Grateful Dead This article is more than 8 years oldGeorge RR Martin says Grateful Dead inspired previous work
This article is more than 8 years oldThe Game of Thrones author has confirmed he is a fan of the rock group, and explained their influence on Westeros
Is George RR Martin a Deadhead? Following a long trail of subtle hints, many loyal fans have wondered about the author’s implied fondness for the jam band – and his admiration for the Grateful Dead has now been confirmed by the author.
The Games of Thrones creator told an audience that he was “certainly a fan of the Grateful Dead” in a recent interview, and said he has their lyrics in his head “all the time”.
References to the band have been littered throughout his career: the Dead songs Dire Wolf, Cassidy and Dark Star appear in his work, while he is said to call his home Terrapin Station.
“I have Grateful Dead lyrics rattling around in my head all the time,” he said, when questioned about the references. “Ripple is one of my favourite songs of all time ... [quotes song] ‘There is a road, no simple highway.’”
He added that his wife, Paris, “is perhaps more of a fan of the Grateful Dead than I am”, and went on to say that the band influenced his rock’n’roll novel The Armageddon Rag. According to Billboard, the Weirwood trees in Game of Thrones are named after guitarist Bob Weir.
The Grateful Dead are scheduled to reform for three 50th-anniversary gigs this summer with Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio, at Chicago’s Soldier Field, the location of the band’s last performance with Jerry Garcia in July 1995.
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