Restive spirits seeking release: the Implicit Religion of the Grateful Dead

Abstract

ABSTRACT What can the Grateful Dead’s music and community tell us about religion in the postmodern world? While the music operates like a lodestone for many adherents as they negotiate their lives and their situations in the world, we can delve more deeply into the underexplored spiritual elements to the community around the Grateful Dead. This article argues that the Grateful Dead continues to function as Implicit Religion for many, 25 years after the death of guitarist and founding member Jerry Garcia. We will explore the religious dimensions of the music, the subculture, the signs, symbols and myths around the band, including the origins of the band’s name. As different ritual objects take on significance in the lives of their followers, the Grateful community remains an orienting force in many people’s lives.