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Dark Star: An Oral Biography of Jerry GarciaA Book by Robert Greenfield(Broadway) Review written by John Metzger
Deadheads looking for an interesting glimpse into the secluded life of Jerry Garcia ought to check out Robert Greenfield's latest endeavor — Dark Star: An Oral Biography of Jerry Garcia. The further one gets into the book, the more appropriate the title becomes. Interviews with 67 people are woven together in a unique fashion, and they tell the story of a man who was obsessed with his music but became tragically addicted to heroin as he tried to block out the huge responsibilities that came with his success. As the scene grew, as the Grateful Dead's immediate family grew, and as the side projects grew, they all revolved around Jerry Garcia, and everyone looked to him for the next move. Not wanting the responsibility, Garcia refused to make decisions, and he became separated from everyone and everything by comforting himself with heroin as a means of tempering his emotions. Just as the Grateful Dead's masterpiece Dark Star painted a complex picture of dark and light from
many different perspectives, so does Greenfield paint an image of its front man
Garcia in his biographical work. This is an incredibly fair
and non-judgmental book, primarily because the story is told from so many different perspectives,
including Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Ken Kesey, David Grisman, and the many managers the band had over
the years. At times, the story does become depressing, and the
helplessness of Garcia's family and friends is extraordinarily palpable. However, it is
well worth the cost of the book for such a unique collection of insights.
Dark Star: An Oral Biography of Jerry Garcia is available from For Canadian orders, please Click Here! For UK orders, please Click Here!
Ratings 1 Star: Pitiful
Copyright © 1997 The Music Box
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