What’s left of the Grateful Dead–presumably grateful to be on this side of the equation–will reunite at Chicago’s Soldier Field for a three-day Fourth of July concert “trip” down memory lane. Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir–the four remaining original members–really put the survive in the phrase “surviving members.” The band is famous for a lifestyle that’s not exactly doctor-recommended. Yet here they are. The Dead will be joined by superstar keyboardist and longtime Dead contributor Bruce Hornsby as well as Phish’s Trey Anastasio.
Jerry Garcia, who was the iconic face of the band during its longest stretch of touring popularity, died in 1995. The Grateful Dead never played another show, though Weir and company have toured, under the stripped down name, The Dead. “Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead” will take place over three nights – July 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 2015 – and mark the original members’ last-ever performance together.
