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Martin Scorsese is making a musical biopic about the Grateful Dead, with Jonah Hill set to star as the iconic rock band’s frontman Jerry Garcia.

The project reunites Scorsese and Hill, who worked together on “The Wolf of Wall Street.” In addition to directing, Scorsese will serve as a producer alongside Hill.

The still-untitled film is expected to chronicle the band’s formation in the Bay Area as the ’60s psychedelic counterculture movement started to take off. Known for popularizing the jam-band musical style, the Grateful Dead — whose devoted fans call themselves Deadheads — has remained one of the most influential music groups. Along with Garcia, founding members include Bob Weir, Ron McKernan, Phil Lesh and Bill Kreutzmann. Though Garcia died 25 years ago of a heart attack, some surviving members have continued to go on tour.

The movie is being developed at Apple, where Scorsese is currently working on his...

In the new book 1973: Rock at the Crossroads, writer Andrew Grant Jackson gives a comprehensive account of the year of 1973 and its legendary music and momentous social change. He breaks down the iconic year chronologically, from the release of Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy in March to The Exorcist hitting theaters in December. Read a chapter below, titled “Counterculture ’73,’ in which Jackson breaks down the pivotal counterculture moments of the summer.

The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, New York, on July 28 makes the Guinness Book of World...

Jim Morrison died at 27, like Janis Joplin died at 27, like Jimi Hendrix died at 27, like Kurt Cobain died at 27. Like Amy Winehouse died at 27. Are rock and pop gods cursed to die at that specific age? Statistically, no. Among the 173 acts inducted to date into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as performers, there are only seven singers or musicians who belong to the so-called 27 Club, as mythologized and compiled at the likes of The Forever 27 Club and Wikipedia: Morrison; Joplin; Hendrix; the Drifters' Rudy Lewis; the Grateful Dead's Ron McKernan; the Rolling Stones' Brian Jones; and the Stooges' Dave Alexander. That leaves dozens upon dozens of legendary performers who...

Corte Madera, Calif. — Ron McKernan — better known as Pigpen — was found dead in his apartment here March 8th. The organist and singer, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, was 27.

The body was found at about 9 Pm by his landlady. She had noticed that for a couple of days his car had been in the garage, the lights in the house left burning and the back door open. McKernan was found lying on the floor beside his bed, half-dressed as if about to get into bed. He had apparently been dead for two days.