Rating: 
Summary: An above average biography
Review: For anyone who has been to a Grateful Dead show, the phrase, "there's nothing quite like a Dead concert" was as much a truism as "chances are pretty good that the sun will in fact rise tomorrow." Jackson's biography of the band leader (as this book makes clear, Jerry Garcia was the leader of the Group, as he was the leader of all of his side projects) explains clearly and insightfully the tremendous amount of energy that was put into their shows to ensure the uniqueness of each concert. Jackson also describes (but can't really explain) the almost bipolar nature of Jerry Garcia's personal life that led him to a life of drug abuse and heartless infidelity while at the same time being very lucid about his ideals. He was always clear about what he saw the band doing but was unable to envision a happy life for himself. The historical references are often interesting but there is an exhaustive discussion of his funeral at the end of the book and there's a lot of gossip that perhaps could have been deleted. I suppose there are people that like that kind of stuff.
Rating:
Summary: An above average biography
Review: For anyone who has been to a Grateful Dead show, the phrase, "there's nothing quite like a Dead concert" was as much a truism as "chances are pretty good that the sun will in fact rise tomorrow." Jackson's biography of the band leader (as this book makes clear, Jerry Garcia was the leader of the Group, as he was the leader of all of his side projects) explains clearly and insightfully the tremendous amount of energy that was put into their shows to ensure the uniqueness of each concert. Jackson also describes (but can't really explain) the almost bipolar nature of Jerry Garcia's personal life that led him to a life of drug abuse and heartless infidelity while at the same time being very lucid about his ideals. He was always clear about what he saw the band doing but was unable to envision a happy life for himself. The historical references are often interesting but there is an exhaustive discussion of his funeral at the end of the book and there's a lot of gossip that perhaps could have been deleted. I suppose there are people that like that kind of stuff.
Rating: 
Summary: The best biography of the Dead I've read, but...
Review: I don't consider this a very effective biography of Garcia. So many times the author reaches a point where he could leap off into meaningful and fascinating areas of Garcia's life (truly an 'American' life) yet he rebounds back into a general history of the band, not a biography of the man. As such it is an interesting if superficial document: the best survey of the GD phenomenon that I have read (but I also enjoyed and would recommend Rock Scully's comic-booky history of the band and the 'oral biography' of Garcia is in a way much more profound than this book). This book is a survey. Nothing of great importance has yet been written about the band or the man. A true history of the Dead could occupy volumes and might not emerge for years. A biography of Garcia requires, I think, a more dispassionate (and therefor perhaps more passionate?) and more musicological perspective. Not once does this book discuss the incredible impact Garcia had on his contemporaries, much less his deep impact on the musical landscape we live in. As a student of music this book reminds me of some of the more literate accounts of Beethoven that were written by his friends in the years following his death. Lots of anecdotes and a little insight. And more general history than we need. I think it is going to take years for us to get a handle on this huge musician. Unless Dylan decides to write a book. If he does, I'd encourage him to tackle this subject. Then we might really learn something about Garcia.
Rating: 
Summary: Captain Trips in Human Form
Review: I spent a good portion of my youth going to Dead shows. There was always something special about seeing the Dead live. I was saddened by Jerry Garcia's untimely (but not really unexpected) demise. Jerry Garcia was one of the seminal figures of psychedelic rock as well as an outstanding guitarist. He was also a complex and troubled man. Blair Jackson has managed to write a very balanced and professional biography of Garcia. This is the best biography of Garcia that I have read. Several others try to gloss over the drug problems and personal troubles. Blair Jackson conveys the ambiguities of this great artist. There is a lot of insight into Garcia's personal development as a musician. It is great to see how he assimilated different influences to establish his own musical style and identity. One thing Jackson clearly illustrates is the incredible level of dedication and love Garcia had for the music. Jerry Garcia was an iconic figure in American music. He had the most dedicated fan base in the country if not the world. He was also haunted by demons that he could not overcome. Blair Jackson has achieved a difficult task in portraying Garcia as a musical genius who was ultimately too weak to overcome his many human flaws.
Rating:
Summary: Captain Trips in Human Form
Review: I spent a good portion of my youth going to Dead shows. There was always something special about seeing the Dead live. I was saddened by Jerry Garcia's untimely (but not really unexpected) demise. Jerry Garcia was one of the seminal figures of psychedelic rock as well as an outstanding guitarist. He was also a complex and troubled man. Blair Jackson has managed to write a very balanced and professional biography of Garcia. This is the best biography of Garcia that I have read. Several others try to gloss over the drug problems and personal troubles. Blair Jackson conveys the ambiguities of this great artist. There is a lot of insight into Garcia's personal development as a musician. It is great to see how he assimilated different influences to establish his own musical style and identity. One thing Jackson clearly illustrates is the incredible level of dedication and love Garcia had for the music. Jerry Garcia was an iconic figure in American music. He had the most dedicated fan base in the country if not the world. He was also haunted by demons that he could not overcome. Blair Jackson has achieved a difficult task in portraying Garcia as a musical genius who was ultimately too weak to overcome his many human flaws.
