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The Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound:The Wall of Sound was an enormous sound reinforcement system designed in 1973 specifically for the Grateful Dead's live performances. The largest concert sound system built at that time, and perhaps the second-largest non-permanent sound system ever built.The Grateful Dead's sound crew, in collaboration with Ron Wickersham, Rick Turner, and John Curl of Alembic designed the sound reinforcement system in an effort to deliver high-quality sound to attendees of Grateful Dead concerts, which were drawing crowds of 100,000 or more at the time. The Wall of Sound used 26,400 watts of continuous power divided between 6 electronically distinct systems, each dedicated to either vocals, piano, drums, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, or bass. A total of 11 independent channels, including one for each string on Phil Lesh’s bass, were employed to deliver clear sound with very low levels of distortion and a stereo image that offered a good separation of the individual instruments.The system was loud enough that everyone within a quarter mile radius could enjoy their music. Unfortunately, the sound, especially from the noise canceling microphones, did not quite live up to expectations. In addition, the incredible expense and time involved in setting up and dismantling such a gargantuan system, including a huge framework of scaffolding, could not be justified and it was abandoned after the 1974 tour.The Wall of Sound stands as a symbol of a particular, idealistic, and experimental spirit that had its roots on the West Coast of America during the 1960s. It serves as a testament to the lengths artists will venture to present their work in its purest form, showcasing how music continually challenges the limits of recording and playback technology.Photo by Kirk West.#gratefuldead #rocknroll