[demonrail666]

If ever there was a band whose significance diminishes sharply the moment it leaves US waters, it would have to be the Grateful Dead. I neither like nor loathe them, in the same way that I have absolutely no opinion whatsoever about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or car jacking.

Toilet & Bowels is right, though, I don't get the strong feelings for Grateful Dead. I can't ever recall listening to their music on purpose, I can't recall a single note by them or what they look(ed) like. Life's too short to have opinions about bands that you don't care and have time for.

[demonrail666]

I'm sure there are tons of US bands that make no real sense outside of America, just like I'm sure there are British, Australian, German, Greek, NZ bands that only really make sense in theirs. unfortunately, because Britain and America wield such a large pop cultural pull, we assume that whatever we like on a local level, must make some kind of sense to anyone.

I'm convinced that the Happy Mondays, a great band in my eyes, make absolutely no sense whatsoever the minute they move beyond Dover.

You'd be right. I think that happens more in Britain, though. The motto ''We're the best band in the world blah blah'' etc falls on deaf ears in most European countries, for instance.