Page 124 Grateful Dead Records

The Holographic Music Pyramid

One of the best hoaxes I’ve been proud to be associated with. Based on theoretical concepts of that time, the idea of encoding Dead music on a one-inch pyramid to be read by an optical fiber seemed to be plausible. In one of our junk mailing newsletters, we stated that the Dead would be attempting to come out with this new musical reproduction form, and actual scientists in the holographic field became more than curious about our heretofore unheard of efforts in this new medium. Of course Rakow had made a one-inch model of this wondrous little pyramid, which he didn’t hesitate to grandly produce at the slightest provocation. Just about the time when we thought our cheeks could no longer stand the pressure from our tongues, some Dead Head scientist in New York working with holography reported back to us that he had made preliminary progress on a similar device and wished to speak with our researchers. We turned him over to Uncle Anton for further enlightenment. — Steve Brown (The Golden Road )

In 1973, the band split from Warner Brothers and started their own record company. It was the first time any group had attempted to control all aspects of its business — recording, cutting, pressing, distribution and promotion. By 1975, a combination of financial over-extension and poor record sales resulted in its failure necessitating a bail-out by United Artists. The little autonomy the label retained was lost in 1976, when the Dead signed with Arista. Round/Grateful Dead Records now exists as a label only.

Photo Credits: Sonny – Jerilyn Lee Brandelius, David – Ross Ressmeyer, Kingfish – Unknown