Jerry Garcia Quotes

A collection of quotes by Jerry Garcia.

Jerome John Garcia, known as Jerry Garcia, was an American musician and songwriter born on August 1, 1942, in San Francisco, California. He is best known as the lead guitarist and a founding member of the iconic rock band, the Grateful Dead, which emerged in the 1960s and became one of the most influential groups in American music history.

Garcia's musical journey began at a young age when he discovered his passion for playing the guitar. Alongside his distinctive guitar work, he showcased his skills as a vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Jerry Garcia's playing style combined elements of blues, rock, folk, country, and jazz, creating a unique sound that defined the Grateful Dead's music.

Throughout his career, Garcia played a significant role in shaping the counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s. His band's improvisational live performances, known as "Deadheads," became legendary, with touring fans following the Grateful Dead from city to city. Under Garcia's artistic leadership, the Grateful Dead released numerous albums, including "American Beauty" and "Workingman's Dead," which are considered masterpieces of the psychedelic rock genre.

Jerry Garcia's influence extended beyond his work with the Grateful Dead, as he also embarked on solo projects and collaborations with other artists. Sadly, his life was cut short when he passed away unexpectedly on August 9, 1995, at the age of 53.

Jerry Garcia's musical legacy continues to inspire generations of musicians and fans alike, and he remains an iconic figure in American rock music history.

I don't know why, it's the same reason why you like some mus

I don't know why, it's the same reason why you like some music and you don't like others. There's something about it that you like. Ultimately I don't find it's in my best interests to try and analyze it, since it's fundamentally emotional.

America is still mostly xenophobic and racist. That's the na

America is still mostly xenophobic and racist. That's the nature of America, I think.

Nature

I think it's too bad that everybody's decided to turn on dru

I think it's too bad that everybody's decided to turn on drugs, I don't think drugs are the problem. Crime is the problem. Cops are the problem. Money's the problem. But drugs are just drugs.

Money

I mean, just because you're a musician doesn't mean all your

I mean, just because you're a musician doesn't mean all your ideas are about music. So every once in a while I get an idea about plumbing, I get an idea about city government, and they come the way they come.

Government

For me, the lame part of the Sixties was the political part,

For me, the lame part of the Sixties was the political part, the social part. The real part was the spiritual part.

Twentieth Century

Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosin

Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil.

Choice

I'm shopping around for something to do that no one will lik

I'm shopping around for something to do that no one will like.

Recognition

You do not merely want to be considered just the best of the

You do not merely want to be considered just the best of the best. You want to be considered the only ones who do what you do.

Excellence

Nobody stopped thinking about those psychedelic experiences.

Nobody stopped thinking about those psychedelic experiences. Once you've been to some of those places, you think, How can I get back there again but make it a little easier on myself?

Drugs

Death comes at you no matter what you do in this life, and t

Death comes at you no matter what you do in this life, and to equate drugs with death is a facile comparison.

Death

I mean, whatever kills you kills you, and your death is auth

I mean, whatever kills you kills you, and your death is authentic no matter how you die.

Death

We're not uncomfortable with it, and we've already been thro

We're not uncomfortable with it, and we've already been through enough of the music business where I'm not really worried that commercial success is going to in some way - we're already past saving, you know what I mean? It's too late for us.

Business

If we had any nerve at all, if we had any real balls as a so

If we had any nerve at all, if we had any real balls as a society, or whatever you need, whatever quality you need, real character, we would make an effort to really address the wrongs in this society, righteously.

Society

I have all the patience in the world about Sirens. For me it

I have all the patience in the world about Sirens. For me it's not a Grateful Dead project, it's a Me project.

Patience

But hey, when you live in Watts, you need a little smack to

But hey, when you live in Watts, you need a little smack to get by, you know what I mean? You need something soft and comfortable in your life, 'cause you're not going to get it from what's around you. And society isn't going to give it to you.

Society

I'm not trying to clock scores in this lifetime, it's just t

I'm not trying to clock scores in this lifetime, it's just that things are better now than they were like five, ten years ago. Music has gotten a lot better. There's a lot of people who are committed to - soulfully.

Music