Top 3 Most Overrated Artists contest in R&R.

("In what way are the Dead over rated? "

Probably not really, at least in terms of studio recordings.

I've just never been a fan of their live performances for the most part. Reckoning is good though. Saw them live once in 1981 after looking forward to it quite a bt, it was a huge disappointment and I was bored to death actually. It was a free concert though, so maybe we got what we payed for.)

I have been one who always felt their live concert far exceed their albums......but then again I enjoy jazz, bluegrass, blues, Americanna and improvising......I can understand one being bored with drums and space, since at times they were less than attention grabbing for me, too.

Get "One from the Vault" on vinyl......it sounds great and offers the listener a good idea of what it was all about on a good night.

On a bad night......the hype of a live show was over-rated....but there never has been a band that toured as much as the Dead. Sure they had some "less than", tours, years or shows......but an off night of the Dead beats an on night of work anytime!!!!! And, for that matter.....most live concerts in general.

Any band's most enthusiastic fans can be off-putting and make them seem over-rated. Never more true than with the Dead. I've been to live shows of theirs that seemed fantastic but later the tape of the same show seemed lackluster. You gotta be there.

The reality is though, some people have very bad taste in music. Not me of course.

Wildoats, I just realized recently I have bad taste!

Loomisjohnson-You nailed the qualifying explanation regarding critical acclaim but sales are just as important. I would include...1.Robert Zimmerman, just too many poor recordings with rambling/silly lyrics. 2.Red Hot Chili Peppers not because there a "chick" band but do they even have one decent song? 3.White Stripes, does making quirky noises on guitar qualify as talent? Speaking of talent Meg White is probably the worst drummer ever on a platinum(sales) rock recording!