Jerry Garcia’s custom-built Tiger guitar is expected to hit the auction block. The axe, made by luthier Doug Irwin and used from 1979 through Garcia’s last public performance at Chicago’s Soldier Field on July 9, 1995, is reportedly part of a sizable lot of esteemed and historic items, owned by the late Indianapolis Colts owner, Jim Irsay.

“People who like the Grateful Dead are like people who like licorice,” said Jerry Garcia. “Not everybody likes licorice, but the people who like licorice really like licorice.” Along with recognizing that Grateful Dead didn’t gel with all ...

Jerry’s Middle Finger — named for a wood-chopping accident in the Santa Cruz Mountains that resulted in Grateful Dead singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia losing two-thirds of his middle finger when he was 4 — was formed in 2015 to perform the music of Garcia.

As we continue to reflect on the 60 years since the formation of the Grateful Dead, we present this feature which originally appeared in the special