Searching for the Sound

This is the first book written by a band member that deals directly with the Grateful Dead and the inner workings of this American Institution. Playing together since 1965 they moved from backing up strippers in seedy dives to sold out, multiple night runs, at football stadiums. The Grateful Dead became one of the highest grossing touring acts of all time, and touched the lives of millions in the process. Phil Lesh has been playing bass with the band from the beginning and now tells his story. Mr. Lesh brings the reader along on his personal journey through life, an adventure consumed by noise/sound/music of all kinds. The son of working class parents he recalls one of his earliest memories; hearing music emanating through the wall of his Grandmothers room. Once discovered sitting outside, he was invited in for a listen. The music he heard on that fateful day was the New York Philharmonic's version of Brahm's First Symphony. Phil was hooked for life. Besides some of his more obvious musical influences (classical, the Beatles, Jazz, avant-garde composers) Phil Lesh seems to be attuned to most sounds that the average listener takes for granted. From the rumble and pitch of trains coasting over railroad ties, to the sound of the still night air hovering just above the Nile, Phil is consumed with sound of all kinds. So much so that when addressing his recent Liver transplant, the reader senses the only time Mr. Lesh was truly scared was when he could not hear the Mozart he had selected to be played during the procedure. The transplant was successful and Lesh is alive today to tell his version of the Grateful Dead's history.--By Shawn Donohue