Why is the Grateful Dead so popular? - It seems like I am the only person who thinks they suck.

[Mamas boy]

I've seen the dancing bears everywhere. The "Steal Your Face" logo and Jerry's hand. They are INSANELY popular.
For a short while I worked at a place where I was forced to listen to this trash on a daily basis.

I understand that music is subjective and whatnot, but GD objectively sucks. They are horrible. Why do people like them so much? I guess all it takes to be successful in the music industry is make your name synonymous with drug culture and you're in.
Also, most of the GD fans I've met qualify for cow status. Most are white trash druggies fucked up on weed and benzos (to the point where they could pass as a person with a TBI), or neurotic upper-middle class women and lawyers who feel the need to make sure everyone knows they are human by listening to this heinous music.

I have yet to hear a single song that I like. If you have some gem that the fans are hiding that actually sounds good... Post it.

 

[CatParty]

same reason as phish

 

[White Devil]

Also, most of the GD fans I've met qualify for cow status. Most are white trash druggies fucked up on weed and benzos (to the point where they could pass as a person with a TBI), or neurotic upper-middle class women and lawyers who feel the need to make sure everyone knows they are human by listening to this heinous music.

You answered your own question.

 

[Beautiful Border]

Truckin' was a pretty mellow song. But yeah, I've never really understood why "Deadheads" were a thing, they were a fairly mediocre band all things considered.

 

[Tootsie Bear]

same reason as phish

Agreed. I think it's the same reason Kiss was popular too, because of their fan base that networked with each other that ultimately every celebrity was a deadhead or phis head or you have the Kiss fan club where members will buy anything the band sold with their name and face, and Kiss whore themselves like crazy!

 

[Mamas boy]

Maybe I'm wrong here...
But I'm trying to think in terms of Juggalos. Like, ICP is meh. They have some entertaining stuff, but ultimately they advertised themself as the poor white trash they were, but topped it off with a "its okay to be a freakshow" and "freaks gotta stick together". They had a great brand, and became very successful off it. I assumed the GD did the same thing in some way. But I really don't see anything other than drug culture. A bunch of bands were huge druggies back in the day, and very open about it. But those other bands dont have the "family like" cult following that GD, Kiss and ICP have.

Plus, Kiss and ICP were at least different. They had the face paint and the crazy stage shows. GD just got twisted out on acid and played shows for hours on end. Most of their releases are just recordings of them "jamming" live for 8 hours. That is not unique and it doesn't take talent. I play music, and everyone that does, at some point has gotten fucked up and jammed with their buddy or by themselves. Its like being on auto pilot. Its usually not good, and it takes zero talent.

 

[Troonos]

I have no idea. They're really overrated. "Touch of Grey" is a fun song with a music video that I loved when I was a kid, but everything else they've ever done is boring as hell. I honestly think people just pretend to like this mediocre band because they want some stoner hipster cred.

 

[OrionBalls]

Because travelling around the country for an entire summer trying desperately to hold on to your waning youth through copious drug use with other hippies is fun. It's free. It means you haven't succumbed to The Man, man.

 

[SofondaCox]

Their shows are open air drug markets. Plenty of money to be made just following the tour schedule town to town. They hang around small towns and reservations, using emergency food stamps assistance and sucking up medical resources. They're almost like the American version of gypsies.

The Rainbow Family: From Peace And Love To Murder And Drugs

archived 16 Feb 2021 13:33:28 UTC

archive.is

 

[Mamas boy]

Their shows are open air drug markets. Plenty of money to be made just following the tour schedule town to town. They hang around small towns and reservations, using emergency food stamps assistance and sucking up medical resources. They're almost like the American version of gypsies.

https://archive.md/NyTZ9

Just when I thought I couldn't hate dead heads more.

 

[Poppavalyim Andropoff]

Just pathetic tie dye hippie fucks. the Original nickleback

 

[Stoneheart]

because stupid people like to get high...
Steely Dan and Zappa are the superior choice.

 

[Seventh Star]

Maybe I'm wrong here...
But I'm trying to think in terms of Juggalos. Like, ICP is meh. They have some entertaining stuff, but ultimately they advertised themself as the poor white trash they were, but topped it off with a "its okay to be a freakshow" and "freaks gotta stick together". They had a great brand, and became very successful off it. I assumed the GD did the same thing in some way. But I really don't see anything other than drug culture. A bunch of bands were huge druggies back in the day, and very open about it. But those other bands dont have the "family like" cult following that GD, Kiss and ICP have.

Plus, Kiss and ICP were at least different. They had the face paint and the crazy stage shows. GD just got twisted out on acid and played shows for hours on end. Most of their releases are just recordings of them "jamming" live for 8 hours. That is not unique and it doesn't take talent. I play music, and everyone that does, at some point has gotten fucked up and jammed with their buddy or by themselves. Its like being on auto pilot. Its usually not good, and it takes zero talent.

Kiss, even if basic, has some really good songs and hidden gems, though. ICP from what I heard isnt my style but seems to be much of the same.

 

[SalmaoneSlaamper]

I got into it from my father and they're alright to listen to.

Now assume that you're very high and just listening to a Grateful Dead (live show specifically) in the background, I enjoy them for that reason.

 

[Damien Thorne]

I actually like listening to GD live shows when I am working my job since they are relatively mellow and they do not tend to demand too much of my attention.

 

[whogoesthere]

Agreed. I think it's the same reason Kiss was popular too, because of their fan base that networked with each other that ultimately every celebrity was a deadhead or phis head or you have the Kiss fan club where members will buy anything the band sold with their name and face, and Kiss whore themselves like crazy!

That's a very good point you make, Kiss are a perfect comparison. Kiss were never great, few decent songs, but for the most part a pretty boring band. But by fuck can they market themselves well, Gene is an expert and pushing the right image, putting his songs in the correct movies to really help the idea they are the true rock gods. Shame he never learned how to write hits, or have normal hair, or play his fucking bass. My mate is big into them and I have seen them live once (he agreed to coming with me to see Nile if I went with him to Kiss), and Gene fucked up loads of times. He is to bass what Lars is to drumming.

 

[CaptainTrips]

Idk to each thier own i guess. I love the dead! Granted i was young when Jerry died and didnt get to see him.play with the band, i still love the band, and would see them live even when they played under the name Further and now as Dead and Co.

 

[Idiot Asshole]

I listen to Alice Cooper's radio show at work sometimes and occasionally he plays a Grateful Dead song. Without fail, every time, he'll mention before or after playing it that he doesn't really like them and has never got the appeal of them.

 

[Tard Repository]

I haven't heard a single Grateful Dead song and I absolutely refuse to start now.

 

[trailcamwhore]

A couple of my friends who are great musicians are Deadheads, so I've heard all the albums and probably several weeks worth of concert bootlegs, but I never managed to "get it."

Anthem of the Sun and Aoxomoxoa are great psych rock with a unique (influenced by meth and/or the Mothers of Invention?) take on the '60s California "pastoral." Dead fans who aren't weird musicians themselves don't seem to like these albums.

Everything after that is sloppy country rock that goes on forever, like if the Eagles were extremely unprofessional. There are some good songs hidden in the mess. The '90s tribute album Deadicated has better versions of almost all of them.

"Touch of Grey" would have been a great farewell single, but they didn't leave, so it's their "Kokomo."

Boring band. Cool name.