Grateful Dead fans tell NPR how the band first hooked them

NPR | By Sarah Robbins,

Rob Schmitz, Felix Contreras, Alejandra Marquez Janse

Published August 9, 2026 at 5:27 PM EDT

NPR's Felix Contreras explains why this summer was different than most for Grateful Dead fans around the country, and what Deadheads told him about why they got hooked on the band.

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