Long Strange Trip: The Untold Story Of The Grateful Dead

Long Strange Trip: The Untold Story Of The Grateful Dead is a 2017 rock music documentary. The sprawling four-hour-long chronicle plunges deep into the unique culture that unfolded around the iconic American rock band, The Grateful Dead. Directed by Amir Bar-Lev, this cinematic journey brings a fresh, introspective lens to a band that both defined and defied a generation. Drawing from primarily first-hand accounts, the film features interviews from longtime members, roadies, and die-hard fans, alongside a wealth of never-before-seen archival footage that breathes vibrant life into this historical narrative.

At its core, the documentary revolves around the Grateful Dead's members: Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, and Robert Hunter, with considerable weightage given to Garcia as the band's de facto frontman and spiritual leader. Significant contributors to the film include lyricist John Perry Barlow and musicians Tom Constanten and Sam Cutler, who provide insightful and deeply personal observations on the band's journey.

One of the film's central themes is the band's fierce commitment to improvisation, a inclination not only central to their sound but also to their philosophy of life and performance. The Grateful Dead musical ethos was one of unbridled experimentation and risk-taking. They reveled in the enigmatic interplay between art and audience, favouring spontaneity over planned performance. Their refusal to adhere to conventional norms birthed a sound that blurred the boundaries between blues, folk, and psychedelic rock and fostered a fiercely devoted fanbase.

Through the untold story of the Grateful Dead, the film also sheds light on the unique cultural phenomenon of the 'Deadheads', the diehard fan following of the band who religiously followed them on their tours. They were known for their distinctive counterculture, which manifested not only through their clothing or lifestyle choices but also in their conception of community, which prized collectivism and freedom.

Long Strange Trip blurs the traditional chronological approach of recounting a band's history in favour of a free-flowing narrative structure, involving different themes such as art, spirituality, fandom, mortality, and intense loyalty. It echoes the band's anarchistic energy and their maverick approach to creating music, making the documentary an experience akin to attending one of their live performances.

The film provides an unflinching look at the toll such a lifestyle had on the band members and their loved ones. Particularly on Garcia, whose health problems and struggles with drug addiction are put under the lens. The film does not shy away from the darker aspects of The Grateful Dead's story, exploring the tragic consequences of their free-spirited ethos with a sense of compassion and empathy.

The documentary is rife with nostalgic memorabilia, backstage recordings, home videos, and live footage of the electric Grateful Dead performances. It takes us on a backstage tour of rock history, capturing the revolutionary spirit of the 60s and 70s, while also tracing the band's transformations and the cultural shifts they initiated. The footage is masterfully interwoven with reflective interviews and reminiscences, seamlessly creating an immersive atmosphere.

Supplemented by Barlow, Constanten, and Cutler's firsthand accounts and candid reflections, this tale of friendship, communal living, musical exploration, and tragic loss may come across as a cautionary tale to some. But beyond the 'sex, drugs and rock-n-roll' narrative, at the heart of it lies The Grateful Dead's untamed pursuit of creative freedom against all odds, making the Long Strange Trip a poignant ode to a pioneering spirit.

Long Strange Trip: The Untold Story of The Grateful Dead is not just a treat for the die-hard Grateful Dead fans, but also for anyone who loves rock history, counterculture, or simply a well-told tale of creativity and resilience. Despite being a four-hour-long journey, the film enraptures its audience with its unique storytelling style and keeps them hooked until the end. It brings to life the anarchic spirit of The Grateful Dead and offers a touching tribute to a band that has left an indelible mark on the world of music.