San Jose is about to get way cooler – and we’re not talking about another tech startup. The city is preparing to honor its most legendary musical moment: the first-ever Grateful Dead performance.

Imagine this: December 4, 1965, a house on South Fifth Street becomes ground zero for a musical revolution that would reshape counterculture forever. Now, 60 years later, San Jose Rocks, a local nonprofit, is commemorating this epic moment with a bronze plaque right at City Hall – the very spot where those cosmic musicians first took the stage.

A Plaque of Pure Rock History

Dan Orloff, the mastermind behind San Jose Rocks, isn’t just dropping a historical marker – he’s creating a tribute to the night music got gloriously weird. “San Jose was ground zero for the Grateful Dead’s cosmic launch,” Orloff says, proving he’s got just as much rock spirit as the band itself.

More Than Just Bronze

The 20-by-30-inch plaque will feature the band’s iconic “Steal Your Face” logo, a symbol that’s basically the rock ‘n’ roll equivalent of the Silicon Valley tech logo. And for die-hard fans? Limited edition posters designed by legendary artist Stanley Mouse are up for grabs for contributors.

A City Embracing Its Psychedelic Past

Even Mayor Matt Mahan – who wasn’t even a teenager when Jerry Garcia died – is backing this radical remembrance. “Our city council meetings are clearly not as exciting as a Dead show,” he quipped, proving municipal leadership can occasionally be cool.

So mark your calendars, music lovers. December 4, 2025 isn’t just another date – it’s a cosmic celebration of when San Jose became the birthplace of musical magic.