LONG, STRANGE CYBERTRIP BEGINS

Online music retailer EMusic.com has cut an exclusive deal with psychedelic rock/Deadhead label Relix Records to sell Relix’s music catalog over the Internet.

EMusic is offering tracks and albums from bands such as Kingfish, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Hot Tuna, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Wavy Gravy, Dead Ringers, Johnny Winter, Savoy Brown and Commander Cody. Many of Relix's releases feature Grateful Dead members Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart.

"At first I thought this deal was all smoke and mirrors," said Relix Records’ Les Kippel, momentarily putting down the toad he was licking. "But now I see it as the shot in the arm we really need."

Kippel started taping Dead shows in 1971, primarily as a way to remember exactly where he was the night before. The label has 90 titles by Deadhead bands, including newer acts such as Solar Circus and Joe Gallant.