In Conversation with Jim Newton at Booksmith in SF

In mid-August, I chatted with journalist Jim Newton at Booksmith in SF about his newly released Here Beside the Rising Tide: Jerry Garcia, The Grateful Dead, and an American Awakening, which is out now. We touched on:Why Jerry would’ve been the ultimate interview guestThe Dead’s wild growth in the ’80s — was Reagan the backdrop?Garcia’s allergy to politics and endorsementsJerry Brown asking for help… and getting turned downWhat kept Deadheads coming back, year after year