After years of planning, an extensive documentary about the Grateful Dead is set to premiere at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival soon. However, until now, no plans for a release outside of Sundance had been announced. That’s all changing, however, as Hollywood Reporter broke the news that the film Long Strange Trip will be acquired by Amazon on May 26th.
Directed by Amir Bar Lev and produced by Martin Scorsese, Eric Eisner, Nick Koskoff, and Alex Blavatnik, Long Strange Trip chronicles the Dead throughout their entire 30 year career, as well as the years after the death of guitarist Jerry Garcia. The documentary will span several hours as it compiles new and unreleased footage from the band’s historic career, and will be broken into six parts for the Amazon release.
“I’ve always admired the spirit and creativity of the Grateful Dead,” said Scorsese in a press release. “They are revolutionary artists who forever changed the world of touring and recording live music. They were a cultural force — a lifestyle, that continue to influence new generations of fans. This film will entertain and educate audiences about one of the most innovative and groundbreaking American bands of the 20th century.”
Guitarist Bob Weir adds, “Over several decades a group of guys hung together making music in a group that was way tighter and lasted much longer than most marriages. Here’s the movie….” Mickey Hart added of the film, “Stranger than fiction — a user’s guide for an impossible journey.”
All four of the surviving band members plan to attend the film’s premiere at Sundance as well.
