12-10-2006, 11:24 PM
I have an autographed copy of SftS. It's a great title choice, lyrics from Unbroken Chain, a Phil song and the name of his charitable association. Phil's been the splitter. All the other surviving members have played together (Bobby, Mickey & Billy just last week). I'd have loved to get more insight on that too. Instead, like any of the Dead family books, it fawns over Garcia a bit too much. But I must credit Phil for actually writing it himself.
In terms of books by the Dead, I much prefer Mickey's Drumming at the Edge of Magic because it's about a lot more. It covers Mickey's autobiography, along with the history of drumming all the way back to the big bang. Of course, Mickey had a little help writing it, but it's a very entertaining read. Also McNally's A Long Strang Trip is pretty good. It still keeps its worst skeletons in the closet, but it provides a some more intersting insight about the band from the publicist's angle. I also read Brightman's Sweet Chaos, but I wouldn't recommend that one - it goes off on some odd irrelevant tangents. I'm told if you want to read the dark side, it's in Greenfield's Dark Star. I have that big illustrated history of GD too. It's amusing mostly because of the timeline aspect and graphics.
In terms of books by the Dead, I much prefer Mickey's Drumming at the Edge of Magic because it's about a lot more. It covers Mickey's autobiography, along with the history of drumming all the way back to the big bang. Of course, Mickey had a little help writing it, but it's a very entertaining read. Also McNally's A Long Strang Trip is pretty good. It still keeps its worst skeletons in the closet, but it provides a some more intersting insight about the band from the publicist's angle. I also read Brightman's Sweet Chaos, but I wouldn't recommend that one - it goes off on some odd irrelevant tangents. I'm told if you want to read the dark side, it's in Greenfield's Dark Star. I have that big illustrated history of GD too. It's amusing mostly because of the timeline aspect and graphics.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse