Although at least eight books have been written about his life and two concert films have documented it, Jerry Garcia’s story has yet to get the biopic treatment. That is about to change. THR announced that a biographical flick about the man who served as the vocalist, lead guitarist, and songwriter for the band The Grateful Dead is in the works. Let the sounds of the sixties shine in!
Well, actually, more like “let the sounds of the fifties shine in.” The biopic will focus mainly on Garcia’s pre-Grateful Dead early years. Garcia was born in 1942, so who knows how far they will take it. I hope they at least get to the sixties. Garcia grew up in the Bay Area, and his childhood was fraught with minor and major tragedies. His life was filled with music from an early age; his parents owned a club, and he began playing the piano early on.
The movie will be based on a book by Robert Greenfield called Dark Star. The biography is composed as an oral history of Garcia from the perspective of the many people that knew and loved him, including family, friends, musicians etc. Topper Lilien (Dungeons & Dragons) will adapt the script.
The trio of guys producing the film are deep into the indie scene. Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa have collaborated together on such projects as Election and Little Miss Sunshine. The third producer, Eric Eisner, joined the two of them in producing the sing along indie smash of the summer, Hamlet 2. Indie cred is what these guys are all about. With Jerry’s grass roots approach to music, a little touch of indie class might be just what the doctor ordered for this loaded subject matter.
No word on whether or not the flick will feature songs by The Grateful Dead, as it is about Garcia’s early years.
