Legendary '60s Rock Band Celebrates 60 Years with Rare Performances in Concert Film

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Legendary '60s Rock Band Celebrates 60 Years with Rare Performances in Concert Film originally appeared on Parade.

The legendary Grateful Dead are nearing their 60th anniversary, and to celebrate, they’re bringing their iconic 1977 concert film back to the big screen — this time in theaters and IMAX.

The Grateful Dead Movie has been fully remastered from its original version and will include exclusive new performances of fan favorites like “China Cat Sunflower” and “I Know You Rider.”

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This marks the film’s first-ever debut in IMAX, with screenings set to hit theaters across North America on August 14.

The re-release is part of the Dead’s long-running “Meet-Up at the Movies” series, an annual fan tradition that began back in 2011.

Directed by frontman Jerry Garcia, the film documents the band’s legendary five-night stint at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom in October 1974 — a set that many at the time believed would be the Dead’s final performances.

The shows were even promoted as “The Last One.”

In addition to the live footage, the movie features rare interviews with band members Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, Donna Godchaux, Keith Godchaux and other crew members, offering an inside look at the band’s fan culture and creative process.

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After three years in post-production and sorting through more than 150 hours of footage, the film finally premiered in 1977 and quickly became a beloved classic among Deadheads.

Reflecting on the filming process, Garcia once said it deepened his understanding of the group.

“It gave me a greater sense of the unique value of the Grateful Dead, which is something of which I've been aware but haven't known how to express effectively and don't care to. It either is, or it isn't.”

Grateful Dead archivist and legacy manager David Lemieux even called the latest IMAX cut “the greatest screening I’ve ever experienced of a film I’ve seen hundreds of times,” setting high expectations for the movie.

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As part of the 60th anniversary celebration, Dead & Company will headline three hometown shows on August 1, 2 and 3 at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

The shows will feature surviving members Weir and Hart performing alongside their current band, and are expected to draw up to 60,000 fans per day — so grab your tickets while you can.

These upcoming concerts will mark Dead & Company’s first performances since wrapping up their Las Vegas Sphere residency last month.

Legendary '60s Rock Band Celebrates 60 Years with Rare Performances in Concert Film first appeared on Parade on Jun 27, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.