The Grateful Dead was and still is one of the most defining bands of 1960s counterculture. The band’s eclectic mix of genres, libertine use of psychedelics, improvisational performance style, and extremely devoted fanbase known as ‘Deadheads’ have become the poster child for Jam Bands. 

However, how much influence has the band had on the area they chose as their headquarters, the Bay Area, but more specifically Marin County. Well I would say The Grateful Dead band didn’t just impact the culture of Marin but it has been synonymous with it for generations. A huge fan of the band Scott Unterberg who has been a deadhead for years believed this is why the band chose Marin “So I think it kind of worked because it allowed them to just expand and just be a little more relaxed and start their lives and potentially have kids and things like that.” 

In the late 1960s the band traded in the hustle and bustle of the Haight located in San Francisco for the quiet mountains and Serene streams of Marin County.and the band has had their headquarters located there ever since then. 

The Grateful Dead has influenced the local community in the fact that a large portion of the residents enjoy the band’s music for some it was a reason why they moved to Marin in the first place.  Unterberg who grew up in Illinois describes how the band influenced his move to Marin “ I think almost everything that I kind of got into had tie-ins here and specifically yet to Marin even, which is interesting.” 

 Also, cover bands and local music venues of the Grateful Dead have greatly impacted local music; one venue in Marin Sweetwater is co-owned by Bob Weir where local bands perform . In conclusion the Grateful Dead as a band has influenced the culture of Marin County on a deep level both musically and culturally, the band has become a cornerstone of Marin culture.