As lead guitarist for the Grateful Dead for 30 years, Jerry Garcia was the inspiration for the legions of nomadic fans that accompanied the group at every performance--dedicating their lives to touring with them. This idyllic lifestyle came to an abrupt halt after Garcia died in 1995 of heart failure at the age of 53. Left without a leader, his death marked the end of an era. The documentary chronicles both joyously and critically this fateful final tour from the perspective of the Deadheads. Travelling across the U.S., the last days are foretold as the Dead are forced to cancel their first concert in thirty years after overcrowding and a mob mentality results in violence. This event sharply divides Deadheads into two factions: the elder hippies who blame themselves for not teaching the younger Deadheads the importance of maintaining their collective family, and the "new heads" whose hedonistic attitudes threaten the community's future. Garcia died exactly one month following the concert.