From celebrated journalist Brian Anderson comes LOUD AND CLEAR: The Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound and the Quest for Audio Perfection, an epic exploration of the groundbreaking speaker system that forever changed live music. Kirkus Reviews praises Anderson’s work as “an epic history… a fresh account of the Grateful Dead's relentless pursuit of sonic perfection.”
Meticulously researched through hundreds of interviews—including band members, devoted roadies, innovative tech experts, and passionate fans—Anderson reveals the full, compelling story behind the creation and impact of the Wall of Sound, a towering speaker system as tall as a school bus is long and more than a hundred feet wide.
The Dead’s quest for sonic excellence began soon after their formation in 1965, in harmony with the revolutionary spirit of the ‘60s. As the band's dedicated crew of audio visionaries pushed technological boundaries, their quest culminated in the creation of the Wall of Sound, a marvel unmatched in audio engineering. But by 1974, the band's exhaustive touring schedule and the logistical challenges of transporting this sonic behemoth brought the Grateful Dead to a turning point.
The two-year era of “Wall shows” remains legendary among Deadheads, marking a pinnacle of artistic ambition and human ingenuity. LOUD AND CLEAR is both an essential chapter of Grateful Dead lore and a vivid portrayal of the drive, creativity, and human limits tested by the band's unyielding pursuit of perfect sound.
About the Author: Brian Anderson’s lifelong fascination with the Wall of Sound includes personally owning a piece of this legendary system. A Webby Award-winning senior features editor, writer, and producer at VICE (2011-2019), Anderson also ran the Science desk at The Atlantic (2020), contributing to Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage during the early pandemic. He later served as a senior editor at Vox (2021-2022).
Advance Praise for LOUD AND CLEAR:
"Brian Anderson’s Loud and Clear is a thorough and warmly told account of the Grateful Dead’s technical history from the Acid Tests through the Wall of Sound era, whose technological advances have benefited musicians and their audiences in every realm to this day." — David Gans, musician, radio host, and author of Conversations with the Dead
“Exhaustively researched and beautifully written… It’s first-rate.” — Dennis McNally, author of A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead
“A lively, meticulously researched and compelling behind-the-scenes portrait… This book will definitely show you a side of the Grateful Dead scene you've never seen before.” — Blair Jackson, author of Garcia: An American Life and Grateful Dead Gear
“A gloriously fun unpacking of the most ambitious and pivotal period in Grateful Dead history.” — Jesse Jarnow, co-host of official Grateful Deadcast & author of Heads: A Biography of Psychedelic America
“Brian embodies the sheer joy of being present when ‘something new is waiting to be born’ creatively… He’s a trustworthy guide to experiences that are hard to put into words.” — Steve Silberman, co-creator of Skeleton Key: A Dictionary for Deadheads and New York Times bestselling author
