On Thursday, July 31, 2025, filmmaker and author Len Dell’Amico will be joined by Relix’s Editor in Chief, Dean Budnick, to discuss his new memoir, Friend of the Devil, My Wild Ride with Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead. The conversation will occur at the Koret Auditorium in the San Francisco Public Library and is free of charge. It will lean into topics related to the arts, access, and the permanent influence of the Grateful Dead. 

Friend of the Devil presents stories and reflections from Dell’Amico’s 15-year tenure with the band, which lasted from 1980 to 1995. It was a time of tremendous growth for the ensemble as they triumphed in record sales, which boosted their status beyond counterculture figureheads and into the mainstream.

Dell’Amico played a pivotal role in the Grateful Dead’s journey, assisting them in creating iconic concert films and music videos and flexing his multi-camera live video director skills. “Along the way, Jerry Garcia flashed his genius, eccentricity, generosity of spirit, and emotional depth through his music and relationships with the crew,” the initial press material illustrates Garcia’s cultural impact and spirit. 

The author first met Garcia in 1980, and in the time that spanned their initial meeting and the untimely passing of the musician, Dell’Amico had a hand at producing the first national pay-per-view broadcast in the US, from Radio City Music Hall, the same year he met Garcia. This personal connection adds an emotional depth to the memoir. He is also associated with the band’s classic In The Dark music videos, “Hell in a Bucket” and “Throwing Stones.” Dell’Amico recently spoke with Relix about the book.

Dell’Amico and Budnick’s conversation is a part of San Francisco’s citywide celebration of Jerry Day, which honors the life and enduring legacy of the late guitarist. The 23rd annual Jerry Day will occur on August 2 at San Francisco’s McLaren Park and will include music from Melvin Seals with Mads Tolling (Bob Weir’s Wolf Pack), Stu Allen & Mars Hotel, and more special guests to be announced. Learn more here. 

Order a copy of Friend of the Devil, My Wild Ride with Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead. 

For details on Dell’Amico and Budnick’s event, follow this link.