A rare German Tv recording of the Grateful Dead on tour in Europe in 1972 is heading for the big screen for one night only.

The cult jam band was filmed onstage in a studio in Bremen for the show Beat Club, but only a few brief excerpts from the performance was screened on Tv.

The complete 100-minute colour film, which has never been screened in full, is now set to get its premiere in 360 U.S. movie theatres on 17 July (14) as part of the annual Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies event.

The tracks played during the show, including Bertha and Sugaree, would later be featured on their Europe '72 live triple album.

The 1970s gig is reportedly one of the last video recordings of the group with band co-founder and keyboardist/singer Ron MCKernan, aka Pigpen, who had to quit touring in 1972 due to severe liver damage. He died the following year (73).

A statement issued by Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux reads, "There's never been a show from this era filmed so clearly in its entirety, and this audiovisual document captures the band at arguably their creative zenith.

"As a Deadhead (Grateful Dead fan) and an archivist, this is some of the most exciting footage of the Dead I've ever come across."