Customer Reviews

Between the Dark and Light: The Grateful Dead Photography of Jay Blakesberg

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Many, many Grateful Dead books devote most of the text and photographs to the years 1965-1975, glossing over everything that came later. The photographs in Blakesberg's book fill in that gap, covering the later years of the band and the group members' various post-Jerry Garcia solo and group efforts. This is not the Dead of 710, Pigpen, and the Uncle Sam hat; it's the Dead that many younger, post-"Touch of Grey" fans remember. Included are photos of rehearsals, onstage shots at shows, some candids from Garcia's memorial (notice a very sad Bob Weir), the obligatory crowd and parking lot scene snaps, and some amazing photos of the New Year's Eve shows. The later photos of Garcia are heartbreaking, as they show his deteriorating health condition. He looked 30 years older than he actually was. Blakesberg ends the book with a series of posed and candid photos of the surviving members with their new bands and together as the Other Ones. This is an excellent addition to the library of any Deadhead.

Saw this book for the first time at the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland during a cross-country trip (side note: an interesting place to visit. Check out Jerry's guitars: Rosebud, Lightning Bolt, Wolf and 2 he ordered but never played). Bought it on the spot! If you think you have seen all the pictures of the Boyz, think again. This is an impressive collection, perfect for the "Deadhead who has everything". I just bought a 2nd copy, 'cause I know I am going to wear out the first one I bought!

I bought the first book as a gift, this is absolutely a fantastic collection of photography, so good I've bought three more. Made several people extremely happy.

This book is required reading for all fans of the Grateful Dead. Wonderful photographs and commentary. It brings back so many memories from years past that I find myself not being able to put it down. I will most likely buy a second copy, just to have it for future enjoyment when I wear this one out. Great job Jay!

The photographs in this book evoke a community and a culture that was a huge part of my own life during the Grateful Dead touring years. Looking through these photographs brought back so many great memories, and finding photos of familiar faces and places was both nostalgic and sentimental and at the same time incredibly satisfying. Thank you Jay!

Compiled and edited by Blair Jackson and enhanced with a introductory foreword by Phil Lesh, Between The Dark And The Light: The Grateful Dead is an impressive, informative, and memorable collection of both black-and-white and color photographs of The Grateful Dead rock band. Sparse captions and very brief commentary enhance what is primarily a visual record which competently captures this enthusiastic, successful, popular, and enduring rock-n-roll group. Between The Dark And The Light is mandatory reading for all true "deadheads"!

I purchased this book for my husband's uncle. He and his wife used to follow the Dead. He adored this book. He even found a crowd picture that showed he and his wife. They were thrilled. The photography is wonderful.

This book truly captures a space and time - and is also a great visual history of the band and its fans. Its great for deadheads as well as anyone who is interested in music or photography.