Noon – 1:30 p.m.
(Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for networking)
What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to promote a major rock band during the height of the rock and roll era? Here’s your chance to learn about the life of a rock and roll publicist, who worked with the Grateful Dead, one of the world’s most successful touring and iconic bands.
Dennis McNally was introduced to the band in 1980, when he was selected as their authorized biographer. From 1984 to 1995, he toured with them as their publicist, working on their behalf at the United Nations, the White House and Congress as well as every significant large performance venue in America.
Dennis will talk about how unique the Grateful Dead’s approach to PR was for the times. They were the vanguards of social media long before the Internet existed. They allowed people to tape and share their concerts. They played all night going with the synergy in the crowd. They created a “hotline” for Deadheads, keeping them updated about upcoming shows and how to get tickets from a unique ticketing service they set up. McNally will share his stories and discuss how his relationship with the media evolved along the way.
Today, McNally maintains a freelance music public relations practice representing a wide range of clients. Having received his Ph.D. in American history from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1978 for a biography of Jack Kerouac, McNally was an author before considering PR. His Ph.D. thesis was published by Random House in 1979 under the title Desolate Angel: Jack Kerouac, the Beat Generation, and America. He moved to San Francisco and worked as a freelance writer for a number of local publications, did odd jobs and was the archivist for Bill Graham Presents in 1983. In 2002 he published his long-awaited history of the Grateful Dead, A Long Strange Trip/The Inside History of the Grateful Dead.Counterpoint Press brought out his third book, On Highway 61/Music, Race, and the Evolution of Cultural Freedom-the story of what white people learned from African American music from the minstrel era to Bob Dylan, the very deepest roots of rock ‘n’ roll-on October 14, 2014.
Reserve NowLunch reservations must be prepaid
Reservations for luncheons must be pre-paid online via credit card. Only reservations booked online will be accepted. Due to the fact the hotel has increased its prices, lunches for members are now $45 plus processing fees and for non-members $58 plus processing fees.
Please arrive early. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the program starts immediately at noon.