Grateful Dead Dancing Bears T-Shirts & Apparel

Bob Thomas drew them for the back cover of Bear's Choice — the live album Owsley "Bear" Stanley selected and compiled from his own tapes. The bears are a pun on his name. Stanley said the figure started from a lead type-slug of a generic bear, a stock piece out of a printer's font.

He also pointed out, more than once, that they aren't dancing. They're marching. Sixty years on, nobody has taken the note.

Officially licensed Dancing Bears gear from the Grateful Dead x Relix collection: tees, long sleeves, crewnecks, hoodies and caps, from the magazine that has covered this band since 1974.

Shop by piece: T-Shirts, Hats, Long Sleeve T-Shirts.

Thomas also drew the skull — see the Stealie collection. If you're after the other creatures in the Dead's bestiary, try the dancing skeletons. The full run is in Grateful Dead x Relix.

Frequently asked questions

Where did the Dancing Bears image come from?

Bob Thomas drew them for the back cover of Bear's Choice, the 1973 live album compiled by Owsley "Bear" Stanley from his own tapes. They're a visual pun on Bear's name. Stanley noted repeatedly that they're actually marching, not dancing — a correction nobody has ever taken seriously.

Are these officially licensed?

Yes — every Dancing Bears piece here is part of the officially licensed Grateful Dead x Relix collection from Relix magazine, covering the Dead community since 1974.

Do you carry Dancing Bears hats and hoodies, or just tees?

This collection includes tees, long sleeves, hoodies, and hats. Use the filters to find your piece, or browse by garment type.