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David Browne

So Many Roads: The Life and Times of the Grateful Dead Paperback – Illustrated, April 26, 2016

by David Browne (Author)

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Fifty years after they first came together and changed the sound of rock 'n' roll, the Grateful Dead remain one of rock's most beloved bands -- a musical and cultural phenomenon that spans generations and paved the way for everything from the world of jam bands and the idea of independently released music to social networking. Much has been written about the band, but nothing quite as vibrant and vivid as So Many Roads.

Drawing on new interviews with surviving members and people in their inner circle -- along with the group's extensive archives and his own research from years of covering the group -- David Browne, longtime music journalist and contributing editor at Rolling Stone, does more than merely delve into the Dead's saga. By way of an altogether unique structure -- each chapter centered around a significant or pivotal day in their story -- he lends this epic musical and cultural story a you-are-there feel unlike any other book written about the band.

So Many Roads takes us deep into the world of the Dead in ways that will be eye-opening even to the most rabid Deadheads. Readers will find themselves inside their communal home in Haight-Ashbury during the band's notorious 1967 bust; behind the scenes in the studio, watching the Dead at work (and play); backstage at the taping of the legendary "Touch of Grey" video and at their final shows; and in the midst of the Dead's legendary band meetings. Along the way, readers will hear not only from the Dead but also from friends, colleagues, lovers, and crew members, including some who've never spoken to the press before.

The result is a remarkably detailed and cinematic book that paints a strikingly fresh portrait of one of rock's greatest and most enduring institutions and sheds new light -- for fans and newcomers alike -- on the band's music, dynamics, and internal struggles. "There is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert," read the legendary bumper stickers. Similarly, there's nothing like So Many Roads, which explores all-new routes on the band's long, strange trip.

Print length

520 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Da Capo Press
Publication date

April 26, 2016
Dimensions

6 x 1.63 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

0306824477
ISBN-13

978-0306824470
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An education and revelation even for the seasoned Deadhead reader."—Steve Silberman, author of NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity

"Highly skillful and comprehensive."—Houston Press

"Like a live bootleg, each chapter digs deep into the band's state of mind during one particular moment, and Browne enriches that moment with broader context and significance.... It's a wild trajectory, perhaps unrivaled by that of any of their contemporaries."—Washington Post

"May well prove to be the go-to encyclopedia for all fans."—PopMatters

"Well-written and capacious and digressive and wonderful."—Thoughts on the Dead blog

Kirkus Reviews, April 2015
“Righteous testimonial to the anarchic goodness that was the Grateful Dead...[Browne is] right about most everything. He also appropriately places emphasis on things other biographers have overlooked…One of the better books on the band and welcome reading in this 50th anniversary year.”

Billboard, 3/7/15
“Expect a flood of books for the Dead's 50th anniversary, but this one stands out thanks to new interviews and access to the band's extensive archives.”―-

"I'm a well-read Deadhead, and I learned new things even about shows I was at. (Englishtown, New Jersey, 9/3/77!) Browne braids tales of America's greatest rock band like melody lines in a primo jam, tangents looping back to the narrative, always pulling it forward. It's a wild, beautiful ride."—Will Hermes, author of Love Goes to Buildings on Fire: Five Years in New York That Changed Music Forever

"The Grateful Dead have entered the realm of myth. The triumph of So Many Roads is animating both the music and the musicians into something very real indeed."—Alan Paul, author of One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band

"The Grateful Dead are as classically American as Count Basie and Frank Sinatra, and David Browne has written the ultimate book about them: interviewing everyone and bringing us into their lives in the changing decades through which this quintessentially '60s band miraculously increased its mythos, stardom, and relevance. Legendary music gives our world back to us, and specific people, coming together as bands, give us the music that gives us that world. With his wise assessments, ace reporting, and close and long lenses, Browne gives us that world and those men.”—Shelia Weller, author of Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon—and the Journey of a Generation―-

"David Browne has come up with a completely unique way of telling the Grateful Dead's story, deftly moving back and forth through time from various chronological pivot points, weaving the intricate tale the way the Dead would open up, explore, and close a great '72 ‘Playing in the Band.' It's filled with little (and a few big) things I didn't know, and his evocative prose really brings out the band members' personalities in a way that few books have.”—Blair Jackson, author of Garcia: An American Life

