43: Jerry Garcia dies of a heart attack while in rehab
Jerome John “Jerry” Garcia was an American musician, songwriter, and artist best remembered for being the lead guitarist and vocalist of the psychedelic rock band the Grateful Dead. Garcia was known for his extended guitar jamming style which allowed band members to exchange leads back and forth building off of each others music, melding into a unique song every time a performance occured. The band toured almost constantly from their formation in 1965 until Garcia’s in death in 1995 playing 2,314 shows. Occasionally there were breaks due to exhaustion or health problems, usually it was because of the unstable health and drug use of Garcia. In part to his drug relapse in 1989 and his current condition, Garcia checked himself into the Betty Ford Center during July of 1995, but stayed for only two weeks. Garcia then checked into the Serenity Knolls treatment center in Forest Knolls, California to give rehab another try. One month later on August 9, 1995, Garcia’s body was discovered on the floor of his room at the rehabilitation clinic at 4:23 a.m. The cause of death was a heart attack exacerbated by sleep apnea. Following Garcia’s death in August of 1995, the remaining members formally decided to disband. They focused on various solo projects, most notably Bob Weir’s Ratdog, Phil Lesh and Friends, and Mickey Hart’s music for the 1996 Olympics and planet drum sessions.
Listeners and staff wrote in about Jerry Garcia’s life and death:
Pam Ross from Blue Bell, PA
Mitch from Philadelphia
Tess Coffey, Assistant to the GM at WXPN
Other sites of interest
etree.org bit torrent server of Grateful Dead music
archive.org collection of Grateful Dead music for download and streaming
Annotated Grateful Dead lyrics
My sister and I were very into the Dead (still are), but were just a little too young to enjoy the Dead’s live performances. We made it to only one show (my mom drove us from Hbg to Philly and waited for us in her car in the parking lot - what a gem she is). It’s still the most unforgettable musical experience I’ve ever had. We were so excited to be there. I remember the day Jerry died. I was taking a nap and my sister burst into my room - “Jerry’s dead! Jerry’s dead!” I couldn’t believe it. One of the greats dies too young - a common thread amongst great musicians.
October 17th, 2007 at 4:18 pmi had the opportunity to see the dead/jgb 117 times.i followed them from philly civic center1984 to giants stadium 1995.they were truly a magical band.i remember the morning jerry died. i was working in lower bucks county.we were driving 313 east of dublin and came over one of those hills and noticed an incredible sunrise. i mean it was the whole eastern sky in a vibrant tiedye of every color.it was around 6:30 in the morning.then finding out later that day from pierre on wmmr that jerry died that morning.adding the time differences from cali to east coast and jerrys appoximate time of death would have made that sunrise around the same time he passed.i just wonder how many other people saw and remember that sunrise. i will not forget and have never seen one that colorful since.i am very glad i got to see the shows i did.
October 19th, 2007 at 6:16 pmGerry Garcia was my favorite guitar player of all time. my first greatful dead experience was in ‘72 at the old philly convention center a real happening and what not and became an instant dead head. It’s sad to hear other dead members play the old songs because i still feel a loss from captain trips death. Warren Haynes of government mule played an excellant set at the tower a week or so back and now he is my favorite living guitat player though both guitar players with the radiators really get after it. groove on love and make no judgement
October 22nd, 2007 at 5:16 pm