Grateful Web was born in a basement—well, digitally anyway—in July of 1995, though the spark first ignited in June, on a memorable drive into New York City from Wyckoff, NJ. Mike and Barney Moran, two wide-eyed, music-loving brothers, lit up, turned up the Grateful Dead (specifically March 1st, 1969), and imagined something wild happening with this newfangled thing called the internet. When the name “Grateful Web” suddenly surfaced, it felt so perfect their legs literally shuddered with excitement. Domain registration wasn’t simple back then, but after a few weeks, grateful-web.com officially belonged to them. Eventually, the hyphen vanished—but the music never did.

Launching just one month before Jerry Garcia departed this earthly plane, we’ve always seen it as a bittersweet cosmic nod—a torch passed to keep the music playing. In another twist of fate, members of the Grateful Dead themselves hosted an event titled “Grateful Web” at the Warfield Theater in the winter of 1995, leaving both Moran brothers utterly amazed and proud that the name resonated so quickly—even if they weren’t certain the band knew about their fledgling site.

Truth be told, we had no clue what we were doing in those early dial-up days. Our humble site started as a rambling collection of musings, concert reviews, and blurry photos of ticket stubs, hosted on servers that crashed more frequently than a jam band drummer changing tempos. We stumbled, we learned, and Grateful Web slowly transformed into a vibrant playground for fans who, like us, find life and spirit in music.

It’s wild to think this summer marks 30 years online! We’ve never struck gold or gotten rich, but who cares? Our currency is media passes, cherished conversations, front-row seats to sonic magic, and the privilege of supporting the artists who soundtrack our lives. We’ve evolved through countless iterations—sometimes gracefully, sometimes like a slow-moving turtle after too much backstage fun. Yet, here we are, finally making real progress with a brand-new website launching this summer. Even a turtle eventually crosses the finish line!

Heartfelt thanks to our tireless crew who’ve braved the heat, rain, and even the dreaded porta-potties to bring back stories and snapshots from the road. Special thanks to Aaron Dietrich, our trusted guru since 1998, whose behind-the-scenes wizardry kept the site humming through server meltdowns and digital hiccups—we owe you big time, Aaron!

Extra gratitude to our writing family, the lifeblood of Grateful Web: Jamie Huenefeld with her camera magic; Gabriel David Barkin, whose passionate words keep us connected; thoughtful, patient Phil Emma, who brings his teacher’s heart and insightful reviews to every piece; June Jameson, tirelessly coordinating media passes, interviewing musicians, and contributing thoughtful reviews; Alan Sheckter, whose stunning photography and eloquent words have enriched our site for years; and our Minnesota Twins’ fan Elliot, always rocking the interviews. And this is just a tiny sampling of the incredible writers and photographers who’ve shared their hearts and creativity over the years. To each and every one of you—our deepest, heartfelt thanks. Without your passion, Grateful Web simply wouldn’t exist.

And, of course, the crazy nutjob behind the curtain at Grateful Web is Mike Moran, tirelessly publishing 99% of what you see, securing media passes, and charming PR folks. Mike, you are the engine, the maestro, and the heart of this wild, wonderful ride.

Thanks to every fan and friend who’s ever clicked, read, shared, or smiled along with us. Grateful Web is, above all, a labor of love—music as our mission, never dollars and cents. After all, we’re just stewards of this groove until the next generation picks up the beat.

Here’s to three decades of love, laughter, and music. Thank you for being part of our tribe. Remember—the music never stops. Here’s to another 30!