Fare Thee Well: The Final Chapter of the Grateful Dead’s Long, Strange Trip

Thanks to Bay Area music reporter Joel Selvin and writer Pamela Turley we now have the long recent strange tale of what transpired to the core four members that survived the passing of Jerry Garcia, the main front man of The Grateful Dead. Fare Thee Well, The Final Chapter of The Grateful Dead’s Long, Strange Trip tells the convoluted story of the grieving band members, their subsequent interpersonal problems, and their reconfiguration for their recent successful Fare Thee Well Tour. The Grateful Dead is one of the surviving components of the idealism of the 1960s and one finds the behind the scenes struggles to remain.

The book starts as a downer with the passing of star Jerry Garcia, and the band members later struggles with finances and artistic directions. It is interesting to find them focused here on practical issues, artistic drives, and the changes and successes of modern life. There are now newer places and new ways to party and revel in dreams, inspiration, and optimism. This strange tale is fascinating in its details and the revelations of the authors and the band. For those who had been wondering what had happened to them since, they are likely to get their fill. As indicated the long trip continues for the band and fans who must confront a world that continues to get stranger.