Fans of The Grateful Dead rejoice because it’s almost here… May 20th sees the release of a MASSIVE compilation album celebrating all things ‘Dead’!
4AD is set to release ‘Day of the Dead,’ a celebration of the Grateful Dead’s music on May 20. The recording features over 60 artists from various musical backgrounds including Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Friends, Charles Bradley and the Menahan Street Band, Jim James & Friends, Perfume Genius, Sharon Van Etten & Friends, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The War on Drugs, Phosphorescent, Jenny Lewis & Friends, Bruce Hornsby & DeYarmond Edison, Courtney Barnett, and The National.
The 59 track compilation was created and curated by brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National. The album is a wide-ranging tribute to the songwriting and experimentalism of the Grateful Dead. It took four years to record!
Day of the Dead will be released digitally, on a 5 X CD, and as a limited edition vinyl boxed set. The set features elaborate packaging of the Day of the Dead 10xLP boxed set.
All profits will help fight for AIDS/ HIV and related health issues around the world through the Red Hot Organization, a 501(c)3.
Red Hot is a not-for-profit, 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to fighting HIV/AIDS through pop culture. Its mission is to raise awareness and money around the AIDS crisis and related health issues. It was started in 1990 by Leigh Blake and John Carlin with the Cole Porter tribute album Red Hot + Blue, which raised millions of dollars, helped reduce the stigma around AIDS at the time and supported organizations and efforts such as ACT UP and T.A.G., which took a stand and made the world pay attention and develop medication that let people with AIDS survive.
Over the past 25 years, over 500 artists, producers and directors have contributed to 20 compilation albums of original music, videos, events and media to keep people thinking about the implications of the AIDS epidemic as well as donate millions to organizations around the world.
