John Perry Barlow

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John Perry Barlow (October 3, 1947 – February 7, 2018) was an American poet, essayist, cattle rancher, and a champion of internet freedom. He wrote lyrics for the Grateful Dead, helped found the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, and was a fellow at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society.

Barlow grew up near Cora, Wyoming, on the Bar Cross Ranch. Raised as a Mormon, he attended a one-room school before studying at Fountain Valley School and Wesleyan University, where he served as student body president. His early years included a period of turmoil and exploration, which he later described in his writing and essays.

In the early 1970s, Barlow began collaborating with Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir, writing songs such as Cassidy, Mexicali Blues, and Black-Throated Wind. He continued to contribute lyrics to the Dead through the mid-1990s and remained connected to the band and its members throughout his life.

Barlow became a prominent voice for digital rights. He helped launch the WELL online community, co-founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation in 1990, and spoke out against government overreach in cyberspace. In 1996, he authored A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace, arguing that the internet should be free from centralized control and guided by the ethical norms of its users. He also supported key legal fights over digital privacy and free expression, including the Steve Jackson Games case.

Throughout his career, Barlow wrote for Wired, the New York Times, and other outlets, and he remained active in technology policy, advocacy, and the arts. He served as a fellow at Berkman Klein, helped promote internet access in Brazil, and participated in discussions with figures like Edward Snowden.

Barlow’s personal life included his 1977 marriage to Elaine Parker, with whom he had three daughters; the couple divorced in 1995. He faced health challenges in later years, including a heart attack in 2015, and a fund was established to help with medical costs. He died in his sleep at his San Francisco home on February 7, 2018, at the age of 70.