San Jose Rocks: Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Grateful Dead's Debut Performance
San Jose City is gearing up for a historic event to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead's first performance under that name. Mayor Matt Mahan and San Jose Rocks are inviting the community to a special celebration on December 4, 2025, at City Hall. A commemorative bronze plaque will be unveiled at the site where the band played their first notes as the Grateful Dead in 1965.
The free public celebration will take place at City Hall's South Plaza and will feature psychedelic light projections on the iconic rotunda. Rare Grateful Dead memorabilia and artifacts from the 1965 "Acid Test" will be on display. The event is organized and funded by San Jose Rocks, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating the city's musical heritage and promoting music education for young people.
The location of the Grateful Dead's debut event and the Acid Test was recently confirmed to be at 38 South Fifth Street, where a house once stood. The house was relocated to 390 North Fourth Street during the construction of the new San Jose City Hall in 2002. The event on December 4, 1965, was promoted by Ken Kesey as a party to experience the effects of LSD, and it was held near the San Jose Civic Auditorium where the Rolling Stones were performing that same evening.
San Jose Rocks has commissioned Stanley Mouse, the legendary poster artist known for his Grateful Dead designs, to create an exclusive print commemorating the band's debut performance. Premium donors to the project will receive a limited-edition print of Mouse's artwork. The event schedule for December 4th includes performances, acknowledgments, special remarks, and the unveiling of the commemorative bronze plaque featuring the iconic Steal Your Face logo.
The December 4 celebration is a significant moment in San Jose's music history, and San Jose Rocks aims to celebrate the city's musical legacy and inspire future rockstars. The community is encouraged to visit sanjoserocks.org to share their own rock and roll stories and contribute to this historic event. Join us on December 4th at San Jose City Hall to be a part of this special commemoration.