The Grateful Dead's relationship with the University of Michigan started in 1967. Probably their most notable shows were their two performances at Crisler Arena in 1989, which became a defining moment as the shows came right after the Wolverines won a Basketball Natty. The Dead even opened with the University of Michigan fight song, which was a rarity. Their improvisational, free-spirited music resonated deeply with Michigan students, and the Dead's influence on the University was set in stone.