Rating: 
Summary: Furthering the towing of The Boat of The Sun... with Joy!
Review: ... "In the Underworld, where there is no wind, the Boat of The Sun is towed along, and this task is undertaken by The Grateful Dead." - The Egyptian Book of The Dead ... ... When we were all undergraduate "Umies" at U-Mass, Amherst, tripping our brains out and hanging-out with fellow Boo-Hoos of Art Klep's Neo-American Church ( from whose classic, psychedelic masterpiece - MILLBROOK - Dennis so thoughtfully quotes from! ), Dennis McNally was getting his Ph.D. in American History on the same campus, where Metawampe the Indian Chief reigns behind the Student Union. ... ... Dennis went on to write the best biography written so far on Jack Kerouac ( who came from my home town ): DESOLATE ANGEL: JACK KEROUAC, THE BEAT GENERATION, AND AMERICA. When he came to Lowell, MA to interview my uncle, Billy Koumantzelis ( one of Jack's closest friends until the day he died ) for his book, my uncle was very impressed with his personality and professionalism. He liked him. ( My uncle is not easily impressed ). ... Knowing that Dennis knew what he knew: that Ken Kesey - through Neal Cassady - was the true link between Kerouac & The Beats and The Dead & The Hippies, Garcia intuitively understood that Dennis McNally would be the man to help the Grateful Dead make their trip through historical time as clearly understood as was humanly possible to the great, unenlightened masses of post-modern America; and he was right! Dennis McNally has once again succeeded at a monumental task, and my own personal hat is off to him! ... ... Whether you love The Grateful Dead or not, reading this book will help bring your sociological understanding of The Sixties into sharp focus. McNally writes like a historian - but with flair! You are going to absolutely fall in love with the characters in this book. ( I love the story about Owsley Stanley and his all-meat, Eskimo diet! ) The best part about it is: it's ALL TRUE - and we were all there living through it together every step of the way. ... And you know what's even better? ... This trip is not over yet! ... It NEVER ends! ... YOWZA! - The Aeolian Kid
Rating: 
Summary: The working reader's Dead
Review: A compelling read. McNally's eulogy for the Dead covers 50 turbulent years and sometimes threatens to overwhelm the non-Fan with minutiae. But I found myself (never a big fan) doing very little skimming. The author avoids ideological cant and does not particularly overromanticize the band or the '60s; neither does he condemn the band's prodigious drug consumption (excepting Garcia's heroin use), which won't please the "just say no" crowd. There is an incredible wealth of anecdote about the music business, making the book an excellent primer for would-be rock stars. It is long, it is strange, it is a trip. It is well done.
Rating: 
Summary: LST, part 1?
Review: A fun book but it is essentially a book through about 1975. As the publicist for the band, he has given few stories of the more recent past (a time when he presumably had more first hand material) or the evolution of the use of drugs and alcohol, (JG's heroin habit is given only superficial coverage) instead concentrating on the early years of the band, (a time they can no doubt look back on with some psychic distance) and giving short shrift to the 80's and nineties. More candid discussion of those eras would no doubt pick at scabs that probably have not healed as well as those of the 60's and early 70's. There is some romantacizing, all right for most of us who would choose to read such matter, but overall it seems straight shooting in its coverage of the early years. There is little coverage of the Godchaux's, (Keith's death generates one line, in parenthesies), with somewhat greater coverage of the other keyboardists after Pigpen. Still, it is a decent read if you're into dead history, especially the early years.
Rating:
Summary: Detailed but naive
Review: After having read Blair's excellent GARCIA & Rock Scully's absolutely subjective but completely entertaining LIVING WITH THE DEAD I was disappointed by McNally's effort. He has obviously done a lot of research but I wonder if he was there at all. He chooses to gloss over the Deads' drug use which was, until Garcia's death, obviously the 500 pound gorilla that was the extra member of the band. Trying to asses creative output without factoring in Garcia's daily addiction is a naive take on the band's dynamic and ultimately diminishes the impact of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Balanced View
Review: Although I found a few errors in the early years, (time I shared a couple of blocks away in San Francisco), the book on the whole has a historian's eye for detail and a reluctance to make judgments or rhapsodize (placing it at the top of the list for Dead bios). It also underscores the relationship with the crew, provides a more accurate portrait of Bill Graham than I've seen elsewhere (especially in BG's autobiog), and attempts to articulate the music and its impact.
