Author Topic: Dancing with the Dead - Rosie McGee's Memoir (Read 1425 times)

mica · « **on:** July 11, 2012, 09:21:13 AM »

As posted in News & Announcements, our dear friend Rosie McGee has just published her memoir and it's available now on Amazon. An enjoyable read of early days with the Grateful Dead, with tons of photographs (even my mommy and daddy and me as a baby (well, you can see my leg!)). It's great to read a first-hand account of that time from a woman's perspective, with previously unpublished photos of the band and lots of other musicians from the era.

It's going to be available on other ereaders soon, as described on Rosie's website.

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** July 11, 2012, 10:05:58 AM »

I just got mine; and looking forward to reading it! Thanks!!!

lbpesq · « **Reply #2 on:** July 11, 2012, 04:42:26 PM »

Got mine too.

Bill, tgo

rustyg61 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 11, 2012, 09:08:28 PM »

Do you know if it will ever be in print?

jacko · « **Reply #4 on:** July 12, 2012, 04:26:56 AM »

Rusty beat me to it.

Graeme

jazzyvee · « **Reply #5 on:** July 12, 2012, 04:32:49 AM »

What's the story behind how the band chose the name Grateful Dead?

Jazzyvee

jacko · « **Reply #6 on:** July 12, 2012, 04:41:23 AM »

They were known as the Warlocks when they started but found out there was another band with the ame name so spent some time tryng to decide on a new name.
from wikipedia..According to Phil Lesh, in his biography (pp. 62), ...[Jerry Garcia] picked up an old Britannica World Language Dictionary...[and]...In that silvery elf-voice he said to me, 'Hey, man, how about the Grateful Dead?' The definition there was the soul of a dead person, or his angel, showing gratitude to someone who, as an act of charity, arranged their burial.

apparently bill Kreutzman and bob weir weren't to happy with the new name at first.

graeme

p.s. Phil's autobiography 'searching for the sound' is a great read as is Dennis Mcnally's 'a long strange trip' if you're interested in the history of the band. naturally, Ron and Susan get a mention ;-)

David Houck · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2012, 06:09:20 AM »

I finished it last night; thoroughly enjoyable! Having read Phil Lesh's book and Blair Jackson's Garcia and other things about that period, many of the events that she writes about were familiar to me; but her perspective gave me a different view into, and a greater appreciation of, the family.

It was also very interesting to read her accounts of the beginnings of Alembic.

It's a very personal autobiographical piece, but also, in my view, an important addition to the historical accounts of the music and culture of that period and of the Grateful Dead in particular. It was for me a page turner and an enjoyable read; but it also added to my knowledge and appreciation of that music and culture. And for that I am thankful.

Thank you Rosie for writing and sharing; and thank you Mica for letting us know about her book!

therealrosiemcgee · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2012, 11:17:58 AM »

Hi - Rosie McGee here. To answer the most common question I'm getting since the release of my e-book, Will there be a print version?: yes, I certainly hope I can make that happen at some point. Last November, I came to a crossroads where I needed to decide - e-book or no-book? Financial and time considerations forced me to go for the former, since the latter was not an option. Thanks for your interest and for asking.

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2012, 11:30:32 AM »

Hi Rosie! Welcome to our forum! I see that you've already met our hosts What I'm wondering is ... what happened at the Grand Canyon? But that can perhaps be a story for another time and place. Thank you again for sharing your story with us!

therealrosiemcgee · « **Reply #10 on:** July 13, 2012, 10:25:30 PM »

Thanks for the welcome. RE: G.C.- seven years is a long time to live in an isolated place that is a spiritual and natural wonder and yet gets 5,000,000 tourists a year, many of them loud and thoughtless. Got an offer to come home to California...took it!

mike13 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 13, 2012, 10:58:26 PM »

Good to see you here Rosie,looking forward to a read
( Mike Dead fan in OZ)

sonicus · « **Reply #12 on:** July 14, 2012, 04:38:48 AM »

Hello Rosie , thank you so very much for all that you have done to document with word and picture over the years of what has been one of the most important historical phenomenons in art and music.

lbpesq · « **Reply #13 on:** July 14, 2012, 07:44:34 AM »

Finished the book late last night. I wish there was more! A great read with loads of great photos. Well and intelligently written without, it seems, the assistance of a ghost writer - a rarity amongst rock autobiographies. Definitely a must read for us old deadheads or anyone interested in the amazing phenomena called the 60's and the San Francisco sound. Thanks Rosie for sharing this corner of your life story with us.

Bill, the guitar one

rustyg61 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 14, 2012, 11:34:26 PM »

Thanks for the reply Rosie & welcome to the forum! I hope that you are able to release a print version in the near future, I would definitely buy one! My son edited an independant film that was financed completely by donations through Indie-GoGo, have you thought of using a service like that or Kickstarter to get fans to pledge to buy the book before it comes out to defer the cost of publishing?