And Drugs with the Grateful Dead - My Three Decades of Drumming

This is the Grateful Dead Bill Kreutzmann's long awaited book and it doesn't disappoint. Kreutzmann is a founding member of the Grateful Dead and was a friend of Jerry Garcia from the time he was twelve years old. Few people have known Jerry Garcia better than Bill Kreutzmann. This book is more than a history of the Grateful Dead. It is an expression of the whole Grateful Dead concept. You learn about the relationship of band members to each other and to others. You learn about the three (at least) eras of the Grateful Dead.You delve into how personal relationships and phases affected the eras. Although you might think Kreutzmann has a bragging edge on certain events (don't we all) he is often brutally honest about his bad and unfortunate decisions. He doesn't make excuses for himself. He is also honest about what he considers the talent, commitment, etc., of various band members who have been part of the Grateful Dead. This book may hurt a few feelings among band members but it is honest and Kreutzmann also makes clear the good points of the same people as well as his love for them. The friendship connections to legendary rock, jazz and blues stars before they were famous is fascinating. The personal stories are worth the price alone.

Let me now say this. If you can't deal with profanity, this book isn't for you. I'm not saying that every other word is profane but Kreutzmann does let it fly now and again when he discusses something emotional. It is just the way he is. Also, he reports doing some incredibly stupid and irresponsible things that, while they didn't turn out badly, could have been tragic. To me, it just adds to the character and flavor of the book, but some people I know actually get angry at authors who write such things. If you are such a person, this book is not for you. If hearing about how drug use may have favorably or unfavorably affected music creativity bothers you, then this book is not for you. However, if you enjoy an honest book with a lot of personality and can just accept without judgment, Kreutzmann's decisions and life for what they are, you will be treated to an amazing long, strange, trip that leads you into a world that only those who evolved into rock stars in the sixties and later became rock legends can understand. This trip of Kreutzmann's captures a time capsule of rock history that will never be repeated...and it ends in a way that will surely touch all those who read it.

I have a lot of conflict about this book. If you're reading it to get the gist of the history of the Grateful Dead... the what/where/who of their three decades together, it's a good book. Kreutzmann did a respectable job of recollecting and laying out that history. But I don't know how to read this book and not take it very personally.
I came up in the '60's, and music and LSD and all the same culture was my thing, too. And like an interview I heard with Kreutzmann recently, I don't know how to disavow LSD or it's effect on the rest of my life. It was foundational. I wouldn't be who I am without it. And I happened to love amphetamines back then... and a lot of pot, too.
But somewhere along the way, we part ways. In my very early 20's it became obvious to me that I couldn't "get there"... and stay there... with drugs. There had to be a cleaner, more whole way to go forward.
This book is startling to me in that Kreutzmann never seemed to get the memo... he recounts with pride and celebration those decades that took so many lives and caused so much destruction. I had to stop and catch my breath on almost every page. The endless retelling of his trashing and destroying hotel rooms... all I could think, as an adult, is of the hotel staffs, hardworking people who had to clean, fix, repair his destruction. "Entitled" comes to mind. Spoiled. Where is the peace and love in this? The disregard for those who didn't have money, who might have to spend days or weeks just cleaning up his mess... where is there any respect or empathy? It is never mentioned in this book.
Kreutzmann talks about his numerous wives, but also with such disregard. He walked away from Susila, with young child, because he just wasn't ready yet. Who, then, had to BE ready to take that role of parent and do the un-fun work of raising this child over many years? Where is the peace and love in this?
His retelling of a time when he had sex with 13 girls in his hotel room... "when we were done with them" they left. Sounds honorable.
But by far, it's the drugs that just made me pull back from this book. I have four kids... two of whom were addicts, one to meth, one to heroin. My youngest son died at the age of 25 of a heroin overdose after many years of hard struggle. ("Darn it!"). Long after I had learned my lessons, I realized that my generation had left a legacy of death for my children. They were not at Woodstock listening to mind-bending music. They never got to experience what I did. They didn't get Jimi and Janice. They got Kurt Cobain and Layne Stayley. They didn't get "Purple Haze"... they got "Down in a Hole". The inevitable darkness and decay that came from the idea that drugs could ever get you there... came to roost upon our kids. It wasn't just the drugs. It was the idea that we could have and do and be whatever the hell we wanted, without a moment's regard for those around us. Our kids got the fallout from all that.
When my kids started to implode I didn't turn my head or run... I stood toe to toe with them for more than a decade. Dozens of rehabs, jail, prison time were punishing and horrific to all of us. I didn't see my kids having any fun. Heroin wasn't fun. Withdrawals weren't fun. And in the year my own son died, 12 of his friends died too. (darn it!) The carnage in my life isn't any different than the carnage in Kreutzmann's life. Why doesn't he draw the same conclusions... that celebrating this lifestyle (ouch, I hate that word)... glorifying the use of drugs... just hurts the next guy who gets the idea that it's a valid way to live.
The other thing I recognized in this book was what I heard a thousand times from my own kids, rehabs, even myself. It goes along the lines of... it's ok to use "some drugs"... if there are problems, you are just using the wrong drug. LSD is ok, but cocaine is not. Xanax is bad, pot is good. If only we could find the right/cool drug or mix of drugs to use, all would be well. Alcohol was bad in my crowd, but later became preferable to downers. I took my son to the ER on alcohol overdose twice... each time he nearly died. His dad continued to drink, even as he watched his son dying. Alcohol was harmless. It was heroin that was the bad drug. What stands out to me now is... how impossible it seems for people to fathom NO drug use, of NO kind, ever.
How about life? How about forgoing the deep desire for a high... for (in my case) mind expansion and connection... and going about this the hard way?
I don't know why the best Kreutzmann could say over the dozens of deaths he recounted was "Darn it!". Or why he doesn't see how his own actions, and his current book, just fuels the belief that one can live a life of gross irresponsibility and drug use and eventually it will all work out fine.
I have to add one more comment here: I realize this book was supposedly about "the music". But when "the music" also supports, condones, glamorizes, worships at the altar of drug use... then it also needs to be held accountable. I have personal dilemmas about this to this day: I love the music of my culture. But I have to realize, when I'm grooving along to a song called "Cocaine" (for instance)... that my kids are, too. I'm paying for, supporting and honoring a song that casts a wide net.
I am glad (truly!) that he now lives in Hawaii and got lucky enough to find the ocean, nature, an organic farm and love. Why not start there? I hope he shares that wealth with hungry kids who don't know WHERE to find what they need. It might be some good karma.

Some new stories and insights to the band. Focuses on the band mostly, which is great. Billy is definitely a frank and forward guy. Appreciate that. Editor missed a bunch of grammatical, mis-spellings, etc. not the most fluent writing. This doesn't stand up as a great book about the GD (like McNallys, Phils, Blair Jacksons Jerry book). But it is Bill's story and he tells it his way.

This book was very disappointing and difficult for me to finish( I'd like to mention that I've been a DeadHead since 1971). Chronologically it skips all over the place, often in the same chapter and sometimes on the same page. In contrast to Phil Lesh's autobiography, the overall tone of this book comes across as somewhat mean spirited and unkind. It pains me to say that this book is boring and Bill comes across as a rather unlikeable person. For the most part, he just talks about the many drug binges he's been on over the years.

Absolutely horrendous....I don't need to preface this with stating how many shows I've been to and all that jazz...I've been to many shows, read many books...let's leave it at that. I have a hard time believing this book was proofread at all. It is so poorly written its not even funny...it sounds very juvenile...As fans of the music, people sometimes have a hard time admitting that some of their stuff is just flat out not good. I do applaud Kreutzmann for his honesty in certain areas: He preferred Jerry's songs over the others, his opinions on Donna, his disdain for having Mickey return to the band, his thoughts on hiring Vince...these are some of the examples that kept this review from being zero stars (if that's possible). This honesty is the only redeeming quality of this tome.

Let's be honest...does anyone believe Vince Welnick bought anything good at all to the band?...find me a fan of "Samba in the Rain" and I have a bridge I'd love to sell you. "Easy Answers"?, "Corrina"?...c'mon Bobby...towards the end of their demise, the shows were a mess and again I applaud Bill for clearly pointing that out. Everything Donna opened her mouth on was a mess.

Back to the book...was it necessary to cutesily end paragraphs with lines from songs?...It felt like the paragraph was contrived just to fit that one line in. Also, how many times can you mention "we'll get to that later", only not to "get to that later"?...and let's be honest, I can go right now into my local Shop Rite and find at least 10 drummers. We don't need the drummer beat "lingo" that Bill often uses throughout the book. Okay, we get it. Last time I checked, I never walked out of a show hearing, "That drums/space was great!!"...if that's your gig, good for you...I just never heard it. Bouncing around from broad to broad??...I guess that's the rock n' roll way of doing things. I just wish someone took the time to proofread this thing a little better, because I'm sure there's a book in there somewhere. Phil's book was good...I'm just waiting for Bobby's book to come out...

