Sound. Style. Story.
Retroactv is redefining Artist merchandise through highly curated collections focused on storytelling, authenticity, and sustainability.
Jerry Garcia: A Visual Journey from the Mind of a Legend
Step into the world of Jerry Garcia, not through the echo of guitar strings, but through movements of a brush. Beyond the legendary improvisations that defined the Grateful Dead, Jerry was a lifelong visual artist. His artwork, much like his music, was spontaneous, abstract, and filled with wonder. From psychedelic dreamscapes to whimsical sketches, each piece is a window into the quieter, more intimate corners of his imagination.
Big Steve Parish: Stories from the Road
The Big Steve Parish Collection on Retroactv is born from a life lived on the road with the Grateful Dead. Merch made directly from the items Steve collected over decades of music and magic. Well-traveled ephemera transformed into merch fans can wear, hold, and cherish. Officially-licensed and created through direct collaboration with Big Steve himself. Each piece carries the energy of what came before it—stories, miles, friendships, and moments transferred from the archive into something tangible. At Retroactv, we see this merch as a bridge between the road and the present, the artist and the fan, allowing the spirit of the music to move forward in a form you can touch, wear, and feel.
Gary Grimshaw: A Legacy Rooted in Detroit
The Gary Grimshaw Collection presents a curated selection of his most influential and celebrated works. These products tell the story of an artist who transformed music culture through design, capturing the movement, emotion, and color of the rock revolution.
Sound City: Merch Built from the Spirit of the Studio
Step inside the legendary walls of Sound City Studios, where analog tape rolled and music history was made. Our Officially-Licensed Sound City merch collection transforms original archival materials from the studio’s vault into merch you can wear, touch, and feel at home.
Our CEO, Martin Bispels, and his son Carson were featured in this AP News story exploring the rise of “analog islands” in an algorithm-driven world.
At Retroactv, we believe in bridging the past and celebrating it in a modern way—through thoughtfully designed merchandise that brings analog culture into everyday life.
Worth a read.
Elliott Landy: The Eye of the Woodstock Generation
Elliott Landy was one of the first photographers to treat music photography as fine art — and the world followed. His iconic portraits of Bob Dylan (Nashville Skyline), The Band (Music From Big Pink, The Band), Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Van Morrison (Moondance), and Jim Morrison helped shape the visual identity of some of the most important records of the 20th century. As the official photographer of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, his work became inseparable from the ideals of the era — peace, rebellion, and raw creative freedom.
Robin Milling is an seasoned entertainment reporter and host of “Milling About with Robin Milling,” a candid podcast featuring deep conversations with today’s top stars across film, music, theater, and television. Known for her conversational style and sharp insight, she’s built trust with guests from across the entertainment industry. Her work appears on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and in major media outlets, offering listeners an unfiltered glimpse into the lives and creative process of cultural icons.
COMING SOON...
Big Things Are Just Around the Corner.
Dick Boak
Dick Boak
Our Charity Partner
Every Retroactv purchase helps fund music education through our official charity partner, TeachRock — a nonprofit bringing music, history, and creativity into classrooms across the country. Because music shouldn’t end with the last note — it should live on in the next generation.
The Movement
Why We Exist
