Dead & Company

The Grateful Dead concluded their run with a 2015 farewell series titled Fare Thee Well. Performances took place in Santa Clara and Chicago, promoted as the final joint appearance by surviving members of the group. Once the events ended, however, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart chose to keep performing, while Phil Lesh opted out of further touring. The remaining three therefore needed both a new bassist and a guitarist to stand in for Jerry Garcia, whose part during Fare Thee Well had been taken by Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio before he returned to his primary band. John Mayer, who had recently become a fan of the Dead and formed a friendship with Weir, was brought in on guitar. Bassist Oteil Burbridge and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti completed the lineup, and the ensemble was named Dead & Company. After an initial show on Halloween 2015, the group launched extensive road work in 2016. Strong ticket sales prompted additional dates in fall 2017 and a full summer tour in 2018.