I wouldn't have even written this review if I didn't see how many 5 star reviews it got. I finished it in two days only because I paid for it...everything the boys do does NOT have to generate a 5 star review...if that's the case, go put on "Way to Go Home" and get back to me...

deuces.

Few people who aren't already fans are likely to read this, other than perhaps someone doing a research paper, but if you're a Deadhead, you'll find what Kreutzmann has to say interesting. Although there are other Dead memoirs, some of them pretty good, it's different to have one of the members himself, who was there at virtually every performance from the very beginning to the very end, not only offer his recollections but his opinions about other band members, the band's music, and so forth. It's not great literature, but hopefully no one expects it to be. With the help of his ghost writer, Kreutzmann comes across as thoughtful and insightful. The narrative is reasonably coherent and articulate. He covers the band's early years, the Europe tour in '72, the Egypt trip, the Festival Express, and other highlights. He doesn't shy away from some honest critiques of other band members, although he's gentle about it. Since it's a memoir, the book is about his personal life as well as about the band's history, and his personal reflections can be touching. Still, he wisely understands that most readers are much more interested in the Dead than in Bill Kreutzmann. (Of course, when you're constantly touring with the same crew for thirty years, your life and the band's life overlap a great deal.) Even a hard-core Deadhead is likely to pick up something from this, and it's a very pleasant way to fill in the gaps in your knowledge of the band's history and the culture from which it emerged.

Of the ever-increasing plethora of biographies, histories, analyses and kiss-and-tells that continue (thankfully) to emerge regarding the cultural colossus that was the Grateful Dead, Kreutzmann's effort is worth a detailed read but fails to rise to the status of a top-tier reference.

Drummers don't often reap the attention often accorded to vocalists, guitarists and other frontmen, and Billy's congenial stage presence, modest public exposure and obvious work ethic tend to mask his very real contribution to the Dead oeuvre. In contrast to his wing man, Micky Hart, an over-the-top sonic experimentalist , Kreutzmann offered
a sophisticated , jazz-inflected percussion that, overall, was the greater contribution to the band's signature sound and
infused their live performances with wit, dash and an intelligent energy. Despite Hart's extraordinary pursuit of musical art and tireless inventiveness, he could be dull, overly-loud and plodding during the more song-oriented phases of their shows, while Kreutzmann excelled at deft interplay and smartly-executed, turn-on-a-dime drum wizardy.
The drummers' combined history, collaboration and clashes could have in themselves warranted an entire book.
But Kreutzmann goes much farther in revealing the essential details of some of the fundamental conflicts within the band that tantalized Deadheads for decades. In doing so, he contributes enormously to our understanding of the band and, impressively, does so in such an objective and inoffensive fashion as to not further stokes the flames of
controversy. This is a remarkable accomplishment achieved with such modesty and lack of drama I find it hard to remember a parallel in any other historical or biographical context. It simply smacks of the truth devoid of embellishment and sets the standard for accuracy and integrity in the subject; the bassist, Phil Lesh, by contrast,
produced an account of the Dead that was so demure and reserved it smacked of self-censorship.

The downside of this effort is the folksy narrative, which is strung along in a loose conversational style that verges on self-parody; the stories becomes the musing of an unfocussed hippy mentality, although it is delightful to encounter the occasional omission by the author that he simply can't remember a key detail. Better editing could have resulted in a tighter, more attention-riveting read.

Unfortunately, the book drowns three-quarters of the way through as Garcia's decline and eventual passing wreak a terrific toll on Kreutzmann. Garcia, though a modest man who hated fame, nonetheless possessed and almost Old Testament gravitas and overpowering charisma that could profoundly affect the live of even an unknowing concertgoer reluctantly dragged to his first show. I know hundreds of people who sincerely claim to have had their lives significantly changed by his musical genius, and 20 years after his death many will still burst in spontaneous tears recalling him.

How worse it must be, then, to have been in Garcia's presence for decades, only to witness his brutal decline and
early death. One can feel the grief emanating from the pages as Kretuzmann self-distntegrates repeatedly. Perhaps
his life was filled with pain even more deeply than his bandmates; certainly, Kreutzmann possessed a manic quality that indicated a tendency towards instability, while Weir and Lesh were more serene by comparison in the face of the same destructive forces.

So I ended the book in a melancholy mood, with the sense of loss renewed. More than that, it bothers me that this book, along with the so many other efforts, concentrates on the passing of the Dead rather than celebrating the phenomenal contribution this band made to America and tens of millions of listener.
They are one of the greatest American cultural icons and should be remembered as such.

I have the sneakiest feeling Mr. Weir is the one who will finally hit the magic formula.

First of all let me say I was never a Deadhead; although I grew up during that era of hazy crazy daze. I really never cared for the music of the Grateful Dead but had a healthy respect for Jerry Garcia and all those that followed their music and concerts; almost to the point of a cult. Maybe that is what made me shy away. I did like some of their extended jams and the antics and circus like atmosphere that was a Grateful Dead concert; it was a happening.

This book is a great source of recollections as related by one of the surviving Grateful Dead members, the drummer Bill Kreutzmann. The book is coinciding with a reunion scheduled for the summer of 2015; it's a fifty year celebration of memories to kick off the reunion. I had trouble thinking it has been fifty years since some of the events have passed. Speaking of passing, well at least I'm here and not passed like so many others of that wild era. One of the many enjoyable recollections is the account of the infamous free concert at Altamont with the Rolling Stones. A discussion of the events leading up to the concert and the anticipation of playing with the Stones who were described in the book as rock stars not outlaw cowboys like the Grateful Dead, or pop-culture gods lie the Beatles." after endless hours of talks preparing the organizers and bands forgot one potential minor problem; they had forgotten to hire security! Mind you the stage was three feet of the ground from 300,000 people in a speedway not built to hold so many people; let alone contain people stoned , drunk or wasted in one way or another from rushing the stage. a loose deal between the Dead and the Hells Angels was struck at the midnight hour since they had a prior relationship. It was a bad choice because the ju ju was real bad as the bikers were beating the crowd back with pool cues no less! it got worse of course as knives were drawn eventually with result of one dead; thus ended the 60's era of peace love and happiness in December of 1969; the sixties were dead as was one concert attendee. The Dead did not like the vibe prior to the ultimate violent act and backed out as performers and let the other bands rock on like Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Crosby, Stills, Nash and young and others; they had some integrity and insight into what would happen. It's stories and events like this that riddle this book with good and bad memories. Foe me since I was not a Deadhead it was a glimpse into the scene that was the 60's and the band that had followers everywhere going from city to city like a travelling caravan of hippies.

I really enjoyed going back in time and living vicariously the life that was the times of the Grateful Dead. Essentially you don't need to be a Dead Head to appreciate this book. If you are than you probably like it even more than I did. Recommended for a trip down memory lane whether you were there or not, grew up in the era or not; it's just a fun easy read, check it out.

I have never been a Grateful Dead fan--and I don't honestly know why. Their style of laid back, folksy, rock music is right down the line in terms of my genre preferences and likes. They, perhaps more than any other Bay Area band, represent the San Francisco 60s rock style--and I lived in San Francisco for the better part of 14-years.

I understand and enjoy Bay Area Groups such as Jefferson Airplane/Starship, Santana and Journey. Yet, aside from a few of their songs (Truckin, Casey Jones, Uncle John's Band and Touch of Grey come to mind) I can take or leave the Grateful Dead's music. In fact, the only time I've been associated in any way with "Deadheads" is when I inadvertently got stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Parkway West outside of Pittsburgh. (I managed to be traveling to Pittsburgh for business at the exact time when a Grateful Dead concert was scheduled in that city.)

You'd think that the group would register with me, but it hasn't. As for the band members, I know of Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Phil Lesh. But Bill Kreutzmann--well, honestly, until I read "Deal: My Three Decades of Drumming, Dreams, and Drugs with the Grateful Dead" I had never heard of the guy.

While I may have been lukewarm to the group itself (I know!) I am nothing but enthusiastic over Kreutzmann's story and his telling of his involvement with the Dead. I was drawn into the book starting with the preface and from that point on it never let me go.

I've read a number of rock band biographies--from the Doors, to the Allman Brothers, to you name it. None, however, have held my interest like "Deal: My Three Decades of Drumming, Dreams, and Drugs with the Grateful Dead." It's a riveting read. Clearly, Bill Kreutzmann and his writer, Benjy Eisen, put their heart and souls into this work. I am so impressed with this book that I may buy "American Beauty," Workingman's Dead," and From the Mars Hotel" just to see what I've been missing!

