Photographs From the Grateful Dead’s First Show in Menlo Park, California on May 5, 1965

The Grateful Dead played their first show at Magoo’s Pizza in Menlo Park, California on May 5, 1965 under the name The Warlocks. After finding out that the name was being used by another band who were already signed to a record contract, they changed their name, first performing as The Grateful Dead later in December of that year. The band’s original lineup of Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, Phil Lesh and Bill Kreutzmann are shown in these photos from 1965.

Known for their eclectic style that fused elements of rock, blues, jazz, folk, country, bluegrass, rock and roll, gospel, reggae, and world music with psychedelia, the band is famous for improvisation during their live performances, and for their devoted fan base, known as “Deadheads.” According to the musician and writer Lenny Kaye, the music of the Grateful Dead “touches on ground that most other groups don’t even know exists.” For the range of their influences and the structure of their live performances, the Grateful Dead are considered “the pioneering godfathers of the jam band world.”