Touch of Grey

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Touch of Grey" by the Grateful Dead, a track from their 1987 album In The Dark, and the Zoo Freaks are surely vibing to its iconic refrain, "I will get by / I will survive." This song, the band's only Top 10 hit, peaking at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, marked a turning point for the Dead, bringing them mainstream attention and a wave of new fans. Its music video, the first ever by the band, was a cultural moment, filmed at Laguna Seca Raceway in May 1987. Directed by Gary Gutierrez, it featured life-size skeleton marionettes dressed as the band members, transforming into the real Grateful Dead by the end. The video’s quirky charm, with moments like Phil Lesh’s skeleton catching a rose in its teeth and a dog stealing Mickey Hart’s leg, captured the band’s playful spirit and earned heavy rotation on MTV, exposing the Dead to millions.

Behind the scenes, "Touch of Grey" carried deep significance. Lyricist Robert Hunter revealed in a Rolling Stone interview that the songwriting was fueled by a night of cocaine, lending its creation a raw, frenetic energy. Drummer Mickey Hart called it an anthem that "perked us up" during a tough period, especially after Jerry Garcia’s near-fatal diabetic coma in 1986. The song’s resilience theme resonated deeply, especially when the band opened with it upon Garcia’s return in December 1986, reassuring fans they’d "get by." However, its success stirred tension among longtime Deadheads, who dubbed newer fans "Touchheads," feeling the song’s pop appeal diluted the band’s countercultural ethos. A 1987 interview with Garcia, published in The Golden Road, captured his bemusement at the song’s mainstream breakthrough, likening the band’s rising fame to "troops coming over Pork Chop Hill," an unplanned but inevitable assault.

The song’s production also has quirky trivia. Originally, Hunter wrote the line "Say your piece and piss off," but Garcia suggested changing it to "get out" for radio-friendliness. Yet, as noted in The Deadhead’s Taping Companion Vol 2, Garcia slipped back to the original lyrics in a 1992 performance, a subtle nod to the band’s rebellious streak. The Grateful Dead’s official site highlights how the song was performed 211 times after its 1982 debut, including a notable Shoreline Amphitheatre show in 1990. A 30-minute documentary, Dead Ringers: The Making of Touch of Grey, directed by Justin Kreutzmann, son of drummer Bill Kreutzmann, offers a deep dive into the video’s creation, showcasing the band’s collaborative spirit.

The Grateful Dead began in 1965 in Palo Alto, California, emerging from the San Francisco Bay Area’s vibrant counterculture. Founded by Jerry Garcia (lead guitar, vocals), Bob Weir (rhythm guitar, vocals), Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (keyboards, harmonica, vocals), Phil Lesh (bass, vocals), and Bill Kreutzmann (drums), the band grew out of jug bands and folk-blues scenes. Initially called the Warlocks, they adopted the name Grateful Dead after Garcia found it in a dictionary, inspired by a folk tale about a soul aiding a traveler. Their early gigs at Ken Kesey’s Acid Tests, where they provided the soundtrack for LSD-fueled gatherings, cemented their role as the pied pipers of the hippie movement. Their eclectic style—blending rock, blues, jazz, folk, and psychedelia—set them apart, with live improvisation becoming their hallmark, earning them the title "pioneering godfathers of the jam band world."

The band’s devoted fanbase, known as Deadheads, grew through word-of-mouth and the band’s encouragement of live taping, fostering a communal culture. Despite lineup changes, including Mickey Hart joining as a second drummer and later departures like Pigpen’s death in 1973, the Dead toured relentlessly, becoming one of America’s highest-grossing acts. Their only Top 40 hit, "Touch of Grey," came after decades of cult status, but their legacy endures through archival releases and projects like Dead & Company, featuring Weir, Hart, Kreutzmann, and John Mayer. The Grateful Dead’s official website remains a hub for music, merch, and history, while their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts share updates and nostalgic posts, like a 2023 reflection on the "Touch of Grey" video shoot.

Fans connect through vibrant communities online. The Grateful Dead’s official site hosts forums, while Grateful Dead Fans on Facebook and Deadheads Unite offer spaces for enthusiasts to share memories and bootlegs. Fan sites like Deadheadland and Grateful Dead Tribute Bands catalog cover bands and events, reflecting the band’s transcendence into a genre of its own. The Grateful Dead Archive at UC Santa Cruz, housing memorabilia and unreleased recordings, underscores their cultural impact, celebrated by fans and scholars alike.