Listened to the Audible version back and forth to work over the last couple of weeks. The narrator did a good job. I've read Scully's and Phil's books and both were good. Listened to So Many Roads a great one too. I really enjoyed this book in audio format. Would have been great of Billy actually did the reading.

Many of the things were a bit of a rehash but I felt this one gave a real and fresh perspective to several of the stories and laid out Billy's opinions and experiences quite well. This book seems to tell it like it was from Bill's eyes and experiences and that's what I like about it. It's not a history of the Dead, it's a history of Bill during his time with the Dead. Women, booze, drugs, fights, rifts, etc.

I think what burns some people up about this book is that it paints a picture of reality that many haven't read or seen. It's quite clear that the band changed over the years and they each had their separate lives.

Others complained about the drummer talk but I found it quite interesting to hear that stuff as I've never been exposed to that "language"

Well worth the listen or read.

Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann's memoir ("Deal") reads like he's having a conversation with reader. And it's a darn interesting conversation covering (briefly) Kreutzmann's childhood and (in much more detail) his nearly 50 years as a member of one of America's most well known, revered, and enduring bands. The majority of the book (probably two thirds) is spent on the early years of the Grateful Dead and the 1970s. Kreutzmann is incredibly forthright in his commentary, but also friendly in tone as he manages to be both honest and kind when criticizing others or describing questionable actions, decisions, talent, etc (to include himself).

Kreutzmann's lived an interesting life and he does an excellent job hitting some pretty serious highlights, as well as the lowlights. There's plenty of drug use, sexual escapades, musical highlights (both concert and in studio), and some well-earned philosophical observations about life, death, family, and friends. Woodstock, Altamont, the Festival Express, tours of Europe, Egypt, and the US are all covered with an insider's perspective as are most of the studio recording sessions. The incredible rise to both critical and financial success for the band is laid out, as are the many somber and down moments for the band and their members--most likely well known by longtime Dead fans, but Kreutzmann does an excellent job of putting the reader there for the ride. It's a conversational tone and told primarily chronologically throughout this very entertaining ride of a book and career. Kreutzmann doesn't glamorize the lifestyle, he tells it like it was/is, and he makes no excuses. An entertaining and interesting read for fans of the bands and fans of rock and roll, and life, in general.

Might have been a good read but never got the chance because the stupid Kindle download did not work. I had to cancel my order as a result. Hopeless! Won't bother ordering any of this digitised crap ever again-and I order PLENTY of other stuff from the store

One of the best rock memoirs I ever read. The drummer and one of the founders of the Grateful Dead tells a story like no others. Interesting that the author grew up in a well educated family with father being a Stanford prof. He also took first drum lessons from a Stanford physics PhD student...now, the formation and initial growth of the Grateful Dead is a a fantastic story with unusual characters including a well connected LSD dealer, the Hells Angels and the Merry Pranksters. The story of the late 60's San Francisco scene is great when coming from an insider like the author. The 70's and 80's Dead are also interesting stories including parties, hotel shenanigans, European tours but mostly - the music. In fact, the music is the one constant theme in the book. You can really feel how important the music is to the author (and his band mates). There are lots of great tales, but one of the best is from the Dead's Egypt tour when the author describes an unusual late night experience with horseback riding to a desert night club and the experience at this Egyptian night club. Really interesting stuff...There are also incredible sad moments in the book such as the death of John Belushi, and the suicide of the author's mother...Of course, there is also a very sad description of Jerry Garcia's death. There are also moments of great joy, including children being born and the author marrying his current wife. Still, the most constant sense of joy seems to come from the description of the music itself. As a Dead fan, its easy to see why. A great read.

Cjanged Review back to reflect book Not terriblle bait and switch by the store which stil has yet to bother to even call me or email me regarding selling me signed copy vs. sending me an unsigned copy (TWICE both emails verfify the book as a "(signed edition) ""- so tired of the amount of time I have spent and the attitude of customer service as if its only a coule people that got ripped off by this/ Adding insult to injurry the schill who clais that I am no Dedhead because I saved a dime and now have "spour grapes" is laughable as that would imply I did not have a signed copy reserved since Feb 23, 2015 or that Dead.net is the bastion of retail sales and donates all its profits to the SEVA foundation--dudes dead.net is run by Muisc Today or some such corporate management group so get a life and stop taking shots oat folks airing legitimate beefs...as for the book...well I have said its great -just wish mine was freaking signed as I was priomised! yeesh!

I have spent 2 hours on phone with the store customer service and they CANNOT Get me a signed copy are blameing St. Martin's Press for the error and claim the link was a mistake they NEVER sold a copy of signed books but clearly as other posters here are complaining liike me it is the error of Amazxon, St. Martin's press or both-and how convenient that now sellers all over have the book with a certificate of authenticity of first edition signed copy which the store never sstated and so clearly its a bate/switch by publisher or the store but so far they are "Investigating" but not giving ANY GUARANTEES that I will get a replaceement sigened- Wow! I can not belive that the store thinks this is acceptable-I do not want a refund just the book signed- and I can go to EBAY and they have the gall to have resellers selling the book for 36 bucks with shipppingh a 3rd paety sellers on the store right now! So in fact the book is abtainable signed and surely 20k or more fanst like me bought this book and Billy would NOT do this to fans-IF he knew about this-0which he will as I am FB freidn with him and will post to his ppage later today what the store has sone-he would not leet the store rip off good faither customers for a "mistake" which even if it was could be mitigated even if they told me they need a month to get the book signed for me so be it-but to tell me they cannot stand by their product web and claim they never really had that item available is pure nonsense and they know they advertised the prre-order with limited authographedd copies- Helk my odrer confirmation was Feb 23, 2015! I could have gotten t his and better service from Dead.net--I will spend 30 bucsk likely now to get signed copy but am livid and shocked at the lack of integrity byy all concerned-claim they just learned of issue today? Really? Come on the store and St. Martins fulfill your obligation-this is unseemly!

I love this book (though have only read first few chapters) I have to exchange it as I ordered the SIGNED COPY (which was not $30 in the pre-order that placed back in February).
Excitedly opened the book from cardboard the store sleeve and looked for Bill's signature? Maybe he signed his picture in the middle? Nope!
Dang- Talk about how to ruin a Dead Head's book delivery! I was worried I'd lost out on chance for signed 1st edition though now that I see them hawking them with a "certificate of authenticity" for the signed 1st edition for $30 not the $20 I paid. I am sure the store can fulfill replacing my unsigned copy (albeit maybe by using up a "Cerfitied" signed copy). Fortunately, the original order SKU shows that its a "signed 1st edtion "10c"
As a major Dead Head since 1979 the sentimental value of Bill signing the book makes this a family heirloom...I appreciate that non Dead Heads are reviewing the book and enjoying it to limited degree but I find that their reviews have to be taken with a grain of salt as its hard to really get Bill's perspective if you have not been a member of the band as all audience members who truly have experienced the Dead shows fully realize they were (members of the extended band which was always an experimant in spontaneous art as music that was affected directly by the consciousness of the band and its ability to feed off of the positive energy they got from the fans)...I cannot imagine my life had I not "run into" these guys in Morrison Colorado one summer working in construction during college. Billy always was a positive member of the band and you could tell he loved playing for them..I personally would have nothing less or expect anything less than an unflattering real from the heart telling of his life in the band warts and all and seems that its where folks want the ear candy on so called historic moments like Altamonte etc. (which are covered well in Official History and clearly were scary events that showed why the Dead were never the Stones and had no place for violence or the kind of vibes the Stones and other Harder rock bands might attract---peaceful loving fans for a peaceful and loving group)....I will post a full review once I get this signed stuff out of way and delete this...just a heads up for other fans in case they did not check for their signed copy.....Hey Now! B. A. 1979 from the Grateful Dead College of Red Rocks, Morrison, CO! Rythm Devils Rock!

3 decades of the Grateful Dead as seen through the eyes of BILL KREUTZMANN, drummer and co-founder of this legendary band. The stories are just what you would expect to read when you read about "the dead." Of course, I wouldn't want my kids reading it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. As outrageous as some of the stories sound, I can believe it, and even picture it. If you are a fan, you will not want to put it down. If you are not, it's still a great read. Having been to a couple of concerts, this brought back a lot of memories....again, some that are probably best forgotten. I remember standing near the speaker with my cassette recorder and having a blast, and this was a close second. It's not easy to put this book down, so be warned. This may not appeal to everyone, but if you grew up in that era, this is a MUST!

