into events with opening acts such as Bob Dylan, Traffic and Sting. The cool opener is now almost de rigueur at such concerts.
Ties that bind: Finally, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention neckties - the last thing you'd expect counterculturites like the Dead to be into. But they have been a successful sidelight for Garcia during the past five years, and have spawned a series of imitators which includes the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and, most recently, Frank Sinatra.
by CNB