About Rosie McGee

Author, photographer, and storyteller Rosie McGee is well known for her behind-the-scenes photos of the Grateful Dead's early days, which have appeared in dozens of books, films, record packaging, and magazines since 1986.

In Rosie McGee's first book, Dancing with the Dead—A Photographic Memoir: 1964 - 1974, she tells ten years’ worth of stories—illustrated by 200 of her 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. It's also available as an eBook and an audiobook, with Rosie McGee narrating her own stories.

ORDER COPIES OF Dancing with the Dead in print, eBook, and audiobook formats HERE

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In 2026, she published its 29-year sequel, And THEN What Happened? 1974 - 2003, picking up where she left off with the earlier book -- 1974, when she (thought she'd) left the Grateful Dead behind to follow her 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 - her native optimism and adaptability helped her overcome continuous obstacles to living a quiet and peaceful life. 

In And THEN What Happened? Rosie McGee shares her 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, as an Amazon Kindle eBook and part of Kindle Unlimited until November of 2026.

ORDER COPIES OF And THEN What Happened? in print and eBook formats HERE

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Rosie McGee's 2022 coffee table book, 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 Rosie McGee's Grateful Dead 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.                                   

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Rosie McGee came to San Francisco in 1951 as a five-year-old French immigrant who spoke no English. By the time she moved in with Phil Lesh and the Grateful Dead in early 1966, she'd already been documenting her life in photos for years - her life with the Dead now moved into her viewfinder.

After Phil and Rosie parted as a couple, she stayed within the Dead's core family as the band’s friend, travel agent, and French interpreter; and when moved to do so, danced onstage.