About Rosie McGee
I came to San Francisco in 1951 as a five-year-old French immigrant who spoke no English. By the time I moved in with Phil Lesh and the Grateful Dead in early 1966, I'd already been documenting my life in photos for years - my life with the Dead now moved into my viewfinder.
After Phil and I parted as a couple, I stayed within the Dead's core family as the band’s friend, travel agent, and French interpreter; and when moved to do so, I danced onstage.
In my first self-published book, Dancing with the Dead—A Photographic Memoir: 1964 - 1974, I tell ten years’ worth of stories—illustrated by 200 of my photos—of living, traveling, and working with the Dead during their first decade as a band. It's been in print and selling since 2013.
ORDER COPIES OF Dancing with the Dead in print, ebook, and audiobook formats HERE
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In 2026, I completed its 29-year sequel, And THEN What Happened? 1974 - 2003, picking up where I left off with the earlier book -- 1974, when I (thought I'd) left the Grateful Dead behind to follow my heart to Taos, New Mexico.
Moving from a craft cooperative in Taos to a converted lifeboat in Sausalito; to a school bus in the mountains; to a house in a suburban cul-de-sac; to a dorm room at the Grand Canyon; and coming back to the Grateful Dead scene years later - my native optimism and adaptability helped me overcome continuous obstacles to living a quiet and peaceful life.
In this book, I share my personal journey, sometime into - and then out of - dire circumstances - but always moving forward with a wry sense of humor and the belief that things will always work out.
And THEN What Happened? is now available in Unsigned and Signed print editions - Click on "And THEN What Happened?" tab on Home Page.
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My one other self-published book, 2022's My Grateful Dead Photos and How I Came to Take Them, 1966-1991, featured 400 photos in a fine art coffee table book format. It sold out of two printings and is currently out of print.
NOTE: Fine art prints of those photos (and many others) are now available at https://retrophotoarchive.com.
Browse the Inquire/Licensing and the SHOP galleries on their site: if you have a particular photo in mind that isn't shown, inquire at hello@retrophotoarchive.com. Thank you!
These days, I manage my business from my home in Oregon; fielding requests for photo licensing, selling prints through my online sales gallery, corresponding with members of the Deadhead community on social media, and answering numerous questions in my role as an, "I was there", historical archivist.
As I've done since I was 12 years old, I continue to document my life in photos—whether of people, scenic wonders, or anything else that happens to catch my eye. Some of my landscape and flower photographs are available at my online gallery for viewing and the purchase of prints, alongside my Grateful Dead photos, via the link above.