Grateful Dead Lyricist, Internet Pioneer John Perry Barlow Dead At 70
John Perry Barlow, the longtime Grateful Dead lyricist and internet pioneer who co-founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation, died on Wednesday at the age of 70.
His cause of death has not been released, but NBC News reported that he had been in poor health since a 2015 heart attack.
Barlow penned numerous classic Dead tunes, including “Cassidy,” “I Need A Miracle,” “Estimated Prophet” and “The Music Never Stopped.”
To honor Barlow, Rhino Records created a Spotify playlist featuring some of his best-known tunes:
Many of Barlow’s songs were co-written with and performed by the Dead’s Bob Weir, both with the band and on his solo albums. Weir paid tribute to his longtime collaborator on Twitter:
This life is fleeting, as we all know - the Muse we serve is not. John had a way of taking life’s most difficult things and framing them as challenges, therefore adventures. He was to be admired for that, even emulated. He’ll live on in the songs we wrote... pic.twitter.com/E29drq80du
— Bob Weir (@BobWeir) February 8, 2018
Dead and Company, the successor to the Grateful Dead also honored the lyricist:
Though John is gone, he will live on in the songs he wrote.
“Sun went down in honey, and the moon came up in wine, you know the stars were spinning dizzy, Lord the band kept us so busy, we forgot about the time…” https://t.co/zIXeEFhwlE— Dead & Company (@deadandcompany) February 8, 2018
In addition to his songwriting career, Barlow was an early activist for online freedom and civil liberties. EFF executive Cindy Cohn said in a statement:
“It is no exaggeration to say that major parts of the Internet we all know and love today exist and thrive because of Barlow’s vision and leadership. He always saw the Internet as a fundamental place of freedom, where voices long silenced can find an audience and people can connect with others regardless of physical distance.”
Here are more tributes to Barlow:
My remembrance of @JPBarlow. So long, friend. https://t.co/Fm5PnqvoXy
— Steven Levy (@StevenLevy) February 8, 2018
Today the world lost a champion of the internet. I lost an old friend. Memories are rushing back. "Blow the horn, and tap the tambourine; Close the gap of the dark years in between... Fare thee well now." RIP @JPBarlowpic.twitter.com/tC6pvsdh0J
— danah boyd (@zephoria) February 8, 2018
RIP John Perry Barlow, 1947-2018 https://t.co/v0sKOvayMwpic.twitter.com/6t4y4Khhpo
— Cory Doctorow (@doctorow) February 7, 2018
Sad to report that @JohnPerryBarlow passed away last night in his sleep. Nothing to tell now/ let the words be yours/ I am done with mine.
— Amir Bar-Lev (@amirbarlev) February 7, 2018
“When you spread information, you create demand for it.”
John Perry Barlow, one of our very first fellows, in ‘Reflecting on an Internet Decade,’ 2004
Rest In Peacehttps://t.co/UtDl07A7Fm— Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society (@BKCHarvard) February 7, 2018
The world lost a true hero today, a Renaissance man who was a relentless warrior for our freedom. We will all miss you, @jpbarlow
— Nolan K Bushnell (@NolanBushnell) February 8, 2018
Mourning @jpbarlow. His "Principles of Adult Behavior," written on Oct. 3, 1977 when he turned 30 (an age he never expected to reach), are as wise a guide to life as I know. Thanks, John. pic.twitter.com/BJ09eFi7LA
— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) February 7, 2018
I knew John Perry Barlow from the early days of Twitter, when the place was like a global coffee shop we all staggered into in the mornings. He was never less than kind, funny and warmly human. Good night, John. https://t.co/nmHecKjiwu
— Wᴀʀʀᴇɴ Eʟʟɪs (@warrenellis) February 7, 2018
The only photo I have of the late, great @JPBarlow is from the @EFF 25th anniversary party, when he took the stage just before @doctorow and @wilw's reading of the Declaration of Independence of Cyberspace. Hope you're enjoying the ride John Perry. pic.twitter.com/kxu9CumpZj
— David Greene (@davidgreene) February 7, 2018
"The world is dumber and less fun" --Steven Levy on the passing of @JPBarlow
— William Gibson (@GreatDismal) February 8, 2018