For Grateful Dead fans, the famous skeleton surrounded by red roses artwork is just as synonymous with the band as its music. The design appeared on a 1966 concert poster and was later used for the cover of the band’s 1971 live album commonly known as Skull and Roses. However, the skeleton was not created for the Grateful Dead. The image can be traced back to a black-and-white drawing completed more than 60 years before it appeared on the band’s poster.
In honor of the anniversary of Grateful Dead cofounder Jerry Garcia’s death on August 9, 1995, at the age of 53, let’s learn about the history of the artwork and where it originally came from.