Fact: Cult rockers the Grateful Dead have smashed U.S. pay-per-view records by attracting 400,000 subscriptions for their recent farewell shows in Chicago, Illinois. The five-night presentation of Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead easily eclipsed the previous record set by the Backstreet Boys back in 1999, when 160,000 people paid for access to watch the live show at home.
Fact: An electric guitar autographed by the surviving members of the Grateful Dead has sold at auction for $526,000 (£328,750). Bidding on the six-string instrument opened at just $5,000 (£3,125) during the band's first night of its 50th anniversary Fare Thee Well gigs last month (Jun15), before rocker Bob Weir played it onstage on 28 June (15) in Santa Clara, California. It was also signed by guest performers Trey Anastasio, Bruce Hornsby and Further's Jeff Chimenti and was snapped up by a devotee from Dallas, Texas on Sunday (05Jul15), as the cult jam band concluded its three-night run of farewell concerts at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois over the weekend (03-05Jul15). Other memorabilia raised a total of $250,000 (£156,250). All proceeds will be split evenly between 17 charities connected to the Grateful Dead.
Fact: Late rocker Jerry Garcia's colt .45 pistol is set to become a top item at an upcoming Grateful Dead memorabilia auction. The gun and a collection of original lyrics will go under the hammer at Donley Auction Services in Union, Illinois, on 11 and 12 April (15).
Fact: The lyrics to the songs on Bob Dylan's new album TOGETHER THROUGH LIFE were co-written by Grateful Dead lyricist ROBERT HUNTER.
Fact: Rock legends the Grateful Dead have handed over a library of archive material to the University of California Santa Cruz. The college will house the band's entire archives, including correspondence and memorabilia.
Fact: Grateful Dead star Phil Lesh was named the honorary Mayor Of Glens Fall, New York on Friday (19Oct07), ahead of his Saturday night (20Oct07) show in the town.
Fact: <p>The tour bus once used exclusively by rock supergroup the Grateful Dead has been restored for a new motor museum exhibition. The bus will be on display at the Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois. </p>