Huge New Grateful Dead Box On The Way
60CD live collection due later this year
A huge 60 (yes SIXTY) CD Grateful Dead box set is to be released later this year.
The box will contain all 22 concerts from the band's 1972 European tour – their first European shows – and some of the tracks originally found their way onto the Europe '72 triple LP.
"By the time we’re finished, we'll have put two years into this," said producer David Lemieux, who plans on finishing the mixing and mastering process by June. "If there was ever a tour that needed a complete release, it was Europe '72. It’s one of the top three tours the Dead ever did, and there’s a pristine 16-track recording of every show. It’s the perfect storm."
"There was a challenge for us, playing for people not familiar with what we were up to," guitarist Bob Weir said. "But we were ready for fresh ears. We were hot."
Lemieux said that this might not be the only full-tour box set to be released by the band, suggesting tours from 1973 and 1990 as possible candidates.
"It all boils down to 'Is there a story there?'" Weir said. "If we can find an era like this, with a story line and development – and I have a feeling there is – there would be merit in doing this again."