Onstage and offstage, the Grateful Dead ran their band on their own terms. Each concert was different from the last, and their fans loved them for it. Many of the band's songs were autobiographical, and their fans could relate to life's ups and downs, which included drug and alcohol addiction, death of band members, illness, and breakups of personal relationships. Featuring fascinating sidebars, revealing direct quotations, and accessible language that highlights the sense of community that existed among Deadheads, this book delves into the thirty-plus-year career of the Grateful Dead and looks to the future of its founding members.