Relix: The Book: The Grateful Dead Experience

Along with McNally's "Long Strange Trip" and the Rolling Stone's "Garcia" tribute compendium, this collection of Relix excerpts comprises an indispensible contingent in any deadhead's personal library. In fact, in its own way, it is quite like any other ode/tome/retrospective/chronical out there: these are actual articles written 'at the time', thereby providing a contemporaneous examination of the social, political, and artistic milieu. What I'm trying to say is that there is distinct difference between commenting on historical events in retrospect - with a perspective tempered by the passage of time and subsequent personal experience - versus analysis or discussion of those same things when they were actually happening. Examples: the Reagan-era mandatory minimum federal drug crime sentencing guidelines as well as the band's progressive commercial popularity and related changes in the character of the dead community (especially as evidenced by behavioural changes in the parking lot scene).PLUS, some of the best interviews with band members (incl. Hunter and Barlow) outside of "Conservations with the Dead" - which, quite frankly, is the gold standard as a record of the band in its own words.Finally, the book is printed on heavy glossy paper with tons of pics (including covers) and cartoons. There are few guarantees in life, but, if you're a deadhead, this one comes as closes to assured satisfaction as you can get in a flawed world!

Large format,244 pages,not including the Forward by Jorma Kaukonen (guitarist-JEFFERSON AIRPLANE/HOT TUNA)),the Preface by Les Kippel (who originally started Relix),a Note by Lee Abraham (a writer for Relix),and an Introduction by Toni Brown (who oversaw Relix for many years). The format is large enough so that the many black and white,and color photographs,and graphics,have maximum impact. The book is divided in several parts-Part One: Dead Relix-And So It Begins,Part Two: Transitional Evolution,Part Three: Put The Dead Back In Relix!,Part Four: GRATEFUL DEAD-In The Dark,and Part Five: The Post-Jerry Garcia Years.For "Deadheads" this was the bible for many years. Originally started (first issue in 1974,dedicated to that master taper-Richard Nixon)) as a way for people to trade tapes of the GRATEFUL DEAD in concert,it grew into a magazine mainly devoted to that band and the scene in general. The name of the magazine came about from the thinking that the tapes being traded were relics-hence the slight name change,from Dead Relix,to simply Relix. The magazine also contained news on other bands that followers of the GRATEFUL DEAD liked,most notably THE NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE,HOT TUNA,COMMANDER CODY AND HIS LOST PLANET AIRMEN,and a few others. Toward the end of the book there is an article on PHISH,which showed that the magazine was not just a relic (no pun intended) from the past,and that this band,and others like them,were precursors for yet younger,newer bands appearing in the magazine.This book simply has to be seen to really be appreciated. The graphics,the articles,the interviews,the letters to the editor,the cover reproductions,etc.,are a true time machine back to the days when music wasn't just a life-style choice,but clearly defined a generation of music listeners. There are many great articles/interviews,such as The Festival Express series of concerts overview,in Canada (by train),by Buddy Cage (steel player with NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE),and an interview with lyricist Robert Hunter on writing many of THE GRATEFUL DEAD's most famous songs ("Dark Star","Casey Jones","St.Stephen",and many others). It's interesting to see,over the years,who lands on the cover-some of them are surprising. There are so many long forgotten articles and reprints starting with that early era,that anyone who listens to the GRATEFUL DEAD,or wants a look into how the magazine evolved,or wants to know what all the fuss was about,needs this book. The wealth of information and entertainment is incredible. Not to toot my own horn,but I went to college in Palo Alto,California during the late 60's/early 70's,and heard virtually every band that mattered. I've been a "Deadhead" since 1967,(having first heard the band for free,outdoors) before Jerry Garcia had a beard,and reading these articles,and looking at the wonderful photos and graphics brought back a lot of good memories. It was amazing how people would look to Relix for information on what was happening with the GRATEFUL DEAD,and the scene in general. But even if you weren't there,this wonderful book will take you on a trip back to that era,and will give you an inside look into what was going on. As a reader/collector of material from this era,I have to say this book is near the top shelf,as far as giving an inside look into both the "Dead" and that special era. Find out for yourself-you won't be disappointed. I only wish that so many other articles/photos/graphics,from the magazine,didn't have to fall by the wayside. There is still so much more that would make for great reading. This is just a (albeit good) sample of what could be found in this magazine during this exciting era.

as a life long dead head this compilation of articles that appeared in relix it has all the storys and even some of the rumors correct. Toni Brown did a great job leading that publication through a couple decades. one of the treats for me was reading a couple articles by Mick Skidmore. yeah this is a fine purchase and at the price from amazon you cant go wrong. i bought 2 copies the other is for the friend that kept dragging me back to see the grateful dead over and over. he would say then come on dan you will get it. well i did and i still got it. this book is a fun item to have on the book shelf.

I subscribed to Relix for many, many years. If you went through the back issues you would find tons of my ads for tape trading... and, as this book attests, that was the original raison d'etre for this mag. But going back and reading all of the articles is an amazing history all its own. I've loved this read... cover to cover.

What a long Strange Trip, INDEED!.. Relix was there at the birthing (or shortly thereafter), and they never faltered. If you're a DEADHEAD who got on the bus early or one who found I will Survive to be their mantra, this a must read. For many it holds few surprises(much has already been said) but it will open a door in time not forgotten by those who are on the bus still. It does show in detail the magic that is the Grateful Dead.

You might like this book if you were a reader of Relix magazine back in the day. It might bring back some kind of nostalgic feeling centered on anticipation of the next Grateful Dead tour or recording. Its goal of hooking up free tape trading was a noble one and the importance of that is not lost on me. However, although I loved the Dead, I was not a Relix reader and my take on this book is that it just gets bogged down by amateur writing and art. There are a few (like 3 or 4) insightful interviews but other than that, I see little value in letting this thing take up significant space on my bookshelf. You don't have to agree with me of course, but I do think I'm being honest and therefore helpful to anyone wondering what this book is like.

"Great". Nice addition to my Grateful Dead memorabilia. I have the first 13 LPs (working on getting the rest) , several books, magazines, posters and newspaper clippings

This book is a goldmaine. relix was based of poot and the Grateful dead. It shows a history of those years. loved the magazine and this book is not to be missed

a history of relix covers and storys what more could you want