Iowa State University - Go Cyclones Collection

The Grateful Dead never played a show on the Iowa State campus, but their footprint in Iowa is anything but small. On May 13, 1973, they played an all-day, three-set marathon at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines that drew fans from all corners of the state, including plenty of Cyclones who made the trip from Ames. That show, part of the Dead’s legendary ’73 run, is now immortalized in the Here Comes Sunshine box set and remembered for its nearly 30-minute “Playing in the Band” and a second set that refused to quit. For the region, that show wasn’t just a concert, it was a moment. A gathering. A rare window when the cosmic collided with the cornfields. From the ’70s on, the Dead’s music found its way into campus dorms, house parties, and long drives across flat highways. This collection taps into that spirit. One-of-a-kind graphics. Officially licensed gear. A tribute to the Cyclones who followed the Dead wherever they roamed, and brought that feeling back to Ames.