A breezy, FUN read. Don't start this on a work night, because you won't put it down until you've finished it. From the very beginnings of what became the Grateful Dead through to the bitter end and beyond, it's all here, and Billy is probably the one to tell the tale best. I'm thinking of previous Dead histories I've read, especially Rock Scully's book. It's either Billy or his writer or a combination that tell a good story, one after another, from what I'd once heard termed "The heavenly highs and the nightmarishly lows" of the Dead's history. It's reasonably unvarnished and honest, no complaints from me. I'm a longtime Deadhead and make zero apologies for liking this book A LOT. It's been twenty years since they stopped touring following Garcia's demise. I sometimes forget what a great time it was, "a band beyond description" -- so much more than money and ticket sales, beyond any of the crud you usually see the mainstream media trying to figure the band out. What's the appeal? Billy does a good job casually recollecting entertaining details. It's been a long time since I enjoyed reading an autobiography and history as much as DEAL. A lot of fun. If you know a Deadhead, buy them a copy of this book, great gift. YOU CAN'T GET A RIDE LIKE THAT NO MORE. One long party from front to end...

Coincidentally (or not) released just in time for the very last ever (?) concerts from the Dead (next month in Chicago) comes this book, a memoir from drummer Bill Kreutzmann. Curiosity got the better of me and I just had to check it out.

"Deal: My Three Decades of Drumming, Dreams and Drugs with the Grateful Dead" (2015 publication; 396 pages) starts out n the late 80s in Hawaii, when Bill and Jerry Garcia are scubadiving and the instructor comes up to Jerry, asking for his autograph... while they were 20 ft. below the surface! "I can't get away from it, Bill" comments Garcia, ha! And with that nice little anecdote, Kreutzmann takes us on a long, strange journey in which he retells his days in the Grateful Dead, and before. He meets Garcia for the first time when Garcia, age 16 or so, shows up at his house, to buy a 5 string banjo from Bill's dad: "He was just someone in the doorway, buying something from my dad". The funny or interesting stories are too numerous to mention and while I had heard of some of them before (the bad vibe at Altamont, where the Dead end up refusing to play), many others I had not. Just one example: at one point, almost by default, Mickey Hart's dad becomes the Grateful Dead's manager, and promptly fleeces the band. "We were a band of hippies, so we decided on taking the hippie high road to justice: let karma get him. And it worked. Eventually, Lenny Hart got caught by a detective. In the meantime, Mickey took all of this the hardest. The rest of us just had been ripped off by our manager, but Mickey had just been ripped off by his own dad. How do you think that made him feel?" Kreutzmann gushes about the band's experience playing at the Great Pyramid in Egypt in the late 70s, and his stories about befriending John Belushi will make you smile (perhaps a bit wistfully, for obvious reasons). Musically, you're not going to learn a whole lot about what makes the Grateful Dead who they are, although I did enjoy Bill's retelling of the beginnings of Drums-->Space (specifically, on April 22, 1979 in San Jose, according to Kreutzmann).

Bottom line: this is a pleasant memoir with tons of anecdotes, some important, some completely irreverent if not irrelevant, regarding one of the most memorable and essential American bands there ever was. Like hundreds of thousands of others, a buddy of mine and I applied for tickets to the farewell shows at Soldier Field next month, but we weren't lucky enough to survive the lottery. Oh well, we will always have the memories of many shows from yesteryear.

While I’m not a fan of the Grateful Dead’s music (prefer the harder stuff), I still enjoy a good rock n’ roll story. Granted The Dead certainly has a loyal enough following that drummer Kreutzmann could have simply blown his nose between 2 sheets of paper and generated a best-seller, but thankfully, he gives us a little more. DEAL represents Kreutzmann’s 50 year journey with The Dead and all the trappings that came with it: drugs, music, strange trips (of which many were chemically induced) and the caravan of characters that rode with him along the way (in that order). Fun and interesting to a degree, but not particularly earth-shattering.

The mixture of elements that create rock and roll is generally unstable and oftentimes explosive. The art of voicing feelings of rebellion/anger through suggestive lyrics and electrified instruments delivered at high volume rattles enough cages on its own, but is still relatively safe. The danger comes when the combustible ingredients of fame, egos, drugs and big money are added to the mix. This volatile concoction has, in one form or another, left an ash trail of music heavies burned over the years (Beatles, Cream, Joplin, Hendrix, Zeppelin, etc.). Even though The Dead is celebrating 50 years as a band, its survival came at a price and Kreutzmann reveals the scars and missing limbs (including the band’s icon, Jerry Garcia) suffered along the way.

As a founding member of The Dead, Kreutzmann has a story to tell, but it’s HIS story, not a history of the band. DEAL is written in a relatively chronological manner; he jumps around a bit, but graciously alerts readers when he does and gets back on track rather smoothly. The band’s formation and early years are rather typical of most 60s era groups and Kreutzmann’s story doesn’t deviate far from the standard script. Things take a turn when the drugs enter the picture and become part of the books permanent foundation. Starting with the band’s dealings with “Bear” Owsley (which I now know to be the source of the “dancing” bear logo associated with The Dead) and his acid, readers are dosed with Kreutzmann’s experiences on almost every imaginable drug that could be swallowed, smoked or snorted. There are many drug-fueled stories occupying the pages of DEAL and while most are harmless, there are a few eye-brow raising moments. The author gleefully recounts someone in his crew acid-tainting a coffee pot used by a crew of unsuspecting CBS studio stagehands. Then, the self-proclaimed hippie recalls his love for shooting his .22 caliber Colt when high; killing deer with it one moment and later, firing off a few rounds inside a building while waiting for a photoshoot (scaring off a newly formed Led Zeppelin). I found the Zeppelin story somewhat amusing and wondered what would have happened if it were done when Zeppelin was managed by Peter Grant (Kruetzmann’s name may have been one of the earlier additions to the rock casualty list). Most of the book is dominated by substance-induced antics over 50 years and while the author managed to survive his chemical consumption, almost every chapter details someone he was close to that was not so fortunate (including his mother).

Kreutzmann’s details of the band and its evolution over the years are somewhat interesting (probably more-so to Deadheads). We get a better sense of what separates The Dead from other bands of its era and the flexibility that allowed it to survive so long (with two drummers, no less). He is honest about The Dead’s failure to perform well at the most iconic moments in rock history: Monterey Pop Festival, Woodstock and Altamont (where the band actually refused to play due to the violence). Unfortunately, in order to keep 50 years of stories in a single, readable volume we get short-changed on details. I wished there was more elaboration on Altamont, especially considering the Dead were friends with many of the Hells Angels and arguably connected to the Angels’ presence at the concert. Kreutzmann’s interaction with his bandmates, especially the founding members, isn’t explored very deeply and I found myself wondering how close these guys really were. The Dead’s various lineups over the years include a steady stream of keyboardists that seemed to join and die in relatively short order … ironically, the most ungrateful job in the band. Dead music and touring take a prominent role throughout DEAL and the band certainly lived up to its ideal of being a traveling group of gypsies playing before any group willing to lend an ear. Even though most of Kreutzmann’s travels are memories of drug-infused events, there is enough variety to keep things interesting. From the unique (playing a gig at the Great Pyramid in Egypt) to life-threatening (a sudden white-water rafting mishap) and even cliché (the claim of Mt. St. Helens erupting again while the band was in the middle of performing “Fire on the Mountain” at a venue in Oregon). Along the way, we meet numerous individuals that accompany the author at various points, including fellow musicians, his beloved John Belushi and the women that comprised his various marriages. Cumulatively, those who interacted with Krueutzmann and his bandmates over the years became part of the growing caravan of loyal followers that made The Dead so unique.

Like the Grateful Dead’s music, DEAL is a mellow affair from beginning to end. Sure, there are some bumps in the road that are memorable, but overall, the book is a slow-simmering jam that simply rolls along. Entertaining and informative to a degree, it lacks the flame-throwing common in most rock memoirs. But then again, the Dead isn’t your stereotypical band … they did things their own way … and so does Kreutzmann.

When I love a band, I will read every history of them, just to hear a different viewpoint or to hear it told a different way. I have probably read every Dead history ever published, and I found this one the least enjoyable, the least revealing, and not well written at all. His co-writer ought to be embarrassed to have his name attached to it.

As a fan of the San Francisco psychedelic scene, I am often annoyed, if not offended, to see Jack Casady's name misspelled, as it so often is. This book manages to spell it both ways, the correct way and as "Cassidy," and I was flabbergasted to see both versions of his name in the Index, as if they are two different people! An editor and a proofreader would have been nice to have here.

