Woke up this morning to the news that Dead & Co have announced that next summer will be their final tour. Being a lifelong 'DeadHead', decades of memories rushed over me. Then I popped on PCF with those memories still playing on my mind in the background and something hit me..
DID YOU KNOW???
The very popular Nevada Jack Ceramic Chip ("Skull Design") was actually not the design that was originally intended for release to the public. It was actually never intended to be sold to the public at all. As I recall, the Desert Sands chip was the design that we thought would lead to our success. The Desert Sands was a throw back design paying nostalgic homage to original Las Vegas. Just days prior to launching our DS ceramic chip production, we got word from our trademark attorney that "Desert Sands" may have issues with one or both of the names. We had to postpone its release but had so much invested in manufacturing that had to do something. What to do???
Well, we had commissioned an award winning chip designer to produce the Desert Sands design. During the weeks of back and forth on the Desert Sands design, I spent hours on the phone talking with the designer. We began to talk about other Ideas and things. I told him I was a deadhead and also had love for the gambling themes in their songs. He had love for the Old West. We joked about designing a mash-up chip design with tribute to the Dead with an 'Old Western' theme. Next thing you know he whipped up the Nevada Jack Skull design.. notice it is without the 'S' as the original clay chips had the 'S'.
We were proofing our manufacturing process so I ran the design for testing purposes and my own personal use. I still have the original chips that were produced (Pic Below) Facing the roadblock with Desert Sands and personally loving the Nevada Jack Skull Design, I suggested we move forward with manufacturing Nevada Jack chips with a couple of adjustments until we could get DS figured out. The rest is history..
The following Grateful Dead lyrics seem to say it best...
Hunter's Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Link
If you enjoyed this story or just feel charitable.. please consider donating to a grate cause.
See you on tour next summer!!!
Inspiration, move me brightly
light the song with sense and color
Hold away despair
more than this I will not ask
Faced with mysteries dark and vast
statements just seem vain at last
DID YOU KNOW???
The very popular Nevada Jack Ceramic Chip ("Skull Design") was actually not the design that was originally intended for release to the public. It was actually never intended to be sold to the public at all. As I recall, the Desert Sands chip was the design that we thought would lead to our success. The Desert Sands was a throw back design paying nostalgic homage to original Las Vegas. Just days prior to launching our DS ceramic chip production, we got word from our trademark attorney that "Desert Sands" may have issues with one or both of the names. We had to postpone its release but had so much invested in manufacturing that had to do something. What to do???
Well, we had commissioned an award winning chip designer to produce the Desert Sands design. During the weeks of back and forth on the Desert Sands design, I spent hours on the phone talking with the designer. We began to talk about other Ideas and things. I told him I was a deadhead and also had love for the gambling themes in their songs. He had love for the Old West. We joked about designing a mash-up chip design with tribute to the Dead with an 'Old Western' theme. Next thing you know he whipped up the Nevada Jack Skull design.. notice it is without the 'S' as the original clay chips had the 'S'.
We were proofing our manufacturing process so I ran the design for testing purposes and my own personal use. I still have the original chips that were produced (Pic Below) Facing the roadblock with Desert Sands and personally loving the Nevada Jack Skull Design, I suggested we move forward with manufacturing Nevada Jack chips with a couple of adjustments until we could get DS figured out. The rest is history..
The following Grateful Dead lyrics seem to say it best...
“ONCE IN A WHILE YOU GET SHOWN THE LIGHT, IN THE STRANGEST OF PLACES IF YOU LOOK AT IT RIGHT”
PS.. In the spirit of the Dead and community, I am helping to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Thread link here.Hunter's Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Link
If you enjoyed this story or just feel charitable.. please consider donating to a grate cause.
See you on tour next summer!!!
Inspiration, move me brightly
light the song with sense and color
Hold away despair
more than this I will not ask
Faced with mysteries dark and vast
statements just seem vain at last
Last edited:
