The lead guitarist of the Grateful Dead died 25 years ago, on August 9, 1995; today, the band’s music is more accessible than ever before.
Grateful Dead singer and lead guitarist Jerry Garcia died 25 years ago on August 9,1995, leaving a hole in the heart of legions of fans. He was 53 years old. A quarter-century later, both musicians and fans who followed the band across the globe continue to gather to celebrate his music, reports CBS News correspondent Allison Keyes. But on the day of Garcia’s death, fans could not have known all of the ways they would have to get their Grateful Dead fix today – from archival recordings to podcasts. « There was definitely the signs that the live community was still going to be there – the Grateful Dead community was going to be there period, » David Lemieux, the band’s archivist and legacy manager, told CBS News Radio. « But to the extent that it is now, where there are so many bands playing Grateful Dead music, whether it’s the original members or not, [they] are just a great way to consume Dead.
