As an alternative, the Kindle eBook is available now and can be read on any device with the free Kindle app.

Add to List

Added to

Unable to add item to List. Please try again.

Share <Embed>

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See this image

Follow the Author

Robert Greenfield

Dark Star: An Oral Biography of Jerry Garcia Paperback – September 30, 2015

by Robert Greenfield (Author)

138 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$11.99

—

Hardcover

"Please retry"

$17.97

$42.00

$2.01

Paperback

"Please retry"

$14.49

$10.30

$1.93

Paperback, September 30, 2015

—

$26.74

$10.61

Dark Star reveals Jerry Garcia through the eyes of those closest to him: the ex-wives and lovers who lost him to the road, the close friends who watched him battle a long-running heroin habit, the children of fellow members of the Grateful Dead and the musicians who looked up to him as a guru. Together these voices present a striking portrait of a compelling artist - psychedelic guru, addict, outlaw, and rock'n'roll icon. Originally published in 1998, this title is now available for the first time in the United States.

Print length

374 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Plexus Publishing
Publication date

September 30, 2015
ISBN-10

0859652440
ISBN-13

978-0859652445
See all details

Products related to this item

Sponsored
Hide feedback

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Start reading Dark Star: An Oral Biography of Jerry Garcia on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Plexus Publishing; Reprint edition (September 30, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 374 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0859652440
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0859652445
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.23 pounds

Best Sellers Rank: #14,494,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #11,415 in Rock Band Biographies
- #20,381 in Rock Music (Books)
- #47,800 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies

Customer Reviews:
138 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload video

Products related to this item

Sponsored
Hide feedback

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1

Customer reviews

5 star		77%
4 star		16%
3 star		4%
2 star		2%
1 star		1%

How are ratings calculated?

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Gloria Squitiro

Good Job, Mr. Greenfield!

Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2017

Verified Purchase

Really fantastic book!

There’s a backstory to this review: My husband was mayor of a large city, so I have the most minuscule taste of what it’s like to be recognized on the street. Little nothing me helped run his grassroots campaign. And because he was a populist, I could actually feel the prayers of those who wanted him in office.

Now, for the review: I was moved by many things in this biography, but my favorite passage came from Randy Baker.

“The most likely way for Jerry to die would have been from something sudden. I think he might have been able to rally and recuperate from anything that was lingering, in part because of the number of people who would pray for him when he was ill.”

I believe Baker is spot on. More, I sure hope that our beloved Jerry Garcia was ready to cross over – and I sure hope the reports are correct that he had a smile on his face when he did. That would make me feel so much better, especially considering all the joy and comfort that I am still bestowed with from his soul having been on this earth.

Thanks, Mr. Greenfield for a wonderful read. Wishing you all things wonderful.

Gloria Squitiro, Author of May Cause Drowsiness and Blurred Vision: The Side Effects of Bravery

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

Stephen Vlam

My 3 stars have nothing to do with Mr. ...

Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2016

Verified Purchase

My 3 stars have nothing to do with Mr. Greenfield's writing ability or hard work on this project. It is very well written. The problem is the source material. There is practically no info from bandmates outside of Merl Saunders and Old and In the Way members. There isn't much about Jerry's songwriting or guitar playing other than he practiced a lot. Most of the input comes from people Jerry left behind, people fired from the Dead, or caretakers who had to deal with Jerry's inability to take care of himself.
There is a lot of fascinating info from ex-wives and the children from the Grateful Dead Organization. That was a huge plus. The bottom line is that this is not a complete look at Jerry Garcia but only a look at his darker or negative facets. It may be a reflection of the sample of people willing to be interviewed by Mr. Greenfield but the book is flawed by a serious under-representation of what was supposedly the most important thing to Jerry Garcia - The Music.

14 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jerry Roskin Band

This looks like a great book!

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2020

Verified Purchase

I’m sure it’s a good book but I did not get one in your condition. The first page was torn out and in his library markings all over. Definitely looks like a good rate but may be better on audible if they offer it.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Dan Macomber

Fascinating portrait of Jerry--a must-read for Dead/Jerry Fans

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2012

Verified Purchase

This is the first book I've ever read that was constructed almost entirely from interviews. I was surprised by how successful the author was in creating a cohesive narrative of Jerry's life using this tool alone. Starting with Jerry's childhood years and leading up until the time of his death, the patchwork of quotations and interview segments is masterfully woven into a quite satisfying take on Jerry's life. I write "take on" his life because no biography is definitive or without bias, and using interview segments is naturally going to produce an even larger measure of subjectivity than an ordinary biography.

I am really thankful to have had a chance to read this book (on my new Kindle HD, no less) :). I highly recommend it for anyone who wishes to gain more knowledge of and insights about Jerry's life.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

B. Blinder

Deep insight into the buddha-like Garcia

Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2014

Verified Purchase

Oral biographies are much different than standard written ones - they are more free-flowing, and although they are less detailed, they feel more "emotional" and closer to the subject. Of course, the oral interviewees would tend to paint themselves in a better light, but that goes with the territory. This book, to me, was incredible, as it gave me a completely new view into the life of Jerry Garcia and the hordes of people around him (many of whom I did not know about at all). I know his music very well, and this book gave me a chance to learn more about him, from the viewpoint of those who surrounded him.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

US Writer

Still Dark

Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2015

Verified Purchase

Only die-hard Deadheads will fully appreciate this book. It's made up solely of interviews with friends and fellow musicians and only deals with what made Jerry tick on just a superficial level. I couldn't finish it because it mostly recounts stories of gigs, parties, drugs and various shenanigans. I didn't come away feeling that I knew more about the man after reading it than I did before.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

steven clarke

great read

Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2012

Verified Purchase

i really enjoyed reading this book ..as a big fan it was really hard to put down,, although it isn't always a pleasant story to digest .. the book unfolds as a life story told by many people who were close to jerry and who lived or worked with him..he and the band shared a complicated life together. his personal/family life was very troubling..the book paints the picture that he was fun loving and passionate ,a lover of much music but not a lover of commitment. i think i know his story a little better now that i have read the book..it certainly was a long strange trip. if your a fan it is a must read. get it !

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

jeffknowhart

Good read for a non Deadhead

Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2015

Verified Purchase

While I like plenty of Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia tunes, I am far from a Deadhead. I like the interview approach for telling the story because it kept the story honest and not preachy. I read a lot of music biographies and I always get pissed off when the artist throws their life away to the excesses and never recover. However, this story was balanced enough that I could accept Garcia's faults while respecting his character and talent. It also helped me understand a friend of mine who died recently and lived a life of "negative capability."

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Jerry Bear

A good read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 4, 2014

Verified Purchase

This is the first book I've read about Garcia. Although done as a series of comments, it does move in a more or less chronological order. Weak points for me are lack of dates( which could have been added as an editorial comment, or as footnotes). The good points were that it was the views of those like his first 2 wives, his brother and Greenfield is content not to make comment. I am presently waiting on the Blair Jackson biography and look forward to contrasting them

Perry Low

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 18, 2014

Verified Purchase

Extremely good delivery. Really everything a "Deadhead" would want from a memory of Jerry Garcia. Nothing missing. Excellent.

Dr S.

Four Stars

Reviewed in India on February 1, 2015

Verified Purchase

amazing!

See all reviews

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Sorry, there was a problem.

Sorry, there was a problem.

Follow the Author

Dark Star: An Oral Biography of Jerry Garcia Paperback – September 30, 2015

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?

Product details

Videos

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries

Customers who bought this item also bought