The Grateful Dead, the notoriously inventive and relentless rock n’ roll band from San Francisco, has come out of unofficial touring retirement, booking a three night stay at Chicago’s Soldier Field this summer to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary.
For thirty years and on, The Dead, with legendary frontman and guitarist Jerry Garcia at the helm, went from Ken Kesey’s famous portrayal of the psychedelic Sixties in The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test to being one of the highest grossing touring acts in the country, spending most of their career at the top of the performing world. Things then reasonably cooled off after Garcia’s death in 1995.
Fifty years come and gone, the band’s surviving members – Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir – are set to take the stage one last time for a concert they’re calling a “Fare Thee Well.” Joining the band for the original members’ last-ever performance together will be Trey Anastasio of Phish (Guitar), Jeff Chimenti (Keyboards) and Bruce Hornsby (Piano), and will perform two sets of music each night. The concerts will take place right off of Lake Michigan on July 3, 4 and 5.
For more information on the celebration and how to purchase tickets, visit the band’s website and watch a promotional video below.
“Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead from Grateful Dead 50 on Vimeo.