In a 1982 appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir discussed the band’s groundbreaking policy of allowing fans to record their live performances, a practice that would become legendary in rock history. The duo explained their philosophy behind welcoming tapers into their shows, noting they were happy for fans to have recordings of the performances. This approach, radical for its time, helped build one of music’s most dedicated fan communities and established a blueprint for how artists could connect with audiences beyond traditional commercial channels.