Long Live Rock?

The omission of the Grateful Dead was characteristic of Hilburn’s myopic view of rock.

The Grateful Dead have provided 25 years of evidence that you don’t have to “mainstream” music to sustain a passionate force. The Dead sell more tickets year after year than any other rock group and out-gross other bands despite maintaining antiquated ticket prices.

Their social force has benefited environmental causes, and their individual efforts have furthered artistic and cultural endeavors (e.g., Phil Lesh’s foundation for symphonic recordings and Mickey Hart’s efforts to document music from vanishing cultures).

I’m certain Metallica, GNR and U2 fans can identify passion and social force in their music, but this is not a resurgence. The passionate, social force in rock ‘n’ roll never went away. It’s just been Dead.

NEAL SWERDLOW

San Diego