[Gargantua]

From the perspective of pure musicianship—from the skill with which the instruments are played to the tastefulness and musicality of the artists involved—there is only one band that for over 40 years performed at the pinnacle of musical achievement, from composing through final mix and in live performance.

The Stones, The Band and The Eagles all came within a few-thousand arenas and a few million brain-cells of the single-greatest Rock and Roll Band of All Time.

As a performing musician who sang lead in my first band in 1967, went on to work as a performing artist (piano & guitar), Studio Musician (piano, guitar, drums, bass) and recording artist with Major Label credits on several albums and one movie soundtrack (I'm the crazy piano in the movie "Speed Zone" with John Candy; a ridiculously over-produced remake of the Beatles' 'Dizzy Miss Lizzy' loops as the credits roll, and that's me on piano) over the next 45 years, my all time pick is The Grateful Dead.

Nobody ever played drums like Kreutzman and Hart. No one ever considered trying to play bass like Lesh. Rhythm guitar? Tell me who is better than Weir. And for lead guitar, Garcia is a legend and innovator whose vast library of work will live forever. I have ticket stubs from 57 shows.

Grateful Dead, best band ever. IMHO

[Vaden]

You should stop talking now. Please. There’s nobody more overrated than the Dead and their eternal “songs” that their drug-entranced fans slept thru with open eyes.

[wardaddy]

I’m a deadhead from pretty far back

I bought the first Warner Bros record with Trips in the Uncle Sam top hat in 7th grade which came with a glossy poster of that album cover and one of the Electric Prunes and Van Morrison and others....

I was intimately familiar with the legacy of Kesey and Bear and La Honda and Robert Hunter and Jerry and so forth to the point of having my own direct line to Nick Sand and TBOEL....I’m just i really lived that cultural era

I saw many shows from 71-78......all over the southeast and Texas....

I helped with a show at the Mississippi Arts festival in 78 where even though a smallish crowd in a cavernous coliseum they played over three and a half hours and were extremely considerate of the audience given it was their one show there ever

And I still listen to them.....I listened to Death Have No Mercy from Live just last nite while searching for their version of Just like Tom Thumb Blues on Napster

I prefer the Pig era and consider Workingmam and Beauty perfection

My interest wanes after Terrapin....really after Mars to be honest and I like the 60s to mid 70s archive.org shows best.....after Mars they got jazzier and less bluesy

That translates to more Phil .......

Anyhow....best fans ever but best Rock band ever I dont agree

They weren’t really a rock band......more Americana music ....psychedelic blues to start but then more folk blues and almost Leadbelly on acid music

Garcia loved country and bluegrass and Bob loved Marty Robbins storytelling country

If you only buy one dead album....toss up between Skull and Roses or Europe 72

One studio album.....has to be Beauty .....their most accessible work but Axomoxoa captures the uncle Sidney feeling better....St Stephen.....man I still recall that mood like a fall afternoon outdoor trip...peaking just like the leaves

I get it....trust me....my oldest boy gets it too