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Grateful Dead’s Long, Strange Trip Is Over

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Associated Press

After 30 years of making music, the Grateful Dead, the band that defined the 1960s counterculture revolution, is breaking up.

The group, which lost its anchor when leader Jerry Garcia died in August, announced in a statement Friday that “after four months of heartfelt consideration, the remaining members of the band met yesterday and came to the conclusion that the ‘long strange trip’ of the uniquely wonderful beast known as the Grateful Dead is over.

“Although individually and in various combinations they will undoubtedly continue to make music, whatever the future holds will be something different in name and structure,” the statement continued.

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Band members could not be reached for comment.

Business operations will continue at the band’s San Rafael offices, just north of San Francisco.

A breakup had been predicted since Garcia died Aug. 9 of heart failure at a drug rehabilitation center.

“It’s a sad day,” band spokesman Dennis McNally said. “But you know, they’ve made their decision.”

Formed in 1965 in San Francisco, the Grateful Dead was one of rock ‘n’ roll’s top draws for three decades, thanks in large part to its cult following of “Deadheads.”

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