the dead on tour again. ---two questions:

Warren Haynes has plenty of experience playing Dead music. When the Dead toured in '05 Warren was in the band, also Warren was a member of Phil and Friends. In addition, Warren has also "sat in" with Bob Weir's group, Ratdog on many occasions. Granted Warren doesn't play like Jerry, but if anybody can fill Jerry's shoes it would be Warren. Of course, this depends on whether or not, Phil and Bobby will allow Warren to be Warren. Warren is one of the few musicians who knows how to fit in, and enhance any musically situation that he finds himself involved with.

Hey, I would put the original Grateful Dead on my list of the top five rock bands of all time. I regularly listen to their classic albums (American Beauty, Skull and Roses, Steal Your Face, Workingman's Dead, ETC). But let's get real--the last time I saw them (in 1981) they were well past their prime and they still had Garcia playing lead guitar. Am I the only one that considers these aged rock/nostalgia acts sadly absurd? Pay well over a hundred dollars to see a 60+ year old Pete Townshend smash his guitar ONE MORE TIME? To watch Mick Jaggar strut his 60+ year old "stuff" on stage? The whole idea of these "has been" bands reuniting for profit to play huge concert venues with bad sound really turns me off. Yeah, the Dead will probably sell out wherever they go. So will the Allman's at their annual Beacon Theater series--yeah, a friend with free tickets dragged me to one of those about 10 years ago--what a horrific spectacle that was! I just don't know what it is about these events that compels people to open their wallets. It must be pure nostalgia because the music sure stinks and the sound, more often than not, is worse. I don't mean to come off as a "dick" but I just can't imagine why anyone would want to see the tattered remnants of the Grateful Dead at another arena tour concert. They were awful 25 years ago--I can't imagine how much worse they sound today.

It will be nice to see Jerry playing again....

How are you going to do that? Are you planning on joining him?

Dodgealum,

If you saw Allman Brothers 10 years ago I can understand you thinking of them as one of those "aged rock/nostalgia acts" as that was the direction that Dickey Betts was leading the band in, and was one of the reasons why that Dickey was let go.

But that's not way the band sounds nowadays. Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks definely keep the band sounding fresh and vital. If you get a chance check the Allman Brothers out again. Also if you a chance, check out the Derek Trucks Band, as it will give you a good idea of what musical direction Duane Allman might gone in, if he had lived. Even Downbeat magazine has spoken well of Derek in past issues.

Speaking of Duane Allman, that's one musician I wish I could see play again.

For those of you interested in listening to live shows throughout the years and have a PC audio system of some sort, check out this website if you haven't already:

http://www.archive.org/details/GratefulDead

There are streamable soundboard recordings and downloadable/ streamable audience recordings. Like comfort food to me...

Best, Peter