Early reputation as a live band

Author John Brackett (Live Dead) is joined by musician and Grateful Dead scholar David Gans to discuss how live recordings—both official and fan-made—shaped the sound, story, and enduring legacy of the Grateful Dead. This episode explores what these tapes reveal about audience, authenticity, and the cultural power of the “live” experience.

Grab your copy of Live Dead: https://dukeupress.edu/live-dead

This conversation was recorded on 5/22/2025. Watch the full video recording at: https://archive.org/details/live-dead

Check out all of the Future Knowledge episodes at https://archive.org/details/future-knowledge