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From: stein@druny.UUCP (SteinDW)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Are The Grateful Dead A Political Band?
Message-ID: <1388@druny.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 5-Apr-85 12:34:23 EST
Article-I.D.: druny.1388
Posted: Fri Apr  5 12:34:23 1985
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Cliff Matthews says...

> Hmmm... the Dead are also one of the few bands that started in the 60's that
> were decidedly (as a band at least) non-political.  Perhaps that is one of
> the reasons they lasted so long.  I don't think the deadhead subculture is
> much of a defense against the fascists.  The drug underground much more
> extensive and tenacious; what would happen in a fascist overthrow after Jerry
> and and friends have been killed?  There would be a few holdouts, but in
> general the dead scene (because it is a live scene) would wither.  As for the
> dead encouraging non-conformity, I think Boy George is doing a better job;
> he is more popular and less-conforming.

I wonder about the non-politicalness or apoliticalness of the Dead, even
in their early days. Songs like "Morning Dew", "Cumberland Blues", and
"Throwing Stones" come immediatelly to mind. Also, my memory seems to
recall the Dead being  heavily involved in the "Tune In, Turn On, and Drop
Out" philosophy of the late sixties. This seems to me to be an active, if
uneffective, way of protesting the values and actions of society.

Ofcourse, I always was an unsatisfied (and ineffective) rebel. :-)

Don Stein
druny!stein

"A peaceful place, or so it looks from space,
 A closer look reveals the human race."