THE GRATEFUL DEAD FAQ: ALL THAT'S LEFT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GREATEST JAM BAND IN HISTORY The Grateful Dead rose out of San Francisco's '60s underground rock scene with an unprecedented sound and image.

Its members, steeped in rock, folk, classical, and blues; their instrumental prowess; and their refusal to bow to commercial conventions helped originate jam band music.

Unapologetic in its advocacy of drug use as a means toward mind expansion, the Dead helped catapult psychedelic music.

After performing at the Monterey International Pop Festival and Woodstock, the group became iconic without ever scoring a hit single.

A large, devoted fan base – “Deadheads” – began to follow the band everywhere.