GRATEFUL DEAD - ACADEMIC GRATEFUL DEAD CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE

The influence of veteran band GRATEFUL DEAD is to be analysed at a three-day academic conference later this week (begs12Nov07). Around 400 fans, 50 historians, authors and critics are expected to take part at the University Of Massachusetts event, which runs from Friday to Sunday (16-18Nov07). However, existing members of the Grateful Dead are thought unlikely to attend. Instead, two tribute bands will perform. Rob Weir, a visiting lecturer at the university, says, "We have the opportunity to do something a bit more unique than have a bunch of people sitting around talking about favourite concert memories." The Grateful Dead formed in 1965 in San Francisco, California and split in 1995, after the death of frontman Jerry Garcia.