I don't like posting negative reviews, and a book has to really fail to deliver to get me to do it. Other negative reviews here focus on the author's lack of moral values, but I'm not judging any of that. My problems with this book are its poor quality as writing and as history, not to mention the absolute lack of quality control.

Honestly, I don't think I learned a single thing I didn't already know about the Grateful Dead's history, and any opportunity to shed any light or at least tell it with some wit and originality was completely blown here.

Quote from the bottom of page 101. "I want to make it clear that we were not a cult. Jerry Garcia was not the messiah. We weren't gods."
Despite these words Kreutzmann is among many things a Jerry loyalist. His opinions on the music and musicians that were part of the 30 year run are often funny and poignantly true. I found myself agreeing with him on almost every occasion. From his views on stadium sized egos clashing to the majesty of Red Rocks amphitheater. He isn't afraid to explore the band through every era and is as truthful about the more tragic aspects as one could hope. Musically I have found myself much more appreciative of the exploratory side of the Dead's music and have a new found tolerance for just what Mickey and he were up to during the drums space sessions of shows. He also gets into the New Orleans sound he is influenced by and how his own musicianship grew throughout the years with the band and afterwards. "We were there every night for the same reason the Deadheads were. We wanted to make music to take us to a place of transcendence and elegance." I am finally starting to hear the elegant part of their music in no small part thanks to this book. Long live the free form anything can happen magic of live music and long live the DEAD.

Bill K. the the fan in the band has laid out the mammoth journey that was his dead experience from first show to last. Early on he talks about the number of personal stories he hears related to the band and throughout the book we get glimpses of his family and early life in Cali. There are many fine deadhead campfire stories in this 365 page memoir, perhaps more than any other Dead book to date. I don't know what Bill drops more of acid or names but both are recounted in lucid and memorable detailed passages. The book goes chronologically for the most part meandering through the decades here and there. He really does a great job of conveying the importance of the music. All of the milestones are represented among the many personal and untold until now stories. The voice of the writer comes through and we get a feel for Bill's personality (anti-authoritarian). The moments of darkness are handled with dignity and poignancy and there are many solid life lessons to be gleaned. This will make for some great summer reading as the heads return for the 50th in Chicago. Wish I was there with you all is all I can say, then and now.

So many autobiographies frankly, just aren't that interesting. While the people who write them may have done interesting stuff, the entirety of their lives just aren't particularly inspiring or noteworthy enough to keep one interested for the length of a book. Not true with Bill Kreutzmann. As the Grateful Dead's drummer, he wasn't exactly the one in the spotlight, but as a drummer, he was the glue that held a band of free spirits together. And love them or hate them, few can deny that the Dead changed rock & roll forever. Billy was part of that revolution, and Deal is a front-row ticket to that experience. Even if you're only a casual fan of the Dead, you know that ultimately this book ends in tragedy, but Billy manages to rise out of the ashes of the Dead in 1995 and re-invent himself. Parts of Deal are genuinely funny: describing how his son's "d!&k popped out" when he was born, or when Jerry Garcia was asked for an autograph underwater in Hawaii. Other parts made me cry from sadness: Jerry death, of course, but also the death of his parents and many of his friends. But I also cried tears of joy when he describes his happiness at living in Hawaii and marrying his fifth wife.

It goes to show you don't ever know
Watch each card you play
and play it slow

This is quite possibly the most poorly written book I have ever read. It does not reflect well on Benjy Eisen as a co-writer. Here's just one of those poorly written sentences "[The music] dared listeners to ride shotgun as we went around hairpin turns, whizzing past ever-changing landscapes." What does that even mean?

The chronology is all out of whack, but not in a clever way. It seems designed to cover up that he barely remembers anything. The book is written like a 5th graders book report, as another reader trenchantly put. And copy-editing? That's not necessary anymore?

And he comes across as kind of a s***. Actually, they all do. Especially Phil. I mean, I expected to learn something about the band. I didn't expect that I'd learn to dislike them. They sound not at all like people I'd enjoy spending anytime with. And I do love the music. But the incessant quoting of lines from various songs - "what a long strange trip it's been" to read this book - is insufferable. As is the whole book. If you like the music, I'd advise staying away.

Bill Kreutzmann was of course a foundational member of the band, and if you've read "This Was All A Dream We Dreamed", then you'll know that he's also highly perceptive and an acute observer and an eloquent reporter of the amazing times he saw. Problem is, you don't get that from this book as clearly as you should. I get the feeling that the ghost writer does not accurately portray Bill's voice - it seems very forced and jazzed up, very "hey cool cats, let's ROCK!" which is I think a false tone. And if you look at the two photographs that accompany this the store listing, one of the ghost writer and one of Kreutzmann, I think you can see exactly what I'm talking about. But, there is good stuff here and it was worth reading. It would have been a lot better had they not played it to the cheap seats.

Full disclosure - I am a decades long Dead Head. With over 45 solid days worth of music, from Dead to Ratdog, I would have bought this book just for my ever expanding collection.

Billy is my 2nd favorite band members apart from Jerry. He was there at the very beginning and has always shared a special relationship with Jerry. He once labeled himself as "the first Dead Head" and said he would have followed Jerry anywhere. Jerry reciprocated the admiration by identifying Billy as the one who held the sonic glue to the band; no matter how far out there the band might have gone in their search for sound, Billy was the one to keep things rooted in a path back to reality. Jerry said (and I will para-phrase here) - "Billy held us together. His style was very broad and his playing was like falling down a flight of stairs and landing on your feet at the bottom every time".

This book is not your typical chronology of events, it is more like your room mate sharing stories with you. You get a ton of background information here which adds color to the admiration you (hopefully) already have of the band and it provides a lot of insight as to why the band did what they did. It also reveals some of the more terrible results of their lifestyle. Sure, it cost the lives of many, Jerry, Keith, Brent, Pigpen... but it also made the band one of the greatest American icons in music history. You also find out some dark facts about the band that had nothing to do with the music, but show the band members as frail humans with their own emotional baggage just like you & I. Billy's mom and her drug habit, Keith & Donna's love / hate relationship... you get the idea.

The book also reveals why the current band has had such a hard time re-forming. I often wondered why Billy & Mickey did not hook up with Bobby & Phil for Further, but now I get it. I knew that Billy was totally tore up after Jerry's death, but he returned with his BK3 and 7-Walkers, but not with Phil or Bobby. I always knew there was a lingering issue, but now I understand.

Good book, great stories, fascinating insights and well written.

Thanks for sharing Billy and thanks for the music.

There are now quite a lot of books about the Grateful Dead, and some are very good. I think that this one deserves to be ranked alongside the best of them, and that it will be of interest to anyone who has enjoyed other books about the Dead.

Few people could be better placed than Bill to write about the Dead. He was a founder member, and played with the band throughout its 30-year life. He tells his own story, and he also retells the band's history, always giving his own personal viewpoint. He shows great integrity, and, at times, it can be quite surprising just how much information he gives out. I think that it is always personal, and this adds a lot to the reader's perspective of what the Grateful Dead are all about.

Great drummer too!

I'm a big Dead fan, and I feel sorry for those who think the band only plays plinky-plonk music for stoned hippies (although I'm sure you can introduce me to a fave band of your own). But I remember reading an interview with Jerry Garcia by an interviewer who though he'd "got it" when he told Jerry that the Dead "were all about drugs." Jerry corrected him by saying that the Dead "were all about the music."

This book is largely about the music, although there are some drug references. Those references seem to be a bit old-fashioned since we've had plenty of tell-all autobiographies from rock stars, with detailed descriptions of their drug consumption.

Kreutzmann tells his own side of the Grateful Dead story. His work as drummer is impeccable given the often free-form nature of the front men. I re-listened to a lot of those tracks and marveled at his ability to work in such tracks as "Dark Star." With his lack of experience with jazz drumming he still fit in very well.

The last time I saw the Dead in the early 1990s, he and Mickey Hart performed a drum solo (a drum duo?) which took my breath away. They both performed a piece as versatile as the three guitarists, yet for most of the time keeping a heavy rhythm going on.

Bill's book reads very well. I think you'll like it.

I dig the Grateful Dead but would not consider myself a 'dead head' or super fan. I really appreciate some of the early records and had an amazing time seeing them live in Raleigh, NC (1990). But their drummer, Billy Kreutzmann, has always impressed me. As a fellow drummer, I've always appreciated his style and approach, so why not start with his book as my first book on the Grateful Dead. I was not disappointed and thought he did a fine job telling his side of the story. Nothing too dramatic or sensationalized (thank goodness). I thought he explained everything in an honest and genuine fashion - it felt like a conversation you would have with someone over a few cold beers. He is a true pro and I've become a bigger fan. Of course now I have to read other books about the Dead and check out more of their music! Job well done Billy.

