Skip to main content

David Lennox concert recordings collection

 Collection
Identifier: M203

Scope and Content of the Collection

The David Lennox Collection consists of approximately 250 VHS cassettes (predominantly audio recordings), with nearly 200 of the cassettes containing live Grateful Dead music ranging from 1968 to 1995. 12 cassettes list shows titled "Deadhead Hour," (or Grateful Dead Hour) which is a weekly radio broadcast carried by nearly 90 stations nationwide. The Deadhead Hour features excerpts of live performances and studio cuts, and occasional interviews with band members. The remainder of the cassettes contain a collection of performances by various popular music artists recorded from television programs, radio programs, or live concerts.

Dates

  • 1968-2001

Restrictions on Access

Unrestricted access.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole or in part in any publication, including on the Worldwide Web, any material from this collection, the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from this collection should consult the reference archivist to determine copyright holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any item must contain the complete citation to the original.
This collection is stored off-site. Contact archivist in advance to view these materials; 24-hour notice is required.

Biography of David Lennox

For over 26 years, David Lennox collected live Grateful Dead concert recordings, garnering over 1000 hours of Grateful Dead music on nearly 200 VHS cassettes. Differing sharply from many other bands, the Grateful Dead encouraged fans to record their shows and share those recordings with other Grateful Dead fans--as long as no profit was made as a result of the sharing.

History of the Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead was an American psychedelia-influenced rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco. The band was known for its unique and eclectic song writing style--which fused elements of rock, folk music, bluegrass, blues, country, and jazz--and for live performances of long modal jams. The Grateful Dead's career began under the name "The Warlocks" in Palo Alto, California, which was formed from the remnants of a Palo Alto jug band called "Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions." But as another band was already recording under the "Warlocks" name, the band had to change its name in order to get a recording contract. After meeting their new manager Rock Scully, they moved to the Haight-Ashbury section of San Francisco. Many bands from this area, such as Jefferson Airplane and Santana, went on to national fame, giving San Francisco an image as a center for the hippie counterculture of the era. Of these bands, the Grateful Dead had members with arguably the highest level of musicianship, including banjo and guitar player Jerry Garcia, blues musician Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, the classically trained Phil Lesh and drummer Bill Kreutzmann. Following Garcia's death in 1995, the remaining members formally decided to disband. Though some of them occasionally toured through the late 1990s under the name "The Other Ones," they mainly chose to pursue various solo projects, most notably Bob Weir's Ratdog and Phil Lesh and Friends. The remaining members occasionally got together under the pseudonym Crusader Rabbit Stealth Band during the late 1990s, infrequently playing unannounced shows. The mid-2002 fall tour of The Other Ones was so successful that the band decided the name was no longer appropriate. On February 14, 2003, they renamed themselves The Dead, reflecting the abbreviated form of the band name that fans had long used and keeping "Grateful" retired out of respect for Garcia.

Extent

7.5 Linear Feet ( in 18 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract:

The David Lennox concert recordings collection (1968-2001) consists of audio and video recordings of rock music performances, primarily by the Grateful Dead.

Organization of the Collection

Organized into 2 series:

  1. Series I: Grateful Dead Shows
  2. Series II: Various Artists' Shows

Off-Site Storage

This collection is stored off-site. Contact archivist in advance to view these materials; 24-hour notice is required.

Acquisition Information

Donated by David Lennox, 2005.

Processing Information

Processed by Casey P. Cater at the item level, 2006.

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
David Lennox Concert Recordings:
Subtitle
A Guide to His Collection at Georgia State University Library
Status
Completed
Author
Casey Cater
Date
March 8, 2006
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2007: EAD edited by William Hardesty.
  • 2017: EAD revised by Hal Hansen.

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

https://library.gsu.edu/special-collections/about/
Contact:
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)

Visit Georgia State University Library