CA house where Grateful Dead got their name lists for $2.69M

Grateful Dead History: California Home Where Band Got Its Name Goes on Sale for $2.69 Million

A piece of jam-band history, once rented by Grateful Dead bass player Phil Lesh, is now seeking a new owner. The California home where the band got its iconic name is up for sale at $2.69 million, according to Mansion Global.

Despite its unassuming appearance, this Palo Alto residence holds a significant place in music history. It was at this very address on Nov. 12, 1965, that Jerry Garcia, the late guitarist of the Grateful Dead, smoked the psychedelic drug DMT and randomly picked the band’s name from a book. Other potential names included Mythical Ethical Icicle Tricycle.

Agent Helen Lippert, who holds the listing, described the property as a “beautiful Craftsman in the heart of Professorville, one of Palo Alto’s most desired and unique neighborhoods.” She mentioned feeling a creative energy flow in the house, even though she wasn’t a Deadhead in the ’60s or ’70s.

In addition to the main house, which features an eat-in kitchen, a laundry room, a covered front porch, and a fireplace-equipped living room, there is a studio and a one-car garage where the Grateful Dead rehearsed during Lesh’s residency. Both structures remain intact.

The property features a new roof, an EV charger, 1,008 square feet of living space, an outdoor vegetable garden, and the potential for expansion, all within walking distance of Stanford University.

Lippert noted that while the property is not legally considered historic, it can be easily modified or expanded by a new owner.

The current owners, Sonya Saunder and Amrik Kang, expressed their emotional attachment to the house but cited the need for more space for their growing family. They considered building a larger home on the property but couldn’t bring themselves to demolish a house with such rich history and charm.