The exhibition "Grateful Dead: The Long, Strange Trip" opens April 12 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in time for the 2012 artist inductions. Highlights are to include five Jerry Garcia guitars, "finished and working manuscripts" for classic Dead songs, gear from the Owsley "Wall of Sound" PA system, and artworks such as Fillmore posters and album graphics. The Grateful Dead Archive at the University of California-Santa Cruz "loaned a significant number of items" from its collection, the Rock Hall said. Rock Hall curator Howard Kramer said he had full access to the Dead's warehouse. Longtime Grateful Dead percussionist Mickey Hart will perform at the exhibit opening. One of his psychedelic custom-painted drum kits will among the museum offerings. The first major showing of … [Read more...]

Velvet Underground members Lou Reed, Maureen (Moe) Tucker and Doug Yule are reuniting, sort of. The art rockers will discuss their music and history Dec. 8 as part of the New York Public Library's "Live From the NYPL" series. The conversation wrangler will be rock journalist David Fricke. The gathering of three Velvets is quite unusual -- the Library calls it "unprecedented." MIA is (to no one's suprise) John Cale, who has performed with the band only a few times since the 1970s. Sterling Morrison and Nico have both died. Update: View the session: The The Velvet Underground probably wouldn't have made it out of the underground without the artwork on its 1966 debut album by band backer Andy Warhol. That yellow banana and the rest of the artifacts connected with the band … [Read more...]