Grateful Dead Alum To Tour

LOS ANGELES — It looks like the old Dead are gettin' on.

Surviving members of the Grateful Dead say they'll regroup for a 19-city tour, their first since 2004, beginning April 12 in Greensboro, N.C.

The group, which now just calls itself The Dead, announced its plans Thursday.

Original band members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann have toured sporadically since the 1995 death of guitarist Jerry Garcia, but struggled to get along personally and artistically. They told Rolling Stone in November that they've worked out their differences, aided by a successful October benefit concert in Pennsylvania for then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Warren Haynes joins the Dead on lead guitar, and Jeff Chimenti will play keyboards.

Comments

[mcthfg]

They weren't good for the last 8-10 years that Jerry was alive -

[JBS]

HOT DAMN!!!!!

[jaybeee]

Yawn. Go see the Mule if you really want to see Warren shine. More power to them though, never a reason to stop playing music.

[mightbesane]

It's easy to sit in pajamas and bedroom slippers, thinking dark thoughts and typing trash. It's quite another to create a musical genre (acid jam band), to play for hours longer than your contract calls for with sweat rolling down your face (they played til dawn at the Filmore East the first time that I saw them), making millions of people deliriously happy. Doesn't make any difference that some here didn't like the Dead. Some here didn't vote for Obama, don't believe in the Tooth Fairy and don't shower very often. To each his/her own.

[a40ounces]

To those that don't follow the Dead as closely as some, the band members have always had side projects going and some have huge followings today, the biggest being Bob Weir's Ratdog, and Phil and Friends. The Music Never Stopped, at least for those who still wanted to listen.

An earlier comment suggested that the Grateful Dead had a couple good studio albums and often performed poorly live. I beg to differ, ask a Deadhead how many bootlegs he/she has and which is their favorite(and why, if you dare). A band does not perform 2300+ concerts with their success and be considered a poor live artist.

[Teadye]

So true. People who think the commercial recordings were anything more than a pale shadow of the live shows doesn't know what they are talking about. Anyone can listen to the (still) free recordings made by tapers at live concerts and see for themselves. Note: They aren't referred to as "bootleg" because the Dead always kept the acoustically-best section in the venue reserved for tapers and encouraged them to make and distribute free copies. All you needed to get a recording of the concert was to hand a blank tape (with your address affixed) to a taper and you'd soon have it in the mail. BTW, one of the first internet web sites, the Well, was devoted to the Dead.

[nethead]

The Internet was invented to share Dead sets. Look at the history of rec.music.gdead sometime. Google tape tree.

-Joe nethead.comm

[chinacatsunflower]

yay! remember how exciting that was, to get that box of tapes in the mail?

[BearsLeft]

They're gonna play the stinkin' Pepsi Center instead of Red Rocks. Blechhh!

[Racetracker]

2009 is looking up! The Dead tour will come close on the heels of the Dark Star Orchestra spring tour. DSO's sound has improved since Dan Healy started running the board.

[desertdweller]

DSO is something else but they need to lose the lady. While she may have a decent voice, she lacks "stage presence."

[johnnygoodwud]

the bank accounts must need refreshing.

[SunshineDaydream]

i'm sure the bank accounts are just fine

[RedWhiteandBrooklyn]

So, you're sure that they didn't have money in the stock market, the bond market, real estate or with a manager like Bernie Madoff? Or are you just opening yer yap with no facts to back up what you're saying?

[gifu]

Keep on day dreamin', Sunshine.

[trollsbwild]

Bob Weir has an awesome place in Navato, California. Kreutzman has a place in Maui. If you had their money, you'd burn yours.

[desertdweller]

They used to play for silver but now they play for life (or is it Clive?)

[Fraugher]

Warren Haynes is the perfect pick... a great combination of virtuosity and spirit, and a solid jammer. Style far from Jerry's, so no attempts to mimic risked... Nice! Would like to see...

[4gloria]

I saw the last reunion with Haynes and it rocked.
Well worth it for anyone who loves the old tunes.

These guys play for the fans. They're set for life financially.

[desertdweller]

They are a great back-up band for Warren :)

[KCFreedom]

How are the Phish fans going to afford both reunions?

Will there be portable showers this time?

[GetoffMylawn]

Showers?

[JBS]

For standing in line waiting for tickets.

[Obama08]

We'll need a miracle! ;-)

[desertdweller]

If you don't like 'em, stay home and listen to Rush and REO Speedwagon.

[DubiousAtBest]

I think you just dated yourself like a carton of spoiled milk.

The only alternatives to The Dead are Rush and REO Speedwagon?

Hey dude...the 80s called and they want their soundtrack back!

[desertdweller]

Hey dude; like you just got like punked.....

I really meant that they should stay home and listen to Nirvana and the Cure.

[planetmango]

First time I saw them they were playing on the back of a flat bet truck in panhandle of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.... probably late '66. Love the Dead, but it all changed when Pigpen died!

[Pastprologue]

They must be buying new houses soon.

[martinchill]

hardly. i live in marin county, and trust me - these guys aren't hurting for cash.

[Pastprologue]

Yea, right!

[Brentbb]

So the Dead are On The Road Again. Such a Deal! I can hardly wait to go Round And Round being a Passenger and Truckin' to the Promised Land where The Music Never Stopped and will Not Fade Away.

I'm done bein' a Loser, Throwin' Stones, and goin' to He*l In A Bucket, 'cause I want to hear again that Masterpiece, that Greatest Story Ever Told, which is when we Turn On Our Love Light, Let It Grow, find our way out of the Cold Rain and Snow, and into the Mornin' Dew.

Its High Time, so Gimmie Some Lovin' and lets make Fire On The Mountain, cause I Know You Rider.

Now, Death Don't Have No Mercy and He's Gone, but Jerry will be there in Spirit. So, It ain't All Over Now, Baby Blue.

Join with me in a Sunshine Daydream for some Good Lovin'.

See ya there!

[SunshineDaydream]

indeed you will!! well done!!!

[fiberoptimist]

That's the spirit

[Brentbb]

So the Dead are On The Road Again. Such a Deal! I can hardly wait to go Round And Round being a Passenger and Truckin' to the Promised Land where The Music Never Stopped and will Not Fade Away.

I'm done bein' a Loser, Throwin' Stones, and goin' to Hell In A Bucket, 'cause I want to hear again that Masterpiece, that Greatest Story Ever Told, which is when we Turn On Our Love Light, Let It Grow, find our way out of the Cold Rain and Snow, and into the Mornin' Dew.

Its High Time, so Gimmie Some Lovin' and lets make Fire On The Mountain, cause I Know You Rider.

Now, Death Don't Have No Mercy and He's Gone, but Jerry will be there in Spirit. So, It ain't All Over Now, Baby Blue.

Join with me in a Sunshine Daydream for some Good Lovin'.

See ya there!

[nethead]

No Pacific NW shows! Where the hell do the promoters think all the hippies went?

[chinacatsunflower]

no kidding, i'm so bummed!!