Welcome to Closet Dead Head, Inc. Your Grateful Dead memorabilia superstore!
Here you will find the best deals on Grateful Dead music, memorabilia, gifts and other fun collectibles. We hope you find what you are looking for and have a great time enjoying the legacy of the Grateful Dead!
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The Closet Dead Head Mission
In a nutshell, Closet Dead Head is an unique online store leveraging proceeds to solely power research and development efforts. Our goal is to make ZERO profit, and instead take ALL of our income and spend it on creating outstanding original content and killer site functionality. For example, our buyers guide and category descriptions are well researched and 100% original content from subject matter experts. By working with Amazon.com (truely the world's largest retailer) we can offer you the best goods at the EXACT same low prices. Ultimately, we can't compete with Amazon on selection or price, so we partner with them to bring you IDENTICAL product listings and provide the needed content to make informed decisions to purchase products.
In the end, we are relying on the consumer to VALUE expert un-biased content creation and purchase from our site so we can continue to create richer and deeper content for the site. We are different because we take our profits to pay for research and development, unlike most organizations that use profits to pay owners. Feed our passion for using proceeds to CREATE instead of making owners rich, BUY from ClosetDeadHead.com today :)
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Grateful Dead History Information & Buyers Guide
THE BAND
The Grateful Dead is an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a unique and eclectic style in music, the band is perhaps well-known for its live performances of long musical improvisation. They altered rock music by incorporating into their sound different elements of folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, jazz, psychedelia, and space rock. Their 30-year career underwent several changes with band members, but the original group consisted of Jerry Garcia (guitar, banjo, vocals); Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (keyboards, harmonica, guitar, vocals); Phil Lesh (bass guitar, vocals); Bob Weir (rhythm guitar, vocals); and Bill Kreutzmann (drums). With the exception of McKernan, the core of the band stayed together for 30 years, until Garcia's death in 1995. Other members included Mickey Hart, Tom Constanten, Keith Godchaux, Donna Godchaux, Brent Mydland, Vince Welnick and Bruce Hornsby.
The Grateful Dead's devoted legion of nomadic fans, known as “Deadheads,” were one of the main driving force for keeping the band going. The Grateful Dead toured virtually nonstop between 1965 and 1995, while the Deadheads followed in spirited makeshift communities and taped their live performances. The remaining members of the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995 following Garcia's death, but toured as the Other Ones in 2002 and as, simply, the Dead (with the addition of Jimmy Herring) beginning in 2003.
DISCOGRAPHY
With an enduring career in the industry, the band has made quite a list of albums, both in the studio and in the concert scene. You can find them here at ClosetDeadHead.com in CD, DVD and MP3 formats. We also have vintage VHS and Vinyl Records of some of the Grateful Dead's singles and albums. Here is a breakdown of the band's extensive list of recorded music.
Studio and Contemporary Live Albums
Though they regularly released albums, the band's focus was on live music. Their first studio album, self-titled “The Grateful Dead,” was recorded in just three days and was released in 1967. The band has recorded 22 studio and contemporary live albums, not counting compilations, between 1967 and 1990.
The Grateful Dead - (March 17, 1967)
Anthem of the Sun - (July 18, 1968)
Aoxomoxoa - (June 20, 1969)
Live/Dead - (November 10, 1969)
Workingman's Dead - (June 14, 1970)
American Beauty - (November 1, 1970)
Grateful Dead, also known as Skull & Roses - (October 1971)
Europe '72 - (November 5, 1972)
History of the Grateful Dead Volume One, Bear's Choice - (July 13, 1973)
Wake of the Flood - (October 15, 1973)
Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel - (June 27, 1974)
Blues for Allah - (August, 1975)
Steal Your Face - (June 1976)
Terrapin Station - (July 27, 1977)
Shakedown Street - (November 15, 1978)
Go to Heaven - (April 28, 1980)
Reckoning - (April 1, 1981)
Dead Set - (August 1981)
In the Dark - (July 6, 1987)
Dylan & the Dead - (January 30, 1989)
Built to Last - (October 31, 1989)
Without a Net - (September 1990 )
Retrospective Live Albums
In the 1990s and 2000s, the Grateful Dead released numerous live concert recordings from their archives in three concurrent series:
From the Vault (Three Volumes) - remixes of multi-track recordings made at the time of the concerts
View from the Vault (Four Volumes) - multi-track remixes released simultaneously as albums on CD and as concert performance videos on DVD
Dick's Picks (Fifteen Volumes) - based on two-track concert recordings and was named for Grateful Dead tape vault archivist Dick Latvala
Compilations
The band had also released compilations and box sets from 1974 to 2004.