Fairly entertaining and some fun stories, but the writing is flat out painful!! Way too many sentences ended with "Darn it!". We all know Billy isn't a writer so I'm gonna blame Benjy Eisen for this one. I'm not sure what Benjy did here in regards to editing or writing.

The only thing is that this, like a lot of memoirs, could have benefitted from some proofreading. There were two mistakes about "Dancing in the Streets" alone; 1) It's Martha and the Vandellas, not Vandallas, 2) Bill, I know you're not that big on studio albums compared to live playing, but the Dead's version was on "Terrapin Station," not "Shakedown"! Jack Casady's name was misspelled.
Still, I loved this book. The recollections about John Belushi were wonderful, as were a lot of other things. Now if only someone would do a definitive bio on Pigpen . . .

If you really care and pay attention this is not a quick read at 360 pages.
As a dedicated fan I took my time and am glad I did.

Even if you have read every other book about the Dead, this book will give you new insights into the Dead, their evolution, their music, their lives and dynamics of their relationships with each other.

Bill is far more adventurous and risk taking than I ever imagined.
But, like the Dead itself, no matter how far out it got he managed to land in a happy and safe place in the end.

If you have been a fan of the Grateful Dead this books is a must have. Some amazing stories from the bands history. BK for the most part is very open about all that went down. The band was in it for the music and when they were on there was nothing like the Grateful Dead. Also was amazing how much drug use the band was doing. I thought it was pretty much Jerry who was addicted but Billy, Mickey, Brent etc. all had Heroin problems at one time or another along with Cocaine, Weed, Pills etc. Amazing they could function. Whats clear though is the drugs eventually led to the destruction of the creativity of the band. I would have liked to know more about the relationships Billy had with the other band members and he pretty much keeps buttoned up about the problems the band members had with each other after Jerry died. Also once Brent was gone the band was never the same. They lost their Sparkle and Billy and many fans thought Vince was the wrong choice for keys. Was also sad to read about some of Billy's family problems. For the most part though sounds like when the times were good they were have a ton of fun playing in the Band.

This is even dirtier than the Scully book. I mean that in a good way. It's wide-open candid, save for a couple of times when Billy figuratively winks and knows you'll follow where he was going. He claims the band hasn't even heard a lot of this stuff because they didn't talk intimately very much. I hope the other surviving members can forgive him. They have nothing to be ashamed of. Stuff happened. If you are a Deadhead, this is one perspective you don't want to miss. Granted, it lifts the cover off of the mystery somewhat, but it's about time, eh? On the one hand the Dead were human, darn it. On the other, their tale is as wild as any. And BK is still going strong. He's an inspiration. Perhaps a bit stunted in the growing up department, but who wouldn't be, with this kind of job? Now excuse me, I must go listen to all of the Europe '72 shows again.

I read this book again, just because I like Bill's drumming so much. Have to say, it's a horribly written book -- loaded with cliche, chronologically all over the place, and things that could be very interesting, like the Europe '72 tour, end up being quite boring.

There is some attempt at a feel good ending: Bill, after not being, ever, a very good boyfriend or husband, let's us know how much he's in love, this time. Reminds me to check the internet for his marriage status. What? Right, well, that's all the autobiography from the drummer of the Grateful Dead leaves us with.

Also, Benjy Eisen, did you get paid for this? If so, you should pay it back.

Bill Kreutzmann was one of the founding band members of the Dead and provides an interesting perspective of his 30+ years as one of the Dead's drummers (the other was Micky Hart). The first portion of the book is kind of dry, it's where you feel the co-author's presence the most. Then, as Bill begins to move into the history of the tours, recording albums, live shows, the book gets much more interesting.

Several things stick out to me - how many different musicians the Dead played with at different times - Clapton, the Stones, The Who, Santana Dylan and many others. The descriptions of the sex & drugs are told factually, not graphically, sensationally or salaciously. With so many people involved, drugs, youth, fame of course there will be ego clashes, fights, disagreements - these too are told factually, sometimes with apologies, sometimes not. If there is any lingering bitterness, it does not come through. Sadness of course of the toll drugs took on friends and fellow musicians, but not bitterness. Humor in the pranks played on each other between shows provides elements of humor.

Do you have to be a Deadhead to enjoy this book? No, but it certainly would help since much of the interest for me came from understanding the background of how certain songs evolved, how players came and went, how the band changed over time and of course, the improve nature of the Dead and their fans.

I picked up this book to read because though I am younger than the 60's, and I am not a Deadhead, I have seen the Dead in concert and enjoyed their whole scene. It's fun, entertaining and interesting.

I am familiar with Mr. Kreutzman, the drummer, and thought any memoir by a Dead band member has to be good.

This is a fun read with lots of interesting stories. The whole of the experience is here, from Haight Ashbury to lot of great interactions with famous and infamous figures from music and other fields. The Dead have traveled and given lots of concerts in some amazing places and there are lots of stories here. And, though there are lots of stories of drugs and booze, this is not just a 'been there done that' type of book. There are many really interesting stories of this great band over many, many years.

This was a fast, entertaining read and is well worth it. If you have the slightest interest in finding out about the music scene from the 1960's and traveling with this book, then I urge you to read it. You do not have to be a die-hard Deadhead to enjoy the book. It is really full of some great stories and well worth reading it through.

Unfortunately, Jerry Garcia left us, but this book will inform many of why the Dead were such an incredible phenomenon. A good read.

I'm not a Deadhead, but I am a fan of the Grateful Dead's music. I also enjoy insider books by rock 'n' rollers. That's why I was eager to read Bill Kreutzmann"s book. The subtitle promises that it details his "three decades of drumming, dreams, and drugs." I liked the book, but the focus of the book is on the drugs, not the drumming and dreaming.

Kreutzmann was a founding member of the Dead, present at ground zero when the psychedelic San Fransisco sound exploded into being in the sixties. He knew and worked with all of the big names, like Carlos Santana, Janis Joplin, the Jefferson Airplane, the Quicksilver Messenger Service and on and on. Can you imagine the things he saw and the stories he could tell?

"Could" is the operative term here. Unfortunately for us-- and even more so for him-- he was stoned for most of his career. In addition, of course, he didn't know nearly fifty years ago that he'd be writing a history some day, so he didn't keep records of what happened. The result of that combination is a rambling, discursive book with many, many vague, fuzzy spots.

In the end, it's a cautionary tale. Kreutzmann repeatedly tells us that the band's and his personal drug use negatively affected their music, their finances, and most importantly, their health. The Dead lost four keyboardists to drug-related health issues, and Jerry Garcia died in his early 50s, a sick, old man who could barely stand up on stage. One wonders what they could have done if they had been recreational drug users, rather than helpless junkies. Of course, it's possible to argue that the music wouldn't have been the same without the heavy drug use. It's hard to know. However, Kreutzmann's account makes it clear that the drugs took a toll.

Structurally, the book is a bit frustrating. It's arranged chronologically, but very frequently, it veers out of order. The co-author, Benjy Eisen, is a professional journalist, so he should have been able to smooth out the narrative. He didn't.

Bottom line: I liked the book, and I recommend it. It's certainly not one of the great rock histories, but it is a look inside of one of the most influential bands in rock history, told by one of the few people in a position to know what he's talking about.

I PRE ORDERED A SIGNED COPY...MY ORDER SAYS SIGNED COPY....DO YOU THINK I GOT A SIGNED COPY ?......NO......THE BOOK IS REALLY GOOD....I READ THE PAPER TODAY....the store IS DOING GREAT ! CALL THEM UP ?....THEY PUT ON FAKE ACCENTS AND MUMBLE AND THEN......F UP THE ORDER AGAIN ! PAY YOUR WORKERS the store....YOU WILL LOSE IF YOU DON'T

I wished I had read the book instead of listening to the audio book. The text is good - great stories. But the voice reading on the audio book was awful - had a sleazy, con man sound, which took over and degraded the stories. Tone always matters when speaking and the tone of this reader was a detriment to the memoir.

A bit of insight but many will find similarities in others and call this nothing new. Billy was there from the beginning, and it's clear he is of strong mind and opinion. For me, I would have enjoyed hearing a bit more about what has taken place in the last 20 years post GD. But that's me. Billy is one of my favorite drummers and I will likely keep on listening.

I've never been a big fan of the Grateful Dead's music, but I can certainly appreciate their influence on rock music overall - and "Workingman's Dead" is probably the 2nd or 3rd album I ever bought. This autobiography makes me nostalgic for an era of music that's sadly over. Now, the music industry, like sports, takes itself entirely too seriously.

