For Grateful Dead fans the music truly never stopped and the newest CD release of the iconic band’s live performances has resulted in a Guinness World Record.
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The Grateful Dead continues to add to its legacy: the Bay Area band now holds a Guinness World Record.
Founded 60 years ago, the Dead quit performing in 2015, 20 years after the death of lead guitarist and singer Jerry Garcia.
But other members have continued to perform in different collaborations including Dead & Company, which includes Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, along with John Mayer. Founding member and bassist Phil Lesh continued to perform for decades before his death in October 2024.
Along the way, Grateful Dead music keeps coming out, with the most recent release, “Dave’s Picks Vol. 56: Rainbow Theatre, London, England – 3/20/81 & 3/21/81,” hitting No. 25 on the Top 40 of the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart on Nov. 15 – giving the band its record-setting 66th Top 40 album.
With that accomplishment, Guinness World Records on Thursday, Dec. 4, bestowed the band with an honor for the most Top 40 albums charted. Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief for the organization, celebrated the band in an Instagram video post, calling it “60 incredible years of music … an incredible unmatched achievement,” he said, showing off the Guinness certificate. “So congratulations, you are officially amazing.”
The Dead tied Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley for most Top 40 albums in November 2023 at 59, then broke the record in February 2024 and have set a new record with each quarterly Dave’s Picks archival release.
“This Guinness World Records title is something that no one could have anticipated 60 years ago when the Grateful Dead began, but the record demonstrates the dedication, passion, and loyalty of the massive legion of Dead Heads, as well as the consistent quality of the Grateful Dead’s recorded output and archival activities over the past six decades,” says David Lemieux, Grateful Dead legacy manager and archivist, and producer and curator of the long-running Dave’s Picks series, in a statement.
Grateful Dead will not fade away. New CD sets record
A four-CD set, “Dave’s Picks Vol. 56” has nearly five hours of music, including performances of “Althea,” “Deal,” “Truckin’” and an unhurried rendition of “Friend of the Devil.”
Released by Rhino Music, the 25,000 numbered copies of the limited edition set have sold out. Also sold out: a special 60th-anniversary 60-disc set called “Enjoying the Ride” with 450 live Grateful Dead tracks, most unreleased, which came out May 30 (priced at $600). You can still get a downloadable version on Dead.net, as well as a 6-LP or 3-CD version called “The Music Never Stopped,” plus some previous Dave’s Picks releases are available, too.
“We’re excited to see the Grateful Dead reach another milestone with this Guinness World Records title,” said Mark Pinkus, president of Rhino Records, in a statement. “Rhino has been committed to preserving and honoring the Grateful Dead’s legacy through quality archival releases. What a wonderful way to close out their 60th anniversary celebrations.”
While the last 12 months have led to important honorific events for the Dead – including being 2024 Kennedy Center Honorees and being named the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year – last month saw the passing of Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, the only woman to be part of the band’s lineup. She and her first husband, Keith Godchaux, performed with the Dead from 1972 to 1979.
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & [email protected]
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