Skeletons from the Closet: The Best of Grateful Dead - (1974)
What a Long Strange Trip It's Been - (1977)
Dead Zone: The Grateful Dead CD Collection 1977-1987 - (1987)
The Arista Years - (October 15, 1996)
Selections From the Arista Years - (January 13, 1997)
So Many Roads, 1965-1995 - (November 9, 1999)
So Many Roads, 1965-1995 Sampler - (November 9, 1999)
The Golden Road, 1965-1973 - (October 16, 2001)
The Very Best of the Grateful Dead - (September 16, 2003)
Beyond Description, 1973-1989 - (October 26, 2004)
Other Notable Recordings
Road Trips (Three Volumes) – released in High Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD) format, is the successor to Dick's Picks; this started after the Grateful Dead signed a ten year contract with Rhino Records to release the band's archival material
Digital Download series - versions of existing live releases and a new Internet-only series, The Grateful Dead Download Series
ARTWORKS
Aside from their pioneering and unique brand of music, the Grateful Dead is also know for their psychedelic album and poster arts. Over the years, these iconic images have become associated with the band and up to now still persists among Deadheads and rock music fans. These artworks are very much widely-used in various Grateful Dead merchandise you can find here are ClosetDeadHead.com.
"Steal Your Face" or "Stealie" Skull
Red, white, and blue skull with a lightning bolt through it. Designed by Owsley Stanley and artist Bob Thomas, this is probably the most-used icon in Deadhead history. This was originally used as a logo to mark the band's equipment and can be found on the cover of the album Steal Your Face.
Dancing Bears
Drawn by Bob Thomas as part of the back cover for the album History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice). The bear is a reference to Owsley "Bear" Stanley, who recorded and produced the album. Ever so cute and loveable, this series of stylized dancing bears are spread throughout a variety of Grateful Dead merchandise.
Skull and Roses
Composed by Alton Kelley and Stanley Mouse, the skull and roses design originally appeared on a poster for the September 16 and 17, 1966 Dead shows at the Avalon Ballroom. Later it was used as the cover for the album Grateful Dead, which is sometimes referred to as Skull and Roses..
Dancing Terrapins
Drawn also by Kelley and Mouse, these two dancing terrapins first appeared on the cover of the 1977 album Terrapin Station Since then these turtles have become one of the Grateful Dead's most recognizable logos.
Uncle Sam Skeleton
This was created by Gary Gutierrez as part of the animation for The Grateful Dead Movie. The Uncle Sam skeleton combines the Grateful Dead skeleton motif with the character of Uncle Sam, a reference to a song, “U.S. Blues,” which the band performed near the beginning of the film.
Jester
This image was an airbrush painting done by Stanley Mouse in 1972. It was originally used as the cover of The Grateful Dead Songbook.
CLOTHES AND APPAREL
Grateful Dead T-shirts and Sweatshirts
The work of legendary artists Alton Kelley and Stanley Mouse is prominently on display in many Grateful Dead shirts and sweatshirts. They are the ones responsible for the famous Skull and Roses, and Dancing Terrapins designs. Shirts with other iconic Grateful Dead logos are also available here are ClosetDeadHead.com
Tie-Dye Shirts
By the late 1970s, some Deadheads began to sell tie-dye t-shirts and other items at Grateful Dead concerts. These tie-dye shirts have then been associated with the band and are popularly worn in Deadhead culture. Beautiful and exotic, these colorful tie-dye shirts are available in different designs.
Hats and Bandannas
For Deadheads, wearing hats, caps and bandannas during Grateful Dead concerts have been a typical fashion statement. Designed with logos and images associated with the band, these are worn to show support and to identify themselves as Deadheads.
Belt Buckles and Jewelry
As with other cultures, Deadheads also have their own unique fashion accessories that define themselves as a group. Most Deadhead jewelry consists of designs depicting Grateful Dead art such as the famous Steal Your Logo ring and Dancing Bears bracelets. You can find both here and other interesting pieces of jewelry at ClosetDeadHead.com
OTHER MERCHANDISE
Blankets and Tapestries
Aside from shirts, grateful Dead artworks are also widely-used in different textile products such as blankets and tapestries. With colorful designs, these can serve decorative purposes inside the home.
Calendars and Posters
Avid Grateful Dean fans love to cover their walls with posters of their favorite band. Even outdated calendars are saved as memorabilia because of the amazing art they contain. Here at ClosetDeadHead.com you will find both new and old Grateful Dead calendars for sale to add to your budding collection.
Stickers, Buttons and Patches
Stickers, buttons and patches are used by many Deadheads to mark and adorn their personal belongings. Deadheads proudly identify themselves amongst each other are recognizable with these items.
Glasses and Mugs
These are some of the most popular items Deadheads love to collect. Mugs and glasses are perfect gift items, not only for die-hard fans of the band, but also to people who can appreciate the unique artistry of these Grateful Dead collectibles.
Toys, Games and Puzzles
Even though the Deadhead culture started way way back in the 60s, throughout the years lots of young people have become hooked with the band's music. Inspired by the Grateful Dead's legacy, different toys, board games and puzzles have been made to entertain both young and adult fans. Dancing Bears stuffed toys (available here at ClosetDeadHead.com) are perfect examples of these, which are popular even to those outside the Deadhead circle.
Despite the tragic loss of Jerry Garcia, the band's legacy lives on. As music pioneers of their era, they have imparted a significant contribution to the industry and have made a huge impact in the lives of many people. The enduring support of Deadheads everywhere is proof that the Grateful Dead will continue to live and influence music lovers around the world. ClosetDeadHead.com is our contribution to spreading that legacy. We hope you enjoy browsing through our vast collection of Grateful Dead products and memorabilia and find yourself something of value to keep. Happy shopping!
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