Searching for the Sound

My Life with the Grateful Dead

By: Phil Lesh

Narrated by: Phil Lesh

Length: 5 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Phil Lesh first met Jerry Garcia in 1959 in the clubs of Palo Alto, California. At Garcia's suggestion, Lesh learned to play the electric bass and joined him in a new group that blended R&B, country, and rock 'n' roll with an experimental fervor never before heard.

In time for the Grateful Dead's 40th anniversary, Phil Lesh offers the first behind-the-scenes history of the Dead. Lesh chronicles how the Dead's signature sound emerged, flowed, and swelled to reach millions of devoted fans, from their first gigs at Frenchy's Bikini-A-Go-Go for an audience of three, to the legendary Acid Tests, to packed stadiums around the world.

In San Francisco during the Summer of Love, at Woodstock, Altamont, and the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Grateful Dead have been at the center of some of rock's defining moments. Phil Lesh recounts what it's been like to live at the heart of this whirlwind, impressing Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, sharing the stage with Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and the Rolling Stones. Lesh describes what it was like to storm heaven night after night, and the price he and others have paid. Bad management, drug addictions, depression, and insecurities persistently plagued the band members and would culminate with the most tragic blow of all, the death of Jerry Garcia.

Searching for the Sound is a ruthlessly honest look inside one of the greatest American bands.

©2005 Phil Lesh (P)2005 Simon & Schuster, Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

"It's hard to say which of these miracles is more profound: the fact that after three decades with the Grateful Dead, Lesh has any memories of the experience whatsoever, or that he's been able to consolidate them into a single volume of less than 20,000 pages." (The New York Times Book Review)

Searching 4 Sound with Phil Lesh

Where does Searching for the Sound rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Excellent story, and with Philly-the-man narrating it's like having your favorite Uncle telling you an exciting story about one of your favorite subjects all the while sitting around a warm & lively campfire. Learning about Phil & the GDead / Phil growing up & his family / the SF scene in the 1960's / and his meeting of the minds with JGarcia & Pigpen; is just really interesting. And you can tell he is absolutely sincere in what he is talking about... there's a lotta love in these stories... I purchased this again (I bought it in 05' but the cd's I recorded it on are now mangled). Thanks to Amazon for making it an easy find (again).

What did you like best about this story?

Everything... even the occasional 3-4min of dull stuff (which is sporadic at its worst; meaning it doesnt happen often) is quickly followed by some small & exciting story or sub-plot (strangely, not unlike a dead concert...where you might get a so-so played tune, only to be followed by something magical, spontaneous, and thrilling). THANK YOU UNCLE PHIL!

What does Phil Lesh bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His ambiance, his excitement at times, and who could get tired of his monotone voice...jk Phil... LOVE THIS AUDIO-BOOK!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed out loud, hell yeah I did... and other times, I found myself remembering the big events of our country... although I wasnt alive yet when Kennedy was murdered, I found his anger (at that time) well placed, and as an activist of sorts myself; I could fully relate to his feelings of isolation & maybe even abandonment as I found myself feeling the exact same way when it came to GMO labeling, and a whole slew of other social-justice issues that Ive been apart of for the last 15yrs.

Any additional comments?

Hey Phil... any thoughts on a book about Phil n Friends?

A biography of a legendary band by their bass guitarist

"Searching for the Sound" not only describes the evolution of the legendary Grateful Dead, but also portrays the timeline of events that crafted a whole generation.

Through the eyes.

you actually felt like you were on stage with the dead this story comes directly Through The Eyes of Phil Lesh.

Great Book!

What a great book, and read by the author! Phil invited me on his journey with the dead and for that I’m thankful..

Phil’s description.

Unbelievable description of his time with the band. A perspective like only he could provide.

I love this book. It is about the sound.

Phil does a great job explaining what was happening musically in such a poetic way. He also touches on key GDP business dealings that I haven't heard before. It explains why they did what they did.

Grateful Insight

Whether you're a Deadhead or not this is a great listen.

Phil Lesh's book brings you inside the creation and demise of one of Rock's most influential working bands.

Beautifully narrated by the author with articulate precision and passion this book makes tangible the optimism of 1968's "Summer of Love" through the dark turmoil of Altamont and beyond. Phil and the Dead were part of it all.

Beyond the insights into the Dead's creative process, this book reveals the real life of a hard working rock band, from the Filmore to the big stadium shows, with all the baggage included.

If you did not have the chance to live this and see the Dead in their prime, then this is a good taste of that Long Strange Trip.

READ THIS BOOK

This book is off the charts, music charts that is. If you lived through the 60's and remember it you know who the Dead are. I'll be darned if they didn't put their pants on one leg at a time like the rest of us.

Really interesting and well read

Much more open than I anticipated.
Well read by Phil Lesh.
Explained a lot for me about the development of Dead's music.
If you are into Grateful Dead this is highly recommended!

A must for all “Deadheads”

A must for anyone who calls themselves a “Deadhead”! Phil takes us on a ride, and I felt every emotion. I laughed and I cried.