Long before we got into the craze Taylor Swift fans, commonly known as “Swifties‘ The original group of devout fans were the “Deadheads,” a legion of Palo Alto worshippers who formed bands and traveled from town to town to see Jerry Garcia’s Grateful Dead play.
Changing tapes of live recordings is “Deadheads‘And actively encouraged by the band, fans were drawn to the culture around the group by a sense of community. The band’s shows tended to encourage that.
Deadheads came from all walks of life, many of whom attempted to recreate the aesthetics and values of 1960s counterculture, and were often branded in the media as simply hippies.
Bill Walton’s famous “Deadhead”
The basketball world was in a state of shock on Monday morning. Bill Walton passed away at the age of 71 after losing his battle with cancer.
Walton was the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft. Portland Trail BlazersHe led the team to its only NBA championship in 1976-77, was named league MVP in 1977-78 and Sixth Man of the Year in 1985-86, and won his second championship as a member of the Boston Celtics in 1985-86.
Before his time in the NBA, Walton was a student at UCLA and an avid Grateful Dead fan, following the band on tour across the United States.
Later in life, as he began his career in the media, Walton could often be seen wearing the tie-dye T-shirts that became synonymous with Deadheads, and he often appeared on radio specials extolling and extolling the virtues of “Deadheads.”
NBA Tribute
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver He delivered a moving personal tribute to the Hall of Famer, calling Walton “one of a kind.”
“Bill later brought his passion and love for the game to his broadcasts, entertaining generations of basketball fans with his insightful and colorful commentary. But what I remember most about him was his passion for life.He was a regular at League events, always cheerful, smiling broadly and eager to share his wisdom and warmth.
Upon hearing of his death, all three said: Bill Walton, Grateful Dead, Deadheads It was popular in America.