"So Many Roads is everything Deadheads could want and more. In a deeply reported portrait of the band in good times and bad, David Browne answers all of our questions and poses a few of his own. As Deadheads celebrate the band's fifty years, this book will prove a companion that makes that long trip a little less strange but no less fascinating.”—Eric Altermen, author of It Ain't No Sin to Be Glad You're Alive: The Promise of Bruce Springsteen and What Liberal Media?: The Truth about Bias and the News

"Browne presents the ultimate road map of the life and times of a band that has always been a unique American cultural phenomenon."
—Robert Greenfield, author of Dark Star: An Oral Biography of Jerry Garcia and Bill Graham Presents: My Life Inside Rock and Out―-

About the Author

David Browne is a senior writer at Rolling Stone and the author of Dream Brother, widely seen as the definitive biography of Jeff Buckley. He is also the author of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: The Wild, Definitive Saga of Rock's Greatest Supergroup; Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY, and the Lost Story of 1970; and biographies of Sonic Youth and the Grateful Dead. His 1993 New York Times article, "The Unmade Star," was one of the first major stories published on Jeff Buckley. He lives in Manhattan.

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Product details

Publisher : Da Capo Press; Illustrated edition (April 26, 2016)
Language : English
Paperback : 520 pages
ISBN-10 : 0306824477
ISBN-13 : 978-0306824470
Item Weight : 1.37 pounds
Dimensions : 6 x 1.63 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #482,560 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,360 in Music History & Criticism (Books)
- #1,591 in Rock Band Biographies
- #1,813 in Rock Music (Books)

Customer Reviews:
155 ratings

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4 star		20%
3 star		4%
2 star		1%
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Top reviews from the United States

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Jerbear

A wonderful delight of an addition to my collection

Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2015

Verified Purchase

I must start by saying I have following the Dead since the 60's, I believe I start all my Dead related reviews with this. I have a large collection of writings about the band from so many angles, of course that not only includes books and magazines but all of the liner notes and books that have come with all of the box sets and vault releases whatever they may be called I have them all. Now on to this book So Many Roads, what a great book fun to read, I learned so new things, you are never too old. I love the way that David divided the chapters picking either a show or event to build the chapter around and then fill in bites and pieces as we move along, a different and fun way to show the band. I found myself listening to either the show or the time being written about. David has a heart for not only the music but the band. David shows not only the good roads the band traveled but also the not so good ones too but always in good taste. Many opened up their hearts to show this story and David stays faithful to their trust. He didn't sugar coat it but also this is not a behind the music either. I felt it was very heart felt and as one who has loved this band, they helped to get through some rather tuff times, Vietnam for one the break-up of my marriage for another, this book was a very nice ride down the many roads with the band. If you live the Dead and like to read this is a great book for you. Sit back put on your favor Dead show and enjoy your travels down some of the roads with the Grateful Dead.

11 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kindle Customer

Very thorough history of the Dead, told in a fascinating format

Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2015

Verified Purchase

See my review of Phil Lesh's book, Searching for the Sound, which I read before I read this one. Phil's book got me started on a quest to learn more about a band I always liked, but was never a super fan (Dead Head) as their 50-year anniversary concerts approached. After reading that book and watching several Youtube concerts, I listened to one day (July 4) of the concert, and then looked for another book to read. So Many Roads has an interesting format, it selects several significant dates, roughly in chronological order, of the band's history. Then, during the chapter on one particular date, goes back and forth in time to properly set the perspective. I enjoyed this concept, and found myself finishing a chapter, then searching for Youtube videos of that particular time period. After watching a few, I'd go back and re-read the chapter. I mentioned reading this book to a friend who IS a Dead Head, and he told me that he'd already read several books and didn't need to read about them anymore. But he was surprised when I mentioned a few things from the book that he had never heard about! So I am highly recommending this book,because if it can impress my Dead Head friend, it must be pretty good!

