Grateful Dead | AC Distribution Panel, used by the Dead for live shows

Property of Grateful Dead Productions

Grateful Dead

Original AC Distribution Panel, ca. 1972, used by the Grateful Dead for live shows

Metal panel mounted to wood (33 x 14.5 x 5''), with breaker switches labeled, “Garcia” and “Weir” and hinged front cover with Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers stickers affixed.

A permanent road essential made by Bob Matthews

"Big Steve" Parish: “In the late 60’s/early 70’s as the Grateful Dead began to get out on the road more playing Civic Centers all over America; In order to solve the problem of A/C Quad Box Distribution to the band had to be of high quality and we couldn’t rely on a clean electric system to be provided by the house. So we became the first band to tie into the main electric panel. This had to be done with high quality construction and reliability. It also afforded us some control over the authorities shutting down the show if we ran a little overtime. Having our own distro provided all these benefits to us and we used it for the next decade. After some experimental tries, Bob Matthews constructed this box to become our permanent road essential in 1972 and we began using it at every show. It sat behind the amp line and reliably provided electricity to the Dead stage amplifiers, hence all the show stickers on it.