Reunions of the Grateful Dead

Updated on Jan 09, 2024

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The Grateful Dead were an American rock band known for their lengthy, improvised, performances as well as a loyal fan base that often followed the band for several shows or entire tours. Following the 1995 death of bandleader Jerry Garcia the remaining members have reunited for several one-off performances and tours, often in very different configurations. The following is a list of instances where former Grateful Dead members have reunited.

Other than Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead's main members were Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart. Weir, Lesh and Kreutzmann had all been in the band from its inception in 1965 until its demise in 1995 while Hart had a tenure of 25, non-consecutive, years. Instances in the full reunions category are performances where all four of these members played together. Partial reunions are performances where only three of them performed together.

Tours

In 1998 guitarist Bob Weir, bassist Phil Lesh, drummer Mickey Hart and one-time keyboardist Bruce Hornsby formed a band called the Other Ones. They toured America with supporting musicians, drummer John Molo, saxophonist Dave Ellis and guitarists Steve Kimock and Mark Karan.

In 2000 The Other Ones launched another tour featuring Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Bruce Hornsby and drummer Bill Kreutzmann. Lesh declined to participate and was replaced by Alphonso Johnson. Mark Karan played lead guitar for the entire tour, sometimes with the addition of Steve Kimock.

In 2015, Weir, Kreutzmann, and Hart joined forces with the former pop star John Mayer in a band called Dead & Company. With Lesh declining to commit to another rigorous tour, former Allman Brothers Band bassist Oteil Burbridge was recruited to join, as well as keyboardist Jeff Chimenti. The band began a Fall Tour in 2015, which included a run of shows at Madison Square Garden. Although some Deadheads were initially skeptical of Mayer's inclusion, the band performed well and added a Summer Tour for 2016. The band flourished while drawing fairly-sized crowds at many of the same amphitheatres the Grateful Dead had played before. The tour included performances at Citi Field as well as Fenway Park. The band seems to have plans to continue playing in the near future.

Single shows

On July 30, 1996, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir (as well as Sammy Hagar) joined Mickey Hart's Mystery Box for a performance of Fire On The Mountain. As this show was part of the 1996 Furthur Festival, Bob Weir's band Ratdog also played, and was joined for two songs by Lesh and Hart, as well as Bruce Hornsby and other artists performing at the festival.

On December 31, 1999, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart joined Bob Weir and Ratdog for a few songs. Ratdog members Mark Karan, Dave Ellis, bassist Rob Wasserman and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti backed the three for the first song played. Then Karan, Wasserman and Chimenti were replaced by guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, bassist Jack Casady and keyboardist Pete Sears for three songs.

On July 23, 2002, Bob Weir and Bill Kreutzmann joined Phil Lesh & Friends for one set. Phil Lesh & Friends guitarists Warren Haynes and Jimmy Herring, drummer John Molo and keyboardist Rob Barraco supported the three musicians.

On September 25, 2005, Weir, Kreutzmann, Hart, Bruce Hornsby and vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux performed together at the Comes A Time tribute to Jerry Garcia. They were supported by many musicians who came and went through all the songs performed. Notable performers were guitarists Jimmy Herring, Warren Haynes and Trey Anastasio, and vocalists Gloria Jones and Jackie LaBranch. Bass duties were shared by Robin Sylvester and J.V. Collier.

On August 19, 2006, Bob Weir joined Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart during the Rhythm Devils set at the Gathering of the Vibes. Remaining members of the Rhythm Devils Steve Kimock, bassist Mike Gordon and vocalist Jen Durkin played with them.

On January 4, 2007, Weir, Kreutzmann, Hart and Bruce Hornsby reunited to perform at a fundraiser for speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi. They were joined by Warren Haynes and Mike Gordon.

On February 4, 2008, Weir, Lesh and Hart performed a concert called Deadheads for Obama to raise support for presidential candidate Barack Obama. Supporting musicians were John Molo, keyboardist Steve Molitz and guitarists Mark Karan, Barry Sless and Jackie Greene.

On October 30, 2011, Weir and Hart joined Kreutzmann's band 7 Walkers on stage. It was the first time that Kreutzmann and Weir played together since The Dead dissolved in 2009.

On May 14, 2015, Weir, Kreutzmann and Hart performed a version of "Fire On the Mountain" together with a house band and with Jimmy Cliff singing lead vocals. This was one of many performances at a concert called "Dear Jerry: Celebrating the Music of Jerry Garcia." More songs were performed by the musicians individually as well as with other collaborations and groups, including Phil Lesh's band Communion.

On September 12, 2015, Bob Weir joined Bill Kreutzmann's band Billy & the Kids for their entire set at the third annual Lockn' Festival. Mickey Hart joined the band on drums for their final two songs, "One More Saturday Night" and "Not Fade Away." Although Phil Lesh did not perform with the trio, this set was followed immediately by a set from Phil Lesh & Friends which also featured Carlos Santana.

Tours

In 2002 an Other Ones line-up of Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart toured the United States with guitarist Jimmy Herring, vocalist Susan Tedeschi and keyboardists Jeff Chimenti and Rob Barraco. This is the first time that all three surviving original Grateful Dead members, Weir, Lesh and Kreutzmann, and longtime drummer Mickey Hart performed together since 1995 (except for one Other Ones show in 1998 with Bill Kreutzmann guesting for a few songs).

