Grateful Web was born in a basement—well, digitally anyway—in July 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 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 felt it was a bittersweet cosmic nod—a torch passed to keep the music alive. Fate smiled again when members of the Grateful Dead themselves hosted an event titled “Grateful Web” at the Fillmore Auditorium (December 10th, 1995) later that same year, leaving both Moran brothers amazed and proud, even if they weren’t sure the band knew about their fledgling site.
We had zero clue what we were doing in those early dial-up days. Our site was a patchwork of half-formed musings, concert reviews, and fuzzy ticket-stub snapshots—all hosted on servers that crashed as predictably as roadies crashing after a midnight load-in. Yet with every stumble and reboot, we learned a little more, and Grateful Web gradually grew into the vibrant playground it is today—a home for anyone who, like us, finds their spark in live 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 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 heat, rain, and the dreaded porta-potties to bring back stories and snapshots from the road. Special thanks to Aaron Dietrich, our trusted guru since 1998, whose wizardry kept the site humming through server meltdowns and digital hiccups—we owe you big time, Aaron!
Extra gratitude goes out to our incredible writing family—the lifeblood of Grateful Web: Jamie Huenefeld and her camera magic; Gabriel David Barkin’s passionate prose; thoughtful Phil Emma’s patient insights; June Jameson’s tireless coordination, interviews, and thoughtful reviews; Alan Sheckter’s stunning photography and eloquent words; Elliot, our favorite Minnesota Twins fan, rocking every interview; Jake Cudek, our full-time emergency room nurse and devoted father, whose boundless energy somehow always finds time to craft captivating, detailed pieces like his legendary 10-page RockyGrass coverage; and Michael Emanuele, who pulls all-nighters to pump out spot-on reviews and extraordinary photos before most of us even get out of bed. And that’s just a sampling of the many remarkable contributors who’ve shared their hearts and creativity. To each and every one of you—our deepest thanks. Without your passion, Grateful Web simply wouldn’t exist.
Of course, behind the curtain is Mike Moran, the crazy nutjob who tirelessly publishes 99% of what you see, secures media passes, charms PR folks, and quietly keeps this wild, wonderful ride (mostly) on track.
Finally, thanks to every fan and friend who’s clicked, read, shared, or smiled with us. Grateful Web is, above all, a labor of love—with 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.