Interesting news just in on this subject seems worthy of a re-post.

With the recent success of Cadillac Records, Ray and Dreamgirls, it’s not surprising that news has broke of an upcoming Jerry Garcia biopic now in development for the big screen.   Let’s hope the upcoming film does justice to the larger than life rock and bluegrass American icon and care is taken in telling the story of his early days before he transformed The Grateful Dead into one of rock and roll’s legendary bands.

Having seen Jerry and the Dead twice and meeting Jerry personally back in 1993, I can say with conviction that the man was probably one of the most “human” rock gods we’ll ever see. This is what Bob Dylan had to say upon learning of his death in August 1995:

“There’s no way to measure his greatness as a player or a person. I don’t think eulogizing him will do him justice. He was that great–much more than a superb musician with an uncanny ear and dexterity. He is the very spirit personified of whatever is muddy river country at its core and screams up in the spheres. He really had no equal…There are a lot of spaces between the Carter family, Buddy Holly, and, say, Ornette Coleman– a lot of universes–but he filled them all without being a member of any school. His playing was moody, awesome, hypnotic and subtle.  There’s no way to convey the loss. It just digs down really deep.”

If the film is done well it will be refreshing to see the story of Jerry Garcia in San Francisco before the Warlocks and the dizzy days of the Grateful Dead.  And — if these music related biopic films succeed in accomplishing anything other than box office recipts and DVD units moved, hopefully they serve to document the music and the creative personalities that brought the music to the world.  As more and more of our musical icons disappear, whether they be jazz, country, bluegrass or rock and roll, it’s important to tell the stories so that future generations of music lovers will discover them.

Here’s Jerry and the Grateful Dead at Winterland San Francisco in 1974