China Cat Chat

An Open Editor's Letter In January 2026, after the passing of Bob Weir, we wrote a letter to our community about grief, continuity, and what it means to stay inside the music as it changes. We’re sharing it openly here, for anyone who finds their way to China Cat Chat. Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you. Hey-hey-hey, your rolling river. Editor's Note Staying in the Song Published in the January 16, 2026 China Cat Chat issue We arrived back home from a week in Paris early on New Year’s Day. It...

Not a record of everything — just what stayed. arrival Some landmarks insist on being photographed. Others invite you to stand still long enough to feel where you are. Moulin Rouge By nightfall, the city changed its voice. Lights brightened. Velvet and brass replaced stone and sky. The day widened instead of ending. early quiet Père Lachaise A nip in the morning air. Cobblestone paths, bare branches, stained glass holding the early light. The city felt hushed — as if it hadn’t fully decided...

Before the lightning bolt, before the bears, before the Wall of Sound, there was a skeleton covered in roses — dancing between life and death, smiling at the absurdity of it all. This is the story of the  Skeleton & Roses  poster — one of the most enduring images in rock history, and the visual heartbeat of the Grateful Dead. 🌈  The Birth of an Icon The year was  1966 , and San Francisco’s Avalon Ballroom had become ground zero for the new psychedelic frontier. The Family Dog collective was...