Rating:
Summary: Skeletons in the closet?
Review: As a Dead fan (not quite a Dead Head), I enjoyed this book. It offers an interesting look at their inner circle & provides info heretofore I'd never known. (Bob Weir almost kicked out of the group?!) You probably won't like this if you're not a fan, but if you are, by all means get it. A compelling look at a band which many people still consider an enigma.
Also recommended: "No One's Even Bleeding" & "Delano"
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a tremendous book on the Dead!
Review: As a graduate of the Grateful Dead class of Red Rocks, Colorado 1979, I have to say that this is the first book on the Dead that really gets it. Dennis McNally is incredibly articulate (it seems he retained most/all his brain cells through his 20 year journey on "the bus") and his writing is very illuminating. He reconfirms most of my own opinions on what it was all about. Peter Yarrow (of Peter Paul and Mary-who all attended) once said to me and a friend in 1980 at Radio City, after a particularly amazing Dead show, "the Dead still really is". I think this book helps clarify what Mr. Yarrow meant by "is". Mr. McNally has compiled a book that is probably the defining historical book about a generation of seekers that found something a lot bigger than they ever expected. Compared with other works on the Dead, this book is in a different league (eg. Tom Wolfe or D. Gans books). Great book!
Rating:
Summary: A Long, Strange Trip and a Great Read!
Review: Believe me, McNally's book is going to be the definitive Dead book from now on. Only Blair Jackson's GARCIA is in the same league. Not only is the whole story of the band told, but it's told well and is a terrific read. McNally is to be commended for concentrating on the band, their world, and their music without getting bogged down in their personal lives. That's not the point here. His decision to break the narrative flow with occasional interludes works, giving details on different aspects of the Dead's world that flesh out the story. My only quibbles (and they're small ones) are these: I wish he had included more about Tom Constanten and Vince Welnick--they were both members of the band (if briefly) and deserve a little more attention. And there is an occasional needless swipe at other artists like Frank Zappa and the Velvet Underground (who did not hate their audience, as McNally claims). But aside from that, a great tale well-told.
Rating:
Summary: The definitive history of the greatest performing band ever
Review: Dennis McNally has written the definitive history of the Grateful Dead, and despite his insider status, does not hesitate to reveal the unsavory aspects of the lead characters. McNally (who refers to himself as "Scrib" throughout this text) joined the Dead's circle in the 80's but focuses on the band's origins and early period. Some early chapters may cover only three months, while later chapters may span four or five years. Inserted throughout are interludes that detail the entire concert format of the modern (late 80s and 90s) period. Though not as compellingly described as Blair Jackson's Garcia biography, McNally confidently delivers the fruits of his obviously comprehensive research. He uses his backstage access to provide insight into to power of the Dead's extended family, especially the irascible road crew, and in the process canonizes "Ram Rod" Shurtliff and, to a lesser extent, Danny Rifkin. Changes in personnel are explored, included an early failed "firing" of Weir and Pigpen, and the dismissals of Tom Constanten, Keith and Donna Godchaux, Sam Cutler, and Dan Healy. Despite his unwillingness to lead and fear of confrontation, Garcia is shown to be the leader of the band, as in Jackson's book. McNally's work will not convert those who are not already fans, but it is a crucial addition to any serious Dead Head's library.
Rating: 
Summary: My time comin', any day, don't worry about me, no.
Review: Dennis was going to take his time with this book, because he was the man in the know, the "insider" and he was finally going to tell the story like it was. He didn't. I waited for YEARS for this book and it was a severe disappointment. Reveals nothing about personality of the band members, nothing! I followed the band for more than a decade, waited six years after Jerry's
death for "Scrib" to tell it the real story, only to discover that Rock Scully and Blair Jackson had already done it. My
heartfelt appreciation to BLAIR JACKSON for writing the definitive bio of the band, without even being an "insider".
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