Beckley-based photographer Chris Hancock captured this image of Jerry Garcia during one of the last Grateful Dead shows in 1995. It has appeared everywhere since, from the covers of national newspapers, to posters, to DVD covers. Many of the reproductions have occurred without his consent, but he said it wouldn’t be very Jerry-like to lawyer up and demand money.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Although nearly two decades have passed since Jerry Garcia’s death, Beckley-based photographer Chris Hancock still sees the Grateful Dead guitarist everywhere.
OK, he doesn’t really see Jerry. He sees a rather iconic photo he shot of Jerry at one of the Dead’s last shows in Pittsburgh, in June 1995.
This Sunday marks the 20th anniversary of Garcia’s death. His 73rd birthday was last Saturday. In honor of his life, the Gazette-Mail collected stories from a handful of locals about their experiences with the band.
Hancock’s photo, which shows a zen-like Jerry in a purple T-shirt playing guitar and singing, has appeared all over the place in the two decades since it was shot. Hancock can barely walk into a record store without seeing it emblazoned on something.
“There are paintings, there are T-shirts,” he said. “I buy everything I can find. I have several magazine covers.
“It was even in a Microsoft software compilation — back before Wikipedia when Microsoft published their own encyclopedia,” he added.
The problem: only some of these uses were authorized…
