The Grateful Dead: The End of the Road - The Final Tour '95

Starring:Grateful Dead
Studio: Monterey Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
Music by Merl Saunders & Jerry Garcia, appearances by Babatunde Olatunji, Merl Saunders, Wavy Gravy, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann

Written & Directed By: Brent Meeske For 30 years, Jerry Garcia played guitar and sang for the Grateful Dead, and by doing so, inspired a modern cultural phenomenon - the legions of nomadic fans that made a communal way of life out of following Jerry and the Dead - the Deadheads. "The End of the Road" began shooting just 3 months before Garcia's Death in 1995 - documenting `life on the road' with this family of bohemian wanderers - on what would be the final tour with Jerry and the Dead. That summer the road came to an end back where it all began - in San Francisco - where thousands gathered one last time for eulogies from bandmates, friends and family at the memorial for Jerry Garcia.

Description

Music by Merl Saunders & Jerry Garcia, appearances by Babatunde Olatunji, Merl Saunders, Wavy Gravy, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann

DVD Features: Uncut Memorial Ceremony, Extended Merl Saunders Interview, Follow-up Interviews, Deleted/Extended Scenes, Original Press Kit

Customer Reviews:

Don't bother.......2006-06-24

I just watched this with a friend and it's just sad. Just before Brent died things were getting bad on tour. And after Brent died, there is not one Dead show that it worth viewing or listening too. I would have thought they would have put out something better than this as their next release after the Buffalo shows which were pretty good. They have SO many hours and hours of Great footage and music. Why they chose this is beyond me. If you are a true die hard Dead Head, don't bother buying this one. All around... just bad. I would encourage you to write to them and ask for better stuff. Great footage is around from late 70's to early 90's. Let's get it out there!

If you absolutely have to 'relive' the 1995 lot scene, or wonder what it looked like..........2006-01-09

This video may be worth renting, once. I saw shows on the 1995 summer tour, and it was just sad. Their were very few positive things happening, and SO MANY bad things happening. If you REALLY need to see that, watch this video. (If you're looking for Band Shots/Concert Footage - don't bother.) Don't expect much in the way of cinematography. This is NOT a high-quality Montery Video release. This is someone who had alot of parking lot video cam footage cashing in on it.

Disappointed.......2005-09-12

I thought this was going to be more of a "chat with the band *AND* fans" kinda thing, but it's mostly just film of the parking lot parties before the Dead shows. I came to the Dead late (about 2002) as a fan, so maybe I just don't get it (and I'm completely anti-drug). It could be that this film is just for those who actually were there and this is like a filmed class reunion.

"Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right" - Robert Hunter.......2005-08-22

The summer tour that this film captures was filled with many problems. I saw shows during this tour and unfortunately, there were harmful elements that I witnessed that had encroached into the community that followed the Grateful Dead. I commend the filmmaker for showing an honest perspective without sanitizing the negatives. I appreciated that the film also avoided sensationalizing events such as when unruly fans crashed through the fence at Deer Creek Amphitheatre. This could have been easily exploited with a drawn out examination for dramatic effect but instead it lasted less than two minutes. In the next scene, the film presents a very inspiring sequence where older Deadheads take accountability for not properly educating the new generation of fans. The determination of those interviewed to confront the problems on tour was very uplifting. Tragically, their vision was never realized as life following the Grateful Dead ended with Jerry's untimely death. Without a doubt, the closing scenes of fans gathered to celebrate Jerry's life makes this film worth purchasing. I highly recommend this film not only for Deadheads but more importantly for younger fans who have adopted the nomadic lifestyle of following the next generation of bands. There are lessons in this film to be learned, gathered and passed on.

like bad home movie footage.......2005-08-18

I was eagerly anticipating this one but was left sorely disappointed. I give it two stars, just because seeing the remaining band members give speeches at funeral/celebration was interesting. But really, the first hour of this documentary is pretty bad. It's shot with a cam corder, albeit a decent one, and it's essentially a series of interviews with heads in the parking lot. All the cliches are there... the tiedye shirtmaker, the people who haven't showered since god knows when... don't get me wrong, I'm a huge head myself, but this wasn't worth watching. The time period was 3 months before Jerry's death until his death. But there's no footage of the band playing. None. I guess that's what I wanted most, not home movies of parking lot interviews. Even a little concert footage would have gone a long way. Sorry, my two cents. I absolutely loved "Downhill from here" and "Truckin up to Buffalo", both DVDs from 1989 concerts.

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