Kruetzmann doesn't seem to take himself that seriously at all, and has fun dishing the gossip like any 60-something still-hippie you've ever run into. Personally, I prefer more details in my gossip, and he always seemed to stop before going too far at hurting anyone's feelings - that's understandable. The core group of the Dead members were clearly committed to their music first and foremost, and it's incredible that they managed to find such kindred spirts in each other. But of course, that's the point - the reason the band succeeded is because of that happy accident.

The book is written in an "I'm telling you style" that mimics the reader sitting across from Kreutzmann while he holds court. It's a good style, and more engaging than a third-person biography.

If I had a criticism, it's that Kruetzmann isn't that self-reflective. He talks about cocaine-fueled binges with John Belushi as a good memory - but of course Belushi died from drugs. So yeah, it was "fun," in a lethal way. He talks about ex-wives and especially his children with an "oh well, it didn't work out" attitude that is a little off-putting. There is self-reflection at the very end, but by then I'd formed my opinion. Not a bad thing, and it's still honest on his part.

But that is because the music came first. This isn't a definitive history of the Grateful Dead itself, but is essential reading for those fans who want an up-close view of the band, from an insider's perspective. As I write this, the band is getting ready for a 50th anniversary "final show" in Chicago - with some seats being offered for sale for $114K! (asking for a price, and getting it are not the same, however, and that's obviously some jerk who doesn't understand the market) Still, with real purchases in the $1K range, it's certainly a reminder that the days of cheap tickets and a night of fun are long gone - now it's all about old hippies paying a lot of money for an evening of nostalgia. "Deal" is a book that chronicles at least some of that journey along the way, and some of the changing attitudes as real life eclipses the musical vision.

Fun book, and a breezy read - rock fans will like it, Dead fans will appreciate it.

I actually ended up really liking this book. There's been so much written on the Grateful Dead in the last 20 or so years that I've pretty much stopped keeping up. We've had books written from the merchandising perspective and we've even had books written by Dead Heads on what it feels like to be a Dead Head. That's not to say that there hasn't been some excellent books written on the band but there's also been a lot that feel written just to "cash in" on the band's popularity. Bill's book is actually quite interesting and provides a fresh perspective on his life and times with the band. Bill was always more of the quiet one and never really seemed to do as many interviews as the rest of the guys so it's really cool to read his perspective on things. If you're a fan, then this is a must read.

I bought this book because I'm a long time Deadhead, and it's rare to hear from Billy. I may update this review when I finally finish this book, but so far I have to report that the writing is mediocre,and the editing worse. There are five typos by Chapter Six; the most egregious being Neal "Cassidy" and no I'm not referring to anyone's love child or dog. And, I've yet to hear much beyond what's common Deadhead knowledge. If you want a book that captures the GD experience, it's Rock Scully's Living with the Dead. Which may be the issue here. Rock's book was so awesome that the rest just pales. I'll stay to the end of the show, of course; but one-third of the way in I cannot figure out what has got these oh-so-in-the-know reviewers so hyped up.

This book is like having a long afternoon with Billy, just a long rap, where he answers your questions from his view on the drum stand.

Now, I love The Dead. I love Billy. He's a sweetheart, and I wish I could drop by and eat dinner, play backgammon, I don't know.

I probably don't get to, but this is close. If you like The Boys, you know you want to read this. Reading it on Kindle makes me need it on my bookshelves, so I guess I'll pony up for the hardback.

I give it only three stars - not because it is not a great read, but because although Bill is a super drummer, but he is no Hemingway as a writer. In other words, I'm a tough grader. I 'm also a bit of a deadhead, and if you are one too, you will enjoy this book. The books flows more or less in chronological order, except where Bill starts to wander.

He was with the band from the get go, when it was named the Warlocks. Even before that, it turned out that Bill's father had sold a used banjo to Garcia. Bill chronicles the making of each album, and their major tours. He pulls no punches, and when an album was a dog, he says so.He used drugs of all sorts and miraculously survived. Other band members were not so lucky. The keyboard position in particular seemed to have been jinxed. Pigpen died of liver failure, likely from excessive alcohol. Godchaux was kicked out of the band after his drug use affected his playing ability. He soonafter died in a car accident. His replacement Mydland died of a speedball overdose.

Bill's codrummer, Mickey Hart, was fired when his heroin habit, interfered with his playing. Moreover, his father who had been hired to manage the band, ultimately defrauded them. Hart later returned to the band, and Bill acknowledges his initial resentment because he had become used to being the only drummer. Bill, however ultimately developed a partnership with Hart, that verged on magic on good nights.

As for the other band members, it is clear that Bill worshipped Garcia. One new thing I learned was that Bill and Garcia liked to scuba dive; the thought of Garcia in scuba gear brings a smile. The saddest part of the book recounts Garcia's decline during his last tour with the band. Bill is largely quiet about Lesh albeit not critical. Lesh seems a bit of a loner, and Bill seems to have a bit of one too. Indeed, aside from living a couple of weeks at the band's early communal digs on Ashbury, he lived apart in Marin and later in northern California in Comptche, and later in Hawaii. Bill also is somewhat quiet about Weir. Above all, Bill makes it clear that it was all about the music and his love for performing it. I also would have appreciated more information on Hunter, the Dead's lyricist and essentially a nonperforming member of the band.

Bill relates the unfortunate Altamont concert in which the Hell's angeles killed a concertgoer. Bill simply notes that the Dead had been friends with the angels and someone made the unfortunate decision to hire them as security. He does not say who, and says words to the effect that someone made the decision above him. This may be a copout, or likely reflects the fact that he simply did not care about the business aspects of running the band.

Bill unapologetically catalogues his numerous failed relationships and marriages. No doubt the constant touring and drug consumption contributed to his failures in this regard. Bill humorously recounts the band's proclivity for pulling pranks, largely fueled by drugs. There is some discussion about other rock artists he knew, but not as much as I would have liked. He does mention some other drummers he admired, including Keith Moon. Bill comes across as a simple, likeable guy who enjoyed drinking, shooting guns and setting off fireworks. The book itself comes across as unflinchingly honest, yet Bill never says anything cruel about anybody. The book was a pageturner for me; I finished it the day after I bought it.

The reason this book has an index (as others have pointed out) is because it is a History book. It says so in the opening pages. The book goes like this...It details the music, what songs came out when. It details what type of drugs the band was into when the different songs were composed. Along the way the author (through he help of his co-writer) tells an amazing story of the band through his eyes.

Thoroughly enjoyed.

Ok, I'm sure that Bill Kreutzmann has held back some stories, but it sure doesn't feel like it when you read his book, Deal. Covering his three decades in the band, The Grateful Dead, he tells it like it was, even the unsavory parts. He bares his feelings with honesty...joy, jealousy, love, apathy and the stress and exhaustion of being in the public eye.
I honestly didn't know much about the band before I started reading this book. I have most of their music, but never bothered to find out anything about them. The way Bill tells this story is as if he's telling it directly to you and you feel like you really get to know him. It's a fascinating read, especially if you are into the Dead.

As a Dead Head of long standing, I looked forward to reading this book. I appreciated that Bill was upfront about incidents that he didn't remember. I agree with some reviewers that his short treatment of the Altamont disaster could have been more explanatory about how the Hell's Angels were hired. It could be that it was such a horribly negative experience that he chose to be brief about it.

When reading memoirs written with a co-writer, I often find portions that seem to be the words of the co-writer. One in Deal that got me thinking was how Winterland was referred to as "the Winterland". I saw many shows at Winterland. I never heard anyone call it "the Winterland". I would be a little surprised if Kreutzmann referred to it in those words. Whenever Bill mentioned the death of someone he knew, he always ended the sentence with "darn it". He freely used other curse words and I was curious as to why "darn it" was always used referring to a death.

In his book, Phil Lesh included some examples of why the behavior of Keith and Donna contributed to them being kicked out of the band. Bill didn't get into that very much. The legion of beautiful groupies that went to Bob Weir like flies to a jam pot has been written and talked about by others but Kreutzmann barely mentioned it. Maybe he felt that it should be left to Bobby to lay out (unintentional pun there) the details.

Overall I liked Deal. Dead Heads should find it interesting and entertaining, as I did. I liked how Bill used lines from Dead songs to end some sentences and paragraphs.

good book, some very questionable non dead historical details from the get go, however. Otherwise a nice and too often not seen in other Dead books, truthfulness. If you like the Dead, it's a good read and worth adding to your collection.

Really felt like I got to know Billy through the book. A couple years dated now but gave me a better appreciation of events like Fare Thee Well and Dead & Co that have happened post-Deal. Lotta "darn it" references sadly but loved how he has found ways to keep the love light burning brightly. Terrific closing with with reflections on family. Thank you Billy (and Benjy) for sharing a fantastic life's journey, so far.

