Drums and Space
"Drums" and "Space" are improvised pieces of music originally played by the Grateful Dead in their live concerts. Usually appearing in the middle of a show's second set, "Drums" (sometimes referred to as "Rhythm Devils") and "Space" consisted of free[1] rhthymic and melodic improvisation, in contrast to the usual improvisational style of the band, which would usually be based on composed songs and chord progressions. After the death of guitarist and vocalist Jerry Garcia and the band's dissolution in 1995, "Drums" and "Space" continued to be played by spin-off bands such as The Other Ones, The Dead, and Dead & Company.
Background and development
[edit]While drum solos were a frequent presence in the Grateful Dead's shows from near the beginning of their career, the pairing of "Drums" and "Space" was not fully established until the late 1970s.[1] Also cited as an early precursor to "Space" is a November 1973 performance by Grateful Dead members Garcia, drummer Mickey Hart and bassist Phil Lesh (as well as guest keyboardist Ned Lagin). The performance, entitled "An Experiment in Quadrophonic Sound", included Garcia plugging his guitar into an ARP Odyssey synthesizer, which Hart has suggested predicted the MIDI experimentation of the band's later years.[2]
Notable performances of "Space" include a "Close Encounters"-themed performance (sometimes cited as the first "true" "Drums > Space") on January 22, 1978,[3] a performance quoting Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" on April 19, 1982,[4][5] and a guest appearance from saxophonist Branford Marsalis on March 29, 1990. "Drums" and "Space" continued to be a part of sets by later Dead-related bands, including Dead & Company, whose performances have included guests such as Joe Russo and Renée Fleming.[6][7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Melamed, Dave (September 11, 2025). "Celebrate Mickey Hart's Birthday With The Evolution Of "Drums > Space"". Live for Live Music. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ^ Kahn, Andy (September 11, 2023). "The Mickey Hart & Jerry Garcia Concert That Helped Birth Grateful Dead's 'Space' Jams". Jambase. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ^ Melamed, Dave (January 22, 2021). "Listen To The Grateful Dead's "Close Encounters" Show, Played On This Day In 1978 [Listen]". Live for Live Music. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ^ Caplan, Walker (October 25, 2021). "Remember when the Grateful Dead did a 12-minute freestyle based on "The Raven"?". Literary Hub. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ^ "The Grateful Dead Pays Tribute to Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" in a 1982 Concert: Hear "Raven Space"". Open Culture. January 17, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ^ O'Brien, Andrew (June 22, 2023). "John Mayer Plays Seated, Joe Russo Joins In At Final Dead & Company NYC Opener". Live for Live Music. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
- ^ "Watch: Dead & Company Welcome Renée Fleming for "Space" Vocal Improvisation, Debut Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder They Come"". Relix. April 21, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