In 2003 the Other Ones line-up of Weir, Lesh, Kreutzmann, Hart, Herring, Barraco and Chimenti toured America again. They had renamed themselves The Dead and Joan Osborne replaced Tedeschi on backing vocals.

In 2004 the Dead toured America again. Supporting Weir, Lesh, Kreutzmann and Hart were Jeff Chimenti, Jimmy Herring and Warren Haynes.

In 2009 the Dead toured America with just Warren Haynes and Jeff Chimenti supporting Weir, Lesh, Kreutzmann and Hart. Preceding the tour were a few one-off shows in early 2009 and it was followed up by a performance at the 2009 Rothbury Music Festival on July 4. This was The Dead's last appearance until 2015.

Single shows

On October 12, 2008, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart performed a concert at Penn State University called Change Rocks to raise support for presidential candidate Barack Obama. They were supported by Warren Haynes and Jeff Chimenti. The concert was seen as a follow up to the Deadheads for Obama show earlier that year and it sparked a tour that commenced in 2009.

On January 20, 2009, the Dead lineup of Weir, Lesh, Kreutzmann, Hart, Haynes and Chimenti played two sets in Washington D.C. at the Mid-Atlantic Inaugural ball for President Barack Obama.

On March 30, 2009, the Dead played three free shows in New York City. Tickets were made available to fans through a contest that lasted three hours on March 27, 2009. Weir, Lesh and Haynes played an acoustic set at the Angel Orensanz Center followed by a full band set at the Gramercy Theatre three hours later and a final show at the Roseland Ballroom. Earlier that day Weir, Lesh and Haynes performed an acoustic version of "Friend of the Devil" on The View.

On July 3, 4 and 5, 2015, Weir, Lesh, Kreutzmann and Hart performed concerts at Chicago's Soldier Field to celebrate the Grateful Dead"s 50th anniversary. They were joined by Trey Anastasio on lead guitar, Bruce Hornsby and Jeff Chimenti on keyboards. The performances were billed as "Fare The Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead." The concerts were advertised as the final time Weir, Lesh, Kreutzmann and Hart will perform together. Due to the overwhelming demand for the concerts two additional performances were booked at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California on June 27 and 28.

Other collaborations

In 1995 one-time Dead keyboardist Vince Welnick played several shows with Bob Weir's band RatDog. Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Donna Jean Godchaux and Bruce Hornsby have all guested with RatDog at different times.

In June 1996, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Vince Welnick joined the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra for three consecutive concerts, performing John Cage's Renga on the first two nights, and an improvisational "Space" segment dedicated to American composer Henry Cowell on the third night.

On April 12, 1996, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir joined the Bruce Hornsby Band for the four final songs of the concert, including three Grateful Dead standards and a cover of the Band's "The Weight".

On March 6, 1997, Bob Weir and Phil Lesh joined the David Murray Octet for several songs at The Fillmore in San Francisco.

On November 6, 1998, Phil Lesh guested with Bruce Hornsby's band to perform a few songs which included versions of "Scarlet Begonias" and "Tennessee Jed."

On June 6, 2001, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Jimmy Herring, Rob Barraco and John Molo played a show as the Crusader Rabbit Stealth Band at The Sweetwater, a small club.

In 2006 Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart toured with a band called the Rhythm Devils. Supporting the two drummers was Steve Kimock, Mike Gordon, Jen Durkin and percussionist Sikiru Adepoju.

Bob Weir has joined Phil Lesh & Friends on several occasions. Most recently Bob Weir & RatDog and Phil Lesh & Friends shared a bill at two shows on December 30 and December 31, 2008. Both performances saw Weir and Lesh playing a brief set as a trio with either Jay Lane or John Molo depending on the night. The New Year's Eve show saw a post-midnight set by a band composed of Bob Weir and Phil Lesh along with several members of Phil Lesh & Friends. Bill Kreutzmann and Donna Jean Godchaux has also guested with Phil and his band.

On January 18, 2009, Bob Weir and Mickey Hart played at a brunch benefit for Al Franken in Washington D.C. This was two days prior to the Dead playing a show at the Mid-Atlantic Ball for president Barack Obama.

On February 18 and 19, 2009, Bob Weir and Phil Lesh made guest appearances at Jackie Greene concerts. The two played brief sets as a trio with Greene in between sets by the Jackie Greene Band. On the 19th Weir and Lesh joined Jackie's band their closing set.

On March 28, 2009, Bob Weir and Phil Lesh sat in with the Allman Brothers Band during the final show of their 2009 run at the Beacon Theater. They performed "Sugaree," "I Know You Rider," and "Franklin's Tower" with the Allmans during the beginning of the second set.

In 2009 Bob Weir and Phil Lesh formed a new band called Furthur, debuting with a three show run on September 18, 19 and 20, 2009 at the Fox Theatre in Oakland. Furthur toured up until 2014.

Bob Weir joined Bill Kreutzmann's Billy & the Kids at the Peach Music Festival in August 2015. Weir performed again with Billy & the Kids at the third annual Lockn' Festival in September 2015.

Touring line-ups

Former Grateful Dead members are in bold.

References

Reunions of the Grateful Dead Wikipedia

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Contents

Tours

Single shows

Tours

Single shows

Other collaborations

Touring line-ups

References