Rating:
Summary: A decent bio that forgot about Steal Your Face...
Review: I would have rated this readable bio of Jerry Garcia with four stars, but Blair Jackson did some self-editing (I assume) to remain in the remaining bandmembers' good graces. Jackson discusses the creation of each of the Grateful Dead's albums -- until he comes to Steal Your Face, or, as many fans call it, Steal Your Money. Widely despised as a clear money-making ploy by the Dead, Steal Your Face is still on the market in all its lack of audio clarity. Live Grateful Dead? Live/Dead and Skull and Roses (...) were great. But the band sold out on Steal Your Face, and it's ironic that the "Stealie" illustration from the band's worst album (along with Dylan and the Dead) would become the visual icon most often identified with the band. I would have enjoyed this book more if Jackson had delved into the controversy surrounding that album, but he goes from the Skull and Roses album to the creation of the movie "The Grateful Dead" (taken from the same shows as "Steal Your Face" -- great movie, horrible album!!!) to Wake of the Flood and the creation of the band's own record label, with a brief comment about Bear's Choice. Skimming over a crucial phase (1974-76) in the band's history, Jackson did a disservice to legions of Deadheads who deserve to know the "true story." Jackson also takes several potshots (no pun intended) at Rock Scully's book on the Dead, which was unnecessary. Until now, Jackson had been one of the most consistent and legitimate writers about the Grateful Dead. This book has a big gap in the Dead's history; maybe someday someone will fill that gap. Until then, three stars is the most this book deserves. And that's a shame, because the rest of it is fairly good...
Rating:
Summary: Warning: this book not for stupid people.
Review: I would like all the people who insulted this book in any way to turn off the computer and go read "Reader's Digest" in the bathroom. This is an exhaustive, academic resource of data about perhaps the greatest guitarist rock and roll has ever seen. It scares me to think that similar future efforts may be thwarted by the few who "had a hard time paying attention." etc. DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM, PUBLISHERS-- WE STILL WANT MORE. There are plenty of "fluff" books out there for those who don't want to be faced with numerous facts/thorough coverage. Perhaps the commemorative PEOPLE magazine would be a more appropriate "book" for this kind of reader After years of fandom, this book gave me my first insight into John Kahn's background/personality. It is excellent. Thank you Mr. Blair Jackson.
Rating:
Summary: Garcia was a guy like everyone else.
Review: If you are looking for a uplifting, Jerry was the greatest man ever kind of biography don't bother with this book. If on the other hand you are interested in a candid look at his life and the evolution of his music and groups then full steam ahead. I consider myself a fan of Jerry and the Dead and was glad to see him treated as an individual. One obvious omission was the lack of discussion from the other members of the Grateful Dead on Jerry's life in the book. That may have meant the difference between a good book and an exellent book.
Rating:
Summary: If my words could glow.....
Review: It turns out that writing books about The Grateful Dead is a lot like writing books about the Beatles; highly speculative, frequently pointless and ultimately frustrating, unless you're somebody like Ken Kesey or Ed McClanahan, writers who were there with the Dead from the start and speak the language. That said, Blair Jackson gets as close as anyone totally caught in the Dead's warp can to writing a definitive book on Garcia. Jackson's Deadhead banter sometimes gets in the way of, you know, communicating about why the rest of us should consider Jerry Garcia one of the greats. Mind you, I think he is, but the proof is ultimately in listening to one of the Dead's many live albums (and some of the studio ones as well) or Garcia's other records and HEARING why, not reading much of what's here. What IS worth the time is the extensive discography Jackson has at the end, which is a reliable signpost for what a non-Deadhead fan or a Dead newbie might find worth the time and money. In sum, a good book for Deadheads or Dead admirers, not so great if you don't know what the fuss is/was about...but want to.
Rating:
Summary: The Garcia bio against which all others will be judged.
Review: Long-time Dead observer Blair Jackson has fashioned the most comprehensive biography yet written. Well researched, it sheds new and interesting light on Garcia's youth, and his pre-Dead folk and bluegrass periods. Perhaps the best aspect of the book (aside from Jackson's conversational style of writing) is the empahsis on the MUSIC Garcia and mates played. Many of the previous books about Garcia and the Dead have ignored the most obvious draw of the Dead over the years in favor of lurid personal details or accounts of the colorful (and often erroneoulsy stereotyped) Deadheads. While investigating and exploring all of Garcia's life, Jackson manages to balance the story and show the very creative side of his musical legacy. A must for every Deadhead's shelf, and of interest of any lover of music. The standard against which all future accounts of the "long, strange trip" will be judged.
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