If you want to find out about the earliest days of the Grateful Dead, a new graphic novel titled Grateful Dead: Originsis just what you need.
Written by Chris Miskiewicz[pr: mis-KEH-vich] and illustrated by Noah Van Sciver, the book tells the story of the band’s transformation from a bar band called The Warlocks to creators of their own sound and forefathers of jam band culture.
The book will be published on April 20th by Z2 Comics in two editions. The standard one features an exclusive download of 13 rare Dead tracks, while a limited runDeluxe Editioncomes with a vinyl record from a previously unreleased 1968 performance at the Fillmore West in San Francisco.
In other Dead news, drummer Bill Kreutzmann has reactivated his band Billy and the Kids, who'll do their first performance in four years at the Grateful Dead-themed Skull and Rosesfestival, which will take place April 2nd through 5th at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura, California.Dead and Company bassist Otiel Burbridge will also lead his Otiel and Friends group at the event.
Finally, Bob Weir and Wolf Bros will embark on a 22-date tourfrom February 28th in Miami through March 28th in Portland, Maine.