UMPG signs Dead

A HIGHLY COVETED CATALOG: All that weed being smoked throughout the UMPG premises has really paid off. The pubco has struck a worldwide deal with Ice Nine, the Grateful Dead's company, to represent the legendary band's catalog. This is the first time the band has worked with a U.S. music publisher. And while the signing roughly coincides with Rhino's release of SPRING 1990 (THE OTHER ONE), a 23-disc compilation of eight complete shows from the late-period lineup, the pact will probably be most noteworthy for including the rootsy compositions of the early '70s, which helped shape country-rock and Americana. These include timeless tunes like "Friend of the Devil," "Casey Jones," "Sugar Magnolia," "Truckin'," "Uncle John's Band," "Ripple," "Jack Straw," "Brokedown Palace" and "Brown-Eyed Women," most of which were co-penned by Jerry Garcia and lyricist Robert Hunter. In fact, we're heading over to Santa Monica right now to spark up a fatty with pubbery head (and we don't use that word loosely) Evan Lamberg. (9/19p)