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Martin Scorsese is producing a Grateful Dead documentary

"The Grateful Dead were more than just a band. They were their own planet, populated by millions of devoted fans. I'm very happy that this picture is being made and proud to be involved," Scorsese said.

By Karen Butler
Director Martin Scorsese is producing a documentary about the Grateful Dead. UPI/Jim Ruymen
1 of 2 | Director Martin Scorsese is producing a documentary about the Grateful Dead. UPI/Jim Ruymen | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Oscar-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese has confirmed he is producing a documentary about the iconic rock band the Grateful Dead.

Amir Bar-Lev is to direct the as-yet-untitled documentary, and Alex Blavatnik is financing it through his AOMA Sunshine Films. Eric Eisner, Nicholas Koskoff and Justin Kreutzmann will also serve as producers, while longtime Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux will act as the film's music supervisor. The documentary is expected to feature never-before-seen performance footage, vintage interviews and candid moments unearthed from the Grateful Dead's vast vaults, along with new conversations with surviving band members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. Founding member Jerry Garcia died in 1995 of a heart attack at age 53.

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"Millions of stories have been told about the Grateful Dead over the years. With our 50th anniversary coming up, we thought it might just be time to tell one ourselves, and Amir is the perfect guy to help us do it. Needless to say, we are humbled to be collaborating with Martin Scorsese. From The Last Waltz to George Harrison: Living in the Material World, from Bob Dylan to the Rolling Stones, he has made some of the greatest music documentaries ever with some of our favorite artists, and we are honored to have him involved. The 50th will be another monumental milestone to celebrate with our fans, and we cannot wait to share this film with them," Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh and Weir said in a joint statement Thursday. "The Grateful Dead were more than just a band. They were their own planet, populated by millions of devoted fans. I'm very happy that this picture is being made and proud to be involved," Scorsese said. "It's been 10 years since I first set out to make a film about the Grateful Dead, and I'm thrilled that it's finally happening," Bar-Lev said.

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