The Grateful Dead was a rock band formed during 1965 in Palo Alto, San Francisco Bay Area, California, US. Ranging from quintet to septet, the group being known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, country, bluegrass, blues, gospel, modal jazz, reggae, experimental music, psychedelia, and space rock, for live performances of lengthy instrumental jams, and for their devoted fan base, known as "Deadheads."