The book describes an eccentric genius and master manipulator, and an integral piece of the Grateful Dead’s success. He was intelligent and cunning, and to this day, no one can say for certain where he kept all of the money he made from his empire. Berkeley chemistry major, to drop out and make acid with him, and he eluded the law by pretending to run a legitimate lab where he tested rats. For example, Owsley persuaded his girlfriend, a U.C. Owsley died in 2011 in a car accident at 76 years old, but he left behind a lifetime’s worth of strange stories and unique anecdotes that sometimes seem too outlandish to be true. “So much of what was said about Owsley back in the day was sheer fantasy, that the list of misconceptions would themselves fill an entire book,” says Greenfield. Owsley was somewhat of an elusive character, surrounded by rumor and hearsay. But beyond his interaction with the band, exploring Stanley’s life also brought Greenfield deep within the counter-culture of the 1960s and 1970s, from the Monterey Pop Festival to Altamont to the streets of the Haight.Įvery Awful Thing Trump Has Promised to Do in a Second Term “Impossible to tame.”) He also had the bright idea to plug a recorder directly into the soundboard during concerts and rehearsals, thus providing the world with tapes of the Dead during their heyday, which would otherwise never have existed. Also a shameless audiophile, Owsley was the band’s original sound man, credited with inventing the famous Wall Of Sound PA system (“It was Owsley’s brain, in material form,” drummer Bill Kreutzmann told Greenfield. The result, Bear: The Life and Times of Augustus Owsley Stanley III, goes deep inside the chaotic and bizarre life of Owsley, who provided a generation of West-Coast hippies with mind-altering acid, using the profits of his illegitimate business to finance the Grateful Dead into the spotlight. “And I knew that Owsley was a unique individual with a world view that no one else shared.” His original assignment was a life-spanning feature, but his reporting – including interviews with the Dead’s Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and more – eventually provided enough material for an entire book. “I had so much material,” says Greenfield. By wearing our 13-Point Lightning Bolt jewelry, fans can carry a piece of the Grateful Dead's iconic energy with them, serving as a reminder of the power of music to inspire and unite.In 2007, writer Robert Greenfield interviewed Berkeley-dropout-turned-acid-cooker Owsley Stanley III – whose pure, potent LSD was favored by Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters and the Grateful Dead – for Rolling Stone. These pieces, including pendants, earrings, and bracelets, capture the essence of the Grateful Dead's electrifying performances and the transformative nature of their music. In our sterling silver Grateful Dead collection, we've created a range of jewelry pieces that showcase the distinctive 13-Point Lightning Bolt design. Regardless of the intended meaning, the 13-Point Lightning Bolt has since taken on a life of its own, becoming a standalone symbol that represents the electric energy and spirit of the Grateful Dead. Others suggest that it could be a nod to the American flag, with the 13 points symbolizing the 13 original colonies. Some believe the number 13 holds spiritual significance, representing transformation and rebirth. The Lightning Bolt is unique in that it features 13 distinct points, a detail that has led to various interpretations among fans. This striking motif was originally designed as part of the Steal Your Face skull logo, symbolizing the unity of opposites and the transformative force of the band's music. The 13-Point Lightning Bolt is an iconic symbol closely associated with the Grateful Dead and has become an emblem of the band's energy and power.
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