Release – Grateful Dead collectors alert: Dead Forever, an online auction by ANALOGr featuring more than 30 official band road cases used by Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir and company, will take place May 15.
The online auction includes the main production case with contents still intact from the band’s last show in Chicago July 9, 1995, assorted stage gear, instruments and rare images. Online bidding starts at 9 a.m. at the website Analogr.com.
The auction offers more than 300 curated lots from The Grateful Dead, showcasing rare memorabilia celebrating the band’s legendary legacy in music history.
The Grateful Dead stands as one of the most iconic rock bands that heavily influenced the psychedelic music movement of the mid-1960s. Led by vocalist and lead guitarist Garcia, alongside guitarist and vocalist Weir, bassist Phil Lesh, keyboardist Ron McKernan, Brent Mydland, and drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, the band created and continues to influence a pop culture phenomenon.
The ANALOGr DEAD FOREVER auction features historical artifacts offered for the first time. The items curated from the Grateful Dead include the main Grateful Dead Road Case which was retired after the very last Dead show at Soldier Field on July 9, 1995. None of the contents in the case have been touched since the last Grateful Dead show making it a true band time capsule.
Drawer #1 contains both over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceutical drugs. In Drawer #2 holds touring backstage passes and Drawer #3 contains pharmacy items like rolling papers, band-aids, lighters, toothpaste and other items. In the case of the Grateful Dead road case, its significance extends beyond the band’s final show in 1995. While it did indeed retire from active duty after Soldier Field, it continued to be utilized by Phil Lesh and Friends on the road, acquiring additional items such as a 2005 road atlas.
Originally belonging to Robbie Taylor, the case was passed down from Harry Popick, the Grateful Dead’s monitor mixing engineer, in 1983, marking Taylor’s initiation into his role as production manager. In 1984, Hard Truckers woodshop refurbished the case, adding the iconic thirteen-point lightning bolt.
This road case remained untouched since the last Grateful Dead show, serving as a historic time capsule. However, it’s important to note that its usage extended beyond 1995, contrary to initial perceptions. It retained its original contents, including pharmaceuticals, backstage passes, and pharmacy items, making it a cherished relic among fans and insiders alike. Robbie Taylor himself attests to its significance, recalling it as the first of many GD Production road cases he managed during his tenure.
In 1984, Hard Truckers Woodshop, the visionary craftsmen behind the iconic Wall of Sound and Dead speaker cabinets, etched their indelible mark on history by crowning their creations with the striking thirteen-point lightning bolt. Among these storied features, Jerry Garcia’s Final Grateful Dead Touring Rig reigns supreme, proudly housing Bob Weir’s legendary McIntosh MC 2300 amplifier from the ’74 Wall of Sound tour.
Unveiled in December 1992 amidst the electric atmosphere of Denver, Colorado, this guitar rig became Garcia’s steadfast companion, its melodic resonance echoing through every Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia show until the poignant finale in July 1995.
Bidders will also have the chance to bid on:
The Grateful Dead Europe ’72 Itinerary Book from Dan Healy;
Jerry Garcia’s Open Back Vintage EV12 Speaker Cab; Jerry Garcia’s Open Back Vintage Double Speaker Cab;
“Steal Your Peach” 1994 Spring Tour Artwork by Biffie;
Erik Hawkey “The Untouchables” Summer 1995 Grateful Dead artwork:
a Grateful Dead signed Movie DVD with Film Slides,
Garcia and Weir signed checks from a 1992 Letterman appearance and more.
For more information go to www.analogr.com