6 people found this helpful

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D. Allgire

Does Have New Material

Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2017

Verified Purchase

Good book about the Dead. It does have material that was new to me. It was sort of bittersweet. More trouble in the band than I realized, and I've been a Dead Head since 1970. Saw 97 shows, and got to scuba dive with Jerry Garcia. I would recommend this book.

4 people found this helpful

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Hiking Reader

Maybe the best book on the grateful dead

Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2019

Verified Purchase

Maybe the best Grateful Dead book I have read. Very thorough and interesting and well research. It puts you there.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Hunyadi

Recommended for Greatful Dead Fans

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2019

Verified Purchase

A good book about the rise, start, and great years of the Grateful Dead. It goes into the various band members, theirs stories, and how they all had a powerful effect on the band and the music they made. A really cool book and I enjoyed reading it.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Mary Bradbury

Thoughtful, accurate, inciteful

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2021

Verified Purchase

An authentic retelling of a familiar story. While it hits all the obvious high points there are no shockers contained herein. You won’t likely run into very many nuggets or revelations that you didn’t already know. The author chooses to gloss over the nitty-gritty details of band life and lets the reader draw obvious conclusions particularly regarding the well known tendencies toward excess. As well, the politics of post-Garcia incarnations is not delved in too deeply.

Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2018

Verified Purchase

If you you are a Deadhead, you owe it to yourself to read this book. From the beginning of the band until Jerry's death and beyond....

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Bob Gercak

Reads like a series of periodical articles - but a good time, anyway.

Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2015

Verified Purchase

If you're after a narrative, you won't find much of one - the book reads more like a series of periodical articles stitched together. And there are a few obvious problems that should have been caught by the editor but somehow weren't. That said, it's an enjoyable read. If you're looking for books about the history of the Dead (and why else would you be reading this review?) you'll have a good time.

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

P. Jackson

Really enjoyed this

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 16, 2020

Verified Purchase

If you are new to the Grateful Dead (I am) then this provides an excellent overview of their career. Well-written, detailed and very readable.
Lots of insight into the music-making process and the band's personalities.
The book concerns key days in the life of the band, although the author still manages to skip back and forth to ensure you don't miss any of the key events in their history, some of which are very sad.
If you are after an analysis of their music, I would recommend High Time by Alan's Album Archives.

One person found this helpful

Phil B

So Many Roads

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 24, 2017

Verified Purchase

This is a book that will appeal to Grateful Dead completists. It is a re-telling of the Grateful Dead story, already well-known from previous books by a number of different authors. David Browne has chosen to base his history around specific events and turning points in the band's career. That is an interesting way forward, though it does create some difficulties, both in how he links everything together, and how he brings in important facts not specifically linked to the events that he has chosen. It is a brave attempt.

His stated objective was to bring out as much new information as possible. It is very difficult for him to do that in view of the amount of information that is already known from other books, but I did find some things that were new to me, particularly in the last few chapters of the book.

This book is a good read, and it is a tribute to the Grateful Dead. It is good that he decided to name his book after the song, 'So Many Roads', which appeared near the end of the band's time, and which sums up that period so well. David Browne highlights how well they played this song at their very last concert (Soldier's Field 9th July 1995). We often watch the video of that particular song's performance on you-Tube; Jerry is obviously very frail - it was just a month before his death, but he seems to put everything into singing that song, and it would be an understatement to say that his guitar is haunting. That video too is a tribute to Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.

One person found this helpful

JJ

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on August 3, 2015

Verified Purchase

A good read - another perspective on the world's most interesting band!

Franz Bieberkopf

The best Garcia bio/dead history is Rock Scully's tome

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 30, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is (another) history of the Dead from the 1960s to 1995,and the post-Dead careers of Lesh, Weir et al.
Problem is it says very little new,and,as with so many histories of the Dead, it minimises drugs and their influence on Garcia in particular.
The best Garcia bio/dead history is Rock Scully's tome, the rest (including this) are much of a muchness,choose one at random and you won't need to read another.

nodrog

Generally a goo read I thought it would involve more ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 20, 2016

Verified Purchase

Generally a goo read I thought it would involve more into the lives of the individual band members rather than other hangers on.

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