"If you wanted to live the lifestyle to the fullest extent," she says, "then you would probably have difficulty being a 'successful Harvard student.'"

'Crisis in Spirituality'

Last year, the Dead sold 1.5 million tickets for their semi-permanent concert tour, and this is from a band that has not released new material in almost five years.

What is the fascination behind these aging performers that has made their music a way of life?

Deadhead David Shenk is something of an expert. The 28-year Brown graduate has been attending shows for the last 12 years, and now he's written a book about the Dead phenomena. He was at the Coop yesterday for a book signing session.

"There's a deep, spiritual feeling that comes from the lyrics," he says. "People find real meaning in the music itself and in the community of fans in coming to shows."

Shenk says some people become Deadheads for the same reason others worship God: they find meaning in the band that is lacking in other venues of American life.

"A lot of people talk about a sort of modern crisis in spirituality in America," he says, "and it's definitely true."