BIO

Jerry Garcia, lead guitar player for the Grateful Dead and lead cultural icon of the alternative lifestyle that band represented, died suddenly in the summer of 1995; thus bringing to a close one of the most unusual social phenomenons the western world had ever seen. Beginning in the mid-1960's, and gaining ever-increasing momentum thereafter, legions of devotees to the Dead's music would travel far and wide to attend their shows and immerse themselves in the baccanal-like reverie that mainstream society could only look upon with confusion, bemusement or contempt.

In the days following Garcia's death, a memorial gathering in Major's Hill Park had been organized, followed by an impromptu musical performance staged at a nearby tavern. For many attending this "memorial show", hearing the Dead's music being played live was a tonic for Deadheads still feeling a great sense of loss.

It was then decided months later that perhaps, there was some potential in the idea of continuing to play live Dead music. The Music Never Stopped was born from this concept. Now a 6-piece band, TMNS is still going strong, always playing a fresh mix of the Dead's material which, thankfully, encompasses a huge repertoire of songs.

The band is comprised of friends that have known each-other for many years. In fact, touring to different Dead shows had brought some of them together.

On lead guitar & vocals: Dave Muir. Rhythm guitar & vocals: Phil Montgomery. Drums & vocals: Terry Calder. Keyboards: Andrew Slater. Rhythm guitar: Dave Ouellette. Bass guitar: Jeff Bass (go figure). The band does not pretend to re-create the Dead experience, that would be impossible. What the group plays, however, is their interpretation of that complex amalgam of musical genres that cannot be described, only absorbed.