After years of performing for scads of hippies, the Grateful Dead’s principle songwriter, Robert Hunter, is living the acetic life these days, writing novels in Northern California. According to the Associated Press, Hunter has already written one full novel called Doppleganger, which, according to the article, utilizes the quantum mechanics theory of physics. “I feel like I’ve got ten books in me,” Hunter says. Though Jerry Garcia was the public face of the Dead, Hunter was intrinsic to their success as a band, writing such dead classics as “Brokedown Palace” and “Cosmic Charley.” “I believe the Grateful Dead would have inspired much less of an emotional loyalty in their fans without his lyrics,” says Steve Silberman, a co-author of the Grateful Dead book Skeleton Key. “Hunter really located a traditional sense of character in story line found in English Literature and childhood ballads.” No word yet on when Doppleganger will hit stores.
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