From September 14-16, 1978, the Grateful Dead embarked on a journey to play some of their most unique concerts ever. It had always been a dream of the Dead to play in the “Cradle Of Civilization,” Egypt, but they surely didn’t think it would ever come to fruition.

The band had to fight tooth and nail for months with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture to set up the run of shows in front of the Gizah Sound and Light Theater, but after many negotiations, the Egyptian government relented, upon the conditions that the Dead pay their own way and that the proceeds be split up between a handful of Egyptian charities as well as the Department of Antiquities, which aids in the preservation of the country’s treasures. How could they say no?

Watch Three Of The Grateful Dead Core Four Reunite at Lockn’ [Full Set Video]

Interestingly enough, the day after the Dead concluded their three-night run in Egypt, the Camp David Peace Accords were signed, which lead to a de facto peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. The two nations had been fighting for a good 30 years alread, and the treaty marked the first time an Arab country recognized Israel as a sovereign nation. 

In commemoration of these momentous shows, we take a look at a few videos from the Dead’s historical run in Egypt, including renditions of “Row Jimmy”, New Minglewood Blues”, “Iko Iko”, a traditional take on the “Ollin Arageed” with Egyptian composer Hamza El Din, followed by a smokin’ hot “Fire On The Mountain, and as a bonus, a video from the archives of author/Merry Prankster Ken Kesey documenting the ’78 trip: