Died On This Date (February 16, 2012) Jon McIntire / Managed The Grateful Dead
themusicsover Jon McIntire
1941 – February 16, 2012
Jon McIntire is best remembered as the two-time manager of the Grateful Dead. It was under his watch – first in the early ’70s and again during the ’80s – that the “Deadhead” phenomenon was born, and most sources credit McIntire for making it happen. When the band’s Grateful Dead album (also known as Skull and Roses) came out in 1971, McIntire had a note inserted that read “Dead Freaks Unite! Who are you? Where are you? How are you? Send us your name and address and we’ll keep you informed.” What followed was a devotion by fans around the world, the likes of which had never been seen and will likely be never seen again. It was during the McIntire era that the band also released Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty – two of rock’s most influential albums. He parted ways with the Dead in 1974 and went on to shepherd Bob Weir’s solo career. He returned to manage the band in 1984 and oversaw their biggest commercial successes, In the Dark, and the “Touch of Grey” single, which was their only one to ever crack the Top 10. Jon McIntire was 70 when he died of cancer on February 16, 2012.
Thanks to Scott Miller for the assist.
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