I was excited to finally read this, after reading Phil's book (which is far superior) and other post-Jerry books. Well, what can I say--I wish I had kept my rose color glasses on about Billy. First, the book is not well written--it lacks structure, jumps from train of thought to train of thought, and actually discusses music minimally. It reads like he basically shared memories into a tape recorder, and it became a book. And the memories? Drugs. Drugs. Drugs. Drugs. Alcohol. Drugs. Drugs. Sex. Drugs. 300 pages of how Billy was basically strung out and/or drunk, sleeping around, from 1967 until 1995, with 3 years of sobriety in there. It became oppressive and lame. I understand you like drugs, Billy, but surely there's more to your life, and more to your memories, than just drugs? If you want to learn about what it was like to make music with other members of the Grateful Dead, there's some nuggets buried in here, about 10% worth. If you want to read about a pretty self-centered drug addict, this is your book.

Bill Kreutzmann has been part of one of the most famous and well-known rock groups and cultural icons The Grateful Dead for 50 years. Despite that fact, he is virtually unrecognizable and unknown to anyone other than a Deadhead. He was the original Dead drummer, but Mickey Hart is the name that probably first comes to mind when you think Dead percussion. With all that Mr. Kreutzmann seems like an unlikely candidate for a book, but his upcoming book Deal is a pleasant treat. Playing with the band has its perks and Mr. Kreutzmann takes you on the Dead's long strange trip from the Kesey acid tests, to the Haight Ashbury scene and the summer of love to Monteray to Woodstock to Eyrope to the Great Pyramids of Egypt and beyond. Mr. Kreutzmann tells his story in a way that even though he is the main voice, it's like his he removed from it all. There are tons of great antidotes like when he and Jerry Garcia are scuba diving in Hawaii in 1980 and while down about twenty feet under the water a woman approaches Mr. Garcia and motions him for an autograph. Mr. Kreutzmann knows he was very fortunate to be part of such a phenomenon like the Dead and his laid back, hippie attitude permeates the book and makes it a fun and enjoyable read. If you're not a fan of the Dead, then this book is probably not for you, but any Deadhead should out Deal on their must read list.

Bill Kreutzmann was one of the founding members of the band, The Grateful Dead. In this book the unvarnished truth of his experience and life are given to the reader in great detail. You will find out what it meant to be part of a band that was legendary. Their popularity brought about a good income and fan status that would make anyone envious.

But what is true about the time of the Grateful Dead and other bands like them was the fact that the "hippie" culture brought about lots of vices that prompt the moral decline of the band, the person and the culture. Learn about how drugs became a huge downfall.

The story is sad, but also instructive. If you have young people today who are forming bands this would be a good wake up call for them to see how the lifestyle and personalities of a band can grow or corrupt you.

Interesting but more for true deadheads than casual fans. Mr. Krutzmann tells about his life both in and out of the band. However he brags about his escapades on the road including casual sexual encounters. He seems fine with his infidelity but takes issue when he catches his then wife in bed with another man. A good enough drummer but he seems unwilling or unable to take responsibility for his actions that have damaged other people. Again a book for the most loyal fans who can overlook the authors hyprocrisy

A good history of the Grateful Dead and Billy's life once I started reading it was hard to put down, this book is for everyone who likes music lots of different musicians are mentioned even John Belushi

This is an as told to tale of a man who was at the center of the lsd and drug based years of fierce rock and roll and it is a hell of a good read.
Mae me wish I was twenty something and back int the time when this was the frontier.
THe book is written in a humble and direct voice that makes it totally approachable and there are no judgements.
Here is the early Gerry Garcia and gang and the women who followed the endless tour and Acid Tests.
While people were being put away for an ounce of "Maryjane" these boys were doing the real mindbending drugs and the effects were electrifying for their music, and for us.
There are stories to tell around the campfire and charac rest of us ....Well it was all nes then and now we know some of the dangers but told byter to revel in from the pranksters to the suppliers for the lsd and cocaine that informed their lifestyle.
Of course this begs this issue is this a good influence on the now generation and my answer is 'it is history and not a paradigm. for living and it is told is an honest open no holds barred way that is both entertaining and engaging.
For tose of us who "flew" the memories of wild and creative breakthroughs this is a sweet look back. Though the time had dark and dangerous moments this book keeps itself in the light of the high points of that time and the sense of an endlessly expanding universe fill with treasures of both sound and sight.
I can see the "tracers" now and feel the feeling of a world sewn together by strings of color light and music.
What a lovely set of memories was triggered.
I loved it and am so glad he din't leave us before he could share this intimate honest look from the inside out of one of if not he greatest band of the time.

amazing book. im a younger greatful dead fan and hearing about the bands formation and the early days in the 60s was awesome. the candor and honesty in bills perspectives throughout was just great. just a far out book to borrow from bill

Ok so I love it. I love the grateful dead, so you have to take the stars with a grain of salt. or something.
Here's why you want to read this book.

If you want to know...
+ Which drummer Billy is
+ Why he wanted to be the solo drummer
+ What he thinks of Phil's singing
+ Who he thought the best keyboardist was
+ What he really thought of Donna's singing
+ Whether he prefers drumming on Bobby or Jerry songs
+ Just HOW MANY wives he has had!
+ Where he lives now and why it's pretty freakin nice there
+ His various political views
+ Why he stopped touring with various incarnations of "the dead" after Garcia's death

Here's what you won't learn
- How to play the drums
- Why he's decided to play the Chicago shows
- How to get an affordable ticket to one of the Chicago shows
- Why the band never really sang about the various things he has strong political opinions about
- How he could take so many drugs and yet still be a coherent and interesting writer
- How can he possibly remember all the details that come out in the book (show dates, song titles, lyrics, etc. etc. etc.)

Bill Kreutzmann's autobiography is a pretty fun read for fans of the Grateful Dead. It is interesting to hear the perceptions, history and anecdotes from a band member who was never a go-to interviewee like Jerry, Bobby and Phil were (Mickey too for that matter). It is nice to hear about the special bond Bill and Jerry had as well as the non-musical roles he played in band business.

Also interesting and fun to learn about is that Bill was John Belushi's buddy and was the connection between the Blues Brothers and the Dead.

This is not an epic literary endeavor, it reads like dictation from Kreutzmann storytelling sessions while he was perusing internet tour dates and setlists that was then cobbled together by his co-writer. Still a fun, breezy read with Grateful Dead music playing in the background.

As a long-time fan of the Grateful Dead, I was super excited to get my copy of Deal in the mail. The book starts off well enough - it's fun to hear the stories - but very quickly the seemingly large emphasis on the drug use (while an important part of the history) makes for very uninteresting reading. As the book continues you quickly realize there isn't an overall narrative or theme tying everything together - it's reads as if Bill is just telling a bunch of stories in too much detail - like an unedited oral history. Lots of good nuggets of history interspersed with too many mundane details about taking this drug or that drug.

At times this book is very interesting - the stories, times and places Mr. Kreutzmann has lived through are really interesting but somehow the book never quite comes together. As a fan it's cool to hear favorite shows name-checked and to find out some of the historical gossip but after a while even that becomes uninteresting because there is so much extraneous information. The book would have been much better with a tight edit and about 150 fewer pages. While I would love to have heard these stories in person over a cold beverage, given a choice between reading this book and listening to some vintage Grateful Dead - your time would be better spent listening to the music that Mr. Kruetzmann made.

Never liked the Grateful Dead's fans. It was kind of like a fight or flight reflex. There just something fake about them, about the scene, and that kept me from giving the Dead a chance as a band. But, that's changed because of this book. No, I'm not a Deadhead, but I'm not immediately blocking it out when a Dead song comes on in a bar or on the radio. Why? Because you can't help but like Bill Kreutzmann as you get to know him. I gained a new appreciation for the dedication to the music, not just the legendary Dead drug culture, and the story of man who led a rich, interesting life during very interesting times. A quick read, and fun.

Casual Dead Head here, and really looked forward to reading drummer Bill Kreutzmann's rock and roll memoir. He was there at the drum kit from the very beginning and all along, and the man has some great stories. Somehow, they never take flight. Take Altamount for instance, the debacle that many say signified the end of the 60s. It is portrayed here without much feeling or immediacy. Can't say I fault Bill at all because he comes off as a very likeable person with a life full of anecdotes.

Good, but could have been great, especially being this year marks the Dead's 50th anniversary.

I'm going to surmise the title "Deal" is not from the Garcia song, but instead one more piece of good advice Mr K chose not to take. What an immature, self-aggrandizing, self-centered tale of resentments. Whinin' Boy lives. Don't dive in--you'll hit your head.