Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead to get biopic

07/22/2010 by Corinne Heller

Jerry Garcia of the rock band The Grateful Dead, the man who inspired the Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor "Cherry Garcia", is getting his first feature-length biographical film, set to be directed by Amir Bar-Lev.

Garcia sang and played guitar for The Grateful Dead from 1965 until he died of a heart attack in 1995 at age 53.

The movie, based on Robert Greenfield's book "Dark Star" and testimonies about Garcia from family, friends and colleagues, will show The Grateful Dead's frontman's early life before joining the band, Variety said.

Garcia suffered from various health problems and substance abuse. In 1986, he slipped into a diabetic coma brought on by years of drug use. He entered a treatment center near San Francisco after a relapse into a heroin addiction and a counselor found his comatose body during a routine bed check.

Doctors discovered he had suffered a heart attack and his death was determined to have occurred from natural causes.

The Grateful Dead produced more than 25 albums, incorporating country, blues and psychedelic rock, and enjoyed the most success with their concerts, earning at least $160 million from 1992 until 1995 alone. Many fans of the group, which also inspired several tribute bands, call themselves "Deadheads".

But the younger generation may recognize Garcia's name for a different reason. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream came out with its flavor "Cherry Garcia" in 1987. The name is trademarked and the ice cream consists of cherry ice Cream with cherries and fudge flakes.

It is touted as a "euphorically edible tribute to guitarist Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead fans everywhere. It's the first ice cream named for a rock legend and the most famous of our family of fan-suggested flavors."