Mercury News, California — The Grateful Dead soared in popularity in the '80s, despite, or perhaps because of, the political climate. more info

Time — But you'll have to pay more info

Mercury News, California — In advance of the four remaining members of the Grateful Dead performing sold-out shows in Santa Clara and Chicago, said to be the band's final gigs, we offer 50 facts about the 50-year-old band. more info

Time — See photos from a new LIFE special edition about the Grateful Dead more info

Time — "Every police officer in Houston not working a funeral procession had evidently been called out for the show" more info

Brooklyn Vegan — photo: Lee Ranaldo w/ Sonic Youth in 2011 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin) Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo has a few live appearances coming up this year. He's got a Grateful Dead tribute in Chicago with Alex Bleeker, members of Yo... more info

Stereogum — It will never technically be the Grateful Dead without Jerry Garcia, but the surviving members of the band announced a trio of farewell shows to celebrate their 50th birthday. Phish frontman Trey Anastasio will be Garcia’s stand-in, and even if you... more info

Stereogum — Grateful Dead fans with cash to burn will be stoked on the news that they can now purchase an 80-disc box set of the band’s work for $699.98. The box set includes live recordings from 30 of the band’s shows, hence the title Grateful Dead: 30 Trip... more info

LargeHeartedBoy — The Huffington Post shared a list of great road books by women. Bob Weir discussed the Grateful Dead reunion with Rolling Stone. NPR Music is streaming a 100 hour playlist of soulful protest music. Adam Thirlwell shared a reading list... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Jimmy Cliff & friends (via Dave Lipsitz) We're about a month and a half away from the four surviving Grateful Dead members' five 50th anniversary shows (two in California, three in Chicago), ahead of that all... more info