Granted it's an immense question that could be the genesis of a thesis, but it one sentence (two tops), how would you best interpret or illustrate our phenomenon?
Everybody has something to contribute. Pay attention to what's going on, respond in your way, and try not to dominate the rap, Jack. That applies to the band itself, its organization, and their greater community.
As much as the "mainstream media" always tried to tie the band to a "hippy", "granola" ethos, they were just a rudderless drug band riding a wave of absurdity playing weird and unique rock n' roll and willing to see how big and crazy it could get... And it got pretty big and crazy. Kind of an optimistic nihilism... which, as we know, is no ethos at all.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Howard HowardH1
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 06:20 pm
No ethos.
No ethos. It's whatever you want it to be.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D. Portland_ken
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 06:22 pm
“Get your hands outa your
“Get your hands outa your pocket and stop playin pocket pool."
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Briank Briank
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 06:26 pm
Howard said it perfectly.
Howard said it perfectly.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Frank3 frank3
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 06:28 pm
Just Exactly Perfect
Just Exactly Perfect
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba Noodler
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 06:30 pm
Once in a while you get shown
Once in a while, you get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if you look at it right
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: intentionally blank mikeedwardsetc
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 06:43 pm
Everybody has something to
Everybody has something to contribute. Pay attention to what's going on, respond in your way, and try not to dominate the rap, Jack. That applies to the band itself, its organization, and their greater community.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joy blackrock
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 07:05 pm
1,2
1,2
take a step back
3,4
take another step back
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mr. Sunshine State Earl
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 08:16 pm
Licorice liker's unite!
Licorice liker's unite!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sun so hot, clouds so low Trailhead
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 08:41 pm
sure don't know what I going
Sure don't know what I'm goin' for, but I'm gonna go for it for sure…
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: DaBreeze Mosthigh
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 08:47 pm
Make as much money as
Make a lot of money while maintaining the illusion that it's not about money.
[Post-Jerry]: Same, while admitting it's kinda about money.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane fishcane
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 09:09 pm
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hello My Name Is Jackohearts
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 09:19 pm
Mosthigh is not too far off
Mosthigh is not too far off the mark...
As much as the "mainstream media" always tried to tie the band to a "hippy", "granola" ethos, they were just a rudderless drug band riding a wave of absurdity playing weird and unique rock n' roll and willing to see how big and crazy it could get... And it got pretty big and crazy. Kind of an optimistic nihilism... which, as we know, is no ethos at all.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skyjunk fabes
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 09:28 pm
Do your thing like no one is
Do your thing like no one is watching, and be kind
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Furious E O1>11
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 10:05 pm
Drugs
Drugs
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call" Knotesau
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 10:23 pm
Head changes
Head changes
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: dimethyllovebeam joe
on Sunday, March 28, 2021 – 10:32 pm
Better living through
Better living through electrical and chemical engineering.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ LLOLLO
on Monday, March 29, 2021 – 12:16 am
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee Herbal Dave
on Monday, March 29, 2021 – 03:34 pm
Avoid confrontation at all
Avoid confrontation at all costs.
Create the scene you describe.
Devil take the hindmost.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: (~)};)StealYourFace WALSTIB
on Monday, March 29, 2021 – 03:37 pm
“They aren’t the best at what
“They aren’t the best at what they do, they are the only ones that do what they do”...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Don Volume Burnz
on Monday, March 29, 2021 – 05:47 pm
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mylar Mylar
on Monday, March 29, 2021 – 05:53 pm
Still got my band card,
Still got my band card, WALSTIB.

Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Cam highway320
on Monday, March 29, 2021 – 06:29 pm
Fun, for the sake of fun.
Fun, for the sake of fun.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GoneGoodbye RocknRye
on Monday, March 29, 2021 – 06:41 pm
Get High, Have Fun, Be Kind.
Get High, Have Fun, Be Kind.
Help those around you, any way you can.
Give. It will be returned with interest, even if you don't want it.
At least that's what I thought..............
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Is forgiveness possible? Number 6
on Monday, March 29, 2021 – 07:48 pm
Shall we go? You and I while
Shall we go? You and I while we can...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: intentionally blank mikeedwardsetc
on Monday, March 29, 2021 – 08:15 pm
Record more than you erase.
Always record more than you erase.
Ignore alien orders.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: (~)};)StealYourFace WALSTIB
on Monday, March 29, 2021 – 08:52 pm
Nice Mylar!
Nice Mylar!
Wasn't that on the Warfield Marquee during the 1980 residency?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mylar Mylar
on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 – 01:06 am
Might have been, but I got
Might have been, but I got the card working a backstage gig. Can't remember who gave it to me though. Pretty toasty days.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry heathentom
on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 – 03:30 am
IMO they had no "ethos".
Everybody is always looking for deeper "meaning".
IMO the Grateful Dead had no "ethos".
THAT was their ethos.
And...
>>>Wasn't that on the Warfield Marquee during the 1980 residency<<<
That was a Bill Graham quote, and indeed it was. Or was just above the marquee, to be exact...
But I believe it was first seen at the final Winterland show a couple of years earlier...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: (~)};)StealYourFace WALSTIB
on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 – 11:11 am
1906 Earthquake
1906 Earthquake
Zodiac killer
Japanese Internment
Dot Com Bust
Dark Star Snub...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly Orange County Lumber Truck
on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 – 11:48 am
^That's more pathos than ethos
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Barry bigoff
on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 – 02:07 pm
Existentialism, no. Live for
Existentialism, no. Live for the moment. Have as much fun as possible without causing harm to others.
Fan to Bob, "when, if ever, are you going to get Truckin' right."
Jerry, "it's always right."
Fame, popularity and , money were just strange side effects. They would have played together 2400 times without those aforementioned.
Long Live The Grateful Dead.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R StoneSculptor
on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 – 08:58 pm
"Live Long and Prosper?"...
"Live Long and Prosper?"....nah, that's those other extraterrestrials...Or is it?
could be, "Be Good Little Boys and Girls"
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: intentionally blank mikeedwardsetc
on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 – 09:02 pm
Let Phil Sing!
Let Phil Sing!