The lips and protruding tongue logo of the Rolling Stones, the "Flying W" of Waylon Jennings , and Social Distortion's dancing "Skelly" are colorful, artistic parts of the legacy and identity of legendary artists. It should come as no surprise that the Grateful Dead have a small stable of iconography to dig into.
As one of the first bands to employ psychedelic light shows and vividly-designed gig posters, the visual aspect of their expression has been a prominent force since the band's inception. Though there's a lengthy list of images that dedicated fans will associate with the Dead, there are two that stand out above the rest still today. Those beloved, and recognizable designs to even uninitiated Deadheads are the "Steal Your Face" lightning skull and dancing bears.
Both designs have rather innocuous origins, and as you might imagine, their meanings aren't easily explained. Without question, the single most recognized image for the band, even more so than Garcia's face probably, is the "Steal Your Face" design.
Also commonly referred to as the "lightning skull," the concept was born out of necessity, really. The group's longtime sound engineer and noted LSD chemist Owsley "Bear" Stanley needed an easily identifiable symbol for the band's gear when it was jammed in with other boxes and cases in backstage areas, according to the beloved companion-slash-chemist.
After being inspired by a boldly-marked, dual-colored freeway sign, he discussed his ideas for a spray paint-ready stencil with Bob Thomas, a graphic designer friend of his.
While the original thought basically consisted of a circle with a clear delineation between one blue side and one red side, the lightning bolt and the skull aspects came about as the brainstorming continued, Owsley writes. The lightning skull became a part of popular Dead lore when it appeared on the inside gate-fold cover of self-titled LP. That record's front cover features Stanley "Mouse" Miller's "rose skeleton" design that some fans argue belongs in any serious conversation of Grateful Dead art so here it is!
The lightning bolt splitting the skull asunder is a nod to a higher level of consciousness and the possibility of enlightenment, whether chemically induced or achieved by natural methods.
Even some fifty years after they were drawn by artist Bob Thomas, they march on as cheerful brand ambassadors. Griffin would design album covers Without a Net , Wake of the Flood , et al. Ceros Inspire is where creative marketing meets interactive design.
Whether they're marching or dancing, Grateful Dead bears have found a permanent spot in American pop culture. If you have any interest in the music of the Grateful Dead or classic rock at all, you're probably familiar with them.
They've come to represent more than just the Dead and the counterculture, practically joining the mainstream. They can be seen everywhere from posters, stickers, key chains and coffee mugs to shirts and even neckties.
Several companies have been producing limited editions of stuffed Grateful Dead bears and it appears they've become quite collectible. If you're interested, you can find many of these extremely cool and collectible bears at Amazon.
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