Relix Magazine has detailed an 80-page commemorative issue dedicated to celebrating the life and legacy of Jerry Garcia, the late guitarist and vocalist for the Grateful Dead, who would have celebrated his 80th birthday on August 1st, 2022.
The magazine, which got its start as a fan publication on Dead tour in the 1970s, has expanded its scope significantly in the ensuing decades. It now covers a variety of artists in the jam band scene and beyond. For this special issue, however, the magazine returns to its Grateful roots with a variety of Jerry-related stories and personal tributes by his friends, family, collaborators, and more. The issue also contains previously unreleased and rarely seen photographs of Garcia and the Grateful Dead.
In the issue, filmmaker Justin Kreutzmann, son of Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann, discusses directing a documentary about Garcia, who was his early film mentor. “Cadillac” Ron Rakow, an early member of the Grateful Dead management team, shares his perspective on the late guitarist. Longtime bandmate Melvin Seals shares his thoughts on performing Garcia’s music with Colorado Symphony with input from conductor Scott O’Neil and guitarist Tom Hamilton, who also explores Jerry’s music as a member of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. Artist Stanley Mouse and tabla master Zakir Hussain also look back over 50 years to add their own unique impressions on the Dead’s legacy.
Trixie Garcia, Jerry’s daughter, also reflects on her father’s 80th and his ongoing legacy in the issue. “To imagine [Jerry] as an 80 year old guy, I think he would still have that magic in his eyes, that inspired look on his face,” she says. “He’d still be seeking out those things that turn him on.”
Additional artists covered in the issue include CAAMP, IDLES, Kendall Street Company, Magic Beans, and Blu DeTiger, as well as spotlights on live music staples like Kenny Loggins, Black Pumas’ Adrian Quesada, Anaïs Mitchell, Marcus King, Maren Morris, Michael Franti, Dawes, and more.
In addition to the Relix Jerry Garcia 80th birthday commemorative issue, fans can purchase a t-shirt featuring the never-before-seen photograph of Garcia by Ron Rakow from the cover. Anyone subscribed to Relix as of August 9th, 2022 will receive this issue as a part of their regular subscription. The issue and t-shirt are available online at via the Relix Marketplace. Subscribe here.
View this post on Instagram