A Long Strange Trip

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The Grateful Dead’s official historian presents the definitive chronicle of one of the most long-lived and legendary bands in rock history.

“A Long Strange Trip manages to capture the entirety of the complex organism that was the Grateful Dead. . . . The most comprehensive and reliable account out there.”—Entertainment Weekly

“[Dennis McNally] conjures afresh the pure, unaccountable, jolting weirdness of the unrepeatable moment when manufactured psychedelics burst into American popular culture and ran riot through literature, music, fashion, and lifestyle.”—Los Angeles Times

From 1965 to 1995, the Grateful Dead flourished as one of the most beloved, unusual, and accomplished musical entities ever to grace American culture. To those in the know, the Dead was an ongoing tour de force: a band whose constant commitment to exploring new realms lay at the center of a thirty-year journey through an ever-shifting array of musical, cultural, and mental landscapes.

Dennis McNally, the band’s historian and publicist for more than twenty years, takes readers back through the Dead’s history in A Long Strange Trip. In a kaleidoscopic narrative, McNally not only chronicles their experiences in a fascinating detailed fashion, but veers off into side trips on the band’s intricate stage setup, the magic of the Grateful Dead concert experience, and metaphysical musings excerpted from a conversation among band members. He brings to vivid life the Dead’s early days in the late-sixties San Francisco—an era of astounding creativity and change that reverberates to this day—and carries the Dead’s saga through the seventies and into the years of constant touring and incessant musical exploration, which cemented a unique bond between performers and audience and created the business enterprise that is much more a family than a corporation.

Written with the same zeal and spirit that the Grateful Dead brought to its music for more than thirty years, A Long Strange Trip is not only a wide-ranging cultural history; it is a definitive musical biography.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs