We continue to stand by our reports, first posted here last November, that the Dead will re-unite this summer and will feature the Core Four and Bruce Hornsby as the primary members. As we previously wrote, there will be a rotation at the guitar spot once anchored by Jerry.
We have some new, and exciting, news about this reunion, as well as the names of the players being bandied about for the lead spot.
I wrote my book and created this page to be fun, informative and a source of joy for Deadheads. I think I have reasonably accomplished that. The thing I am most proud of is the sense of community that has developed around this page. I unwittingly created something beautiful that I am proud of and feel blessed by; blessed to have so many wonderful people meet and exchange ideas, experiences and opinions on this page, blessed by the grace of God to allow me to serve as a conduit for that.
As they say, "on the other hand," since November, I have been assailed by a small minority who believe my posts regarding a Core Four reunion and a performance at Lockn' were/ are nothing more than a publicity ploy for my money-grab of a book.
Don't cry for me, Argentina.
The virulence has been unbelievable. I have been called bigoted names, have had one woman claim I am the father of her unborn twins, had another person say I hacked into their Amazon account to leave a positive review of my book, had pages created just to disparage me, been mistakenly called "Weir's biographer" by some cockamamie website and ripped for that (as if I made that claim), and (my favorite) have had people try to toast me on Amazon by leaving one line, 1-star "reviews" of my book as their retribution for my outspokenness about what I believe will unfold over the next year.
As Weir sang, I was born in the jungle/ I was born in the lion's den. And I really was: the Bronx. Dirt poor, too. I can take it if some people want to continue to dish it out. Knock yourselves out. I'm a big boy and I know that I have made, and continue to make, myself an easy target.
That said, if I am wrong, and if the Dead don't re-unite, and don't play Lockn', I will be the first to acknowledge my mistake and apologize here, and apologize for any hurt or mistrust I may have created.
Trey Anastasio is going to play guitar, according to my "sources," with the Dead at a three-day, Fourth of July holiday weekend celebration on July 3, 4 and 5 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The Dead will play Lockn', as I have reported, and stand by, but Trey will not be the guitarist for those shows. Widespread Panic will back Theresa Williams and Larry Campbell, from what I understand, at Lockn' for a set of Levon Helm and Band classics. The Dead reunion will extend through the end of the year, according to our sources, with New Year's Eve shows to be scheduled. We continue to hear there will be dates at Shoreline and Alpine Valley.
New York is a certainty. Where, when and with whom is still being finalized. Interestingly enough, and fascinating to me personally, is that Jorma Kaukonen's name is being flouted as the guitarist for shows at, most likely, Madison Square Garden.
These will be "hit-and-run" events, and not many of them. A few days here and there ... fly in, fly out, and get back home. No extensive or draining tour.
The names we continue to hear for the rotation at the guitar spot are Steve Kimock, Warren Haynes, John Kadlecik, Trey Anastasio, Jorma Kaukonen and Barry Sless.
If I am wrong, I will apologize here with all of the humility I can muster.
Happy Sunday, all !!
— Scott W. Allen
January 11, 2015
I hope that you are correct as my girlfriend and I will travel a reasonable distance to see a show, but I personally find it incredibly hard to believe that Trey Anastasio will be involved.
Hey Samntuck - could you please link to Scott's web page?
I'm hoping for great things out of Lockn' this year. I've bought my ticket and am ready to ride my ride.
I just listened to the podcast in question here:
https://soundcloud.com/jamcast/the-future-of-the-dead-with-scott-w-allen
I don't think anything this guy is predicting is a lie as much as simply not yet confirmed.
Pete Shapiro has a contract with Phil Lesh. I expect Lockn' will be a major venue for former Grateful Dead activity this September.
i read the 3 days in chicago with trey on another website from a different source late last week. it is supposed to be annouced later this week or maybe next week.
If "Shoreline" materializes I'd be up for that, it's 20 miles from me. Maybe a three night stand like the Dead did twice a year there before Jerry died.
I'm late to the party, I never appreciated the Dead until the last 7 or 8 years.
If "Shoreline" materializes I'd be up for that, it's 20 miles from me. Maybe a three night stand like the Dead did twice a year there before Jerry died.
I'm late to the party, I never appreciated the Dead until the last 7 or 8 years.
Hey Rob, it's better late than never. Welcome aboard !
Directly from the Podcast: "I'm not going to say it's fact, but it is my strong opinion."
time will tell 
time will tell
My sentiments. Hoping for this to pan out for sure, but I will calm down and wait for something official.
My thoughts on each of those candidates:
Kadlecik --- Knows the role better than anyone. Nostalgic guitar and vocal sound. Lacks stage presence. Will he show up like a a true band leader would?
Warren --- Flawless interpretation and execution. Magnanimous stage presence. Consummate band leader and professional. Can he avoid holding the sound hostage with his at-times bombastic approach?
Jorma --- no opinion. Wild card
Barry Sless --- Don't know him
Trey --- Reverent disciple of the GD / Jerry sound and vibe. Strong ability to meld with a vast array of musicians and sounds. Creative, adventurous, and playful. Strong stage presence. Poor vocals. Can be too playful at times. Can he return home after a ~25 year "kill your daddy" stage?
Kimock - Jerry had great admiration for him in the 80s / 90s. Highly skilled technician with creative improv skills. Haunting, nostalgic sound. Poor vocals. Is the guy who seemed to have next ready to step back in?
Any other names out there up for debate?
Steve Sweeney from Hookah?
How about Dickey?
How about Dickey?
that's a joke, right?
cause there is no way that dickey could even be thought of in the same line of the other names ya mentioned......
Kimock - Jerry had great admiration for him in the 80s / 90s. Highly skilled technician with creative improv skills. Haunting, nostalgic sound. Poor vocals. Is the guy who seemed to have next ready to step back in?
while i really would like to see kimock play with them (im a huge kimock fan so im biased), i really doubt that will happen due to the past incidents....
kimock walked off (he had his reasons) of one of phil's early tours of the phil and friends.......
after that, phil called him person non grata..........
so there's still some bad blood in the phil camp over that, and i really doubt steve will be apart of the reunion (and i doubt jill will let it happen)........
I'm hoping for a Grateful Dead heavy Lockn'. An appearance by the Q - Jimmy Herring will already be there, would float my boat.
I've also got to say I wouldn't mind seeing Ratdog. I didn't experience the double bass experiment and having Ratdog at the festival would put Kimock there.
Anyone who has been to Lockn' understands the stage set up is very conducive to all kinds of collaboration. I hope at least one night features a non-stop solid 6 - 7 hours of Grateful Dead music.
I've also got to say I wouldn't mind seeing Ratdog. I didn't experience the double bass experiment and having Ratdog at the festival would put Kimock there.
that is true..........
although kimock was at last years and didnt sit in with phil............
and the first year of lockn was way heavy on the GD (not that im complaining---i enjoyed it).........
I've read these rumors all over the internet; but who knows if they're actually true?
If it was the late 90s or very early 00s I'd be all for Trey playing; but ever since 2004-present day his playing isn't what it once was, and this is coming from someone who used to love phish, and Trey's playing in the past.
I liked Warren and Jimmy Herring in PLQ, the dead, or when Herring was in the other ones; but a lot of deadheads do not like either Warren or Herring.
I like Kimock and have seen him with Ratdog when they opened up for the ABB; but not everyone likes him but he's a better fit than DSO's fake Jerry who was in Furthur.
I like Jorma in hot tuna and Jefferson airplane; but I don't think he'd be a good fit in the dead.
The truth is nobody fills Jerry's shoes.
What I have had to do is stop comparing and just take the music they are selling. The Q is my favorite post Jerry incarnation of Grateful Dead music. But I really dug Mickey Hart's band, as well as 7 Walkers, many other iterations of Phil and Friends, early Ratdog was alright, and Furthur beat getting poked in the eye.
I'm trying to work out a trip to Terrapin Crossroads this year to see one of the tributes Phil has up his sleeve. If I'm lucky I might even get up to the Capital Theatre for a show.
One thing for certain - these players ain't going to be making the scene forever.
"I personally find it incredibly hard to believe that Trey Anastasio will be involved."
I personally find it incredibly hard to believe that anybody would be surprised by Trey's involvement.
He has played with Bobby and Phil many times, including the legendary April 1999 shows that many people consider THE best post-Jerry Dead project. When Trey got out of rehab/jail, the first person he played with was Phil. If you don't like Trey, that's fair, but there is a very solid track record there.
"If it was the late 90s or very early 00s I'd be all for Trey playing; but ever since 2004-present day his playing isn't what it once was,"
The Newt, Trey has really turned it around in the past year or two. Remarkably so, in my opinion.
He still isn't back up to his world-destroying level of the mid-90s, but he is once again a musician worth listening to, especially if you used to be a fan. Check out some of their recent shows, he is playing with tone, chops and a purpose lately.
supposedly Kimock and Phil buried the hatchet
The guys mentioned are all great - if I had to pick one to see my 1st choice would be Kimock
I'm not a fan of phish but Trey tends to do solid work covering dead tunes.He and Kimock would be my first choices.
Looking forward to the Soldier Field shows.
And who is Scott Allen?
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
"I personally find it incredibly hard to believe that Trey Anastasio will be involved."
I personally find it incredibly hard to believe that anybody would be surprised by Trey's involvement.
He has played with Bobby and Phil many times, including the legendary April 1999 shows that many people consider THE best post-Jerry Dead project. When Trey got out of rehab/jail, the first person he played with was Phil. If you don't like Trey, that's fair, but there is a very solid track record there.
"If it was the late 90s or very early 00s I'd be all for Trey playing; but ever since 2004-present day his playing isn't what it once was,"
The Newt, Trey has really turned it around in the past year or two. Remarkably so, in my opinion.
He still isn't back up to his world-destroying level of the mid-90s, but he is once again a musician worth listening to, especially if you used to be a fan. Check out some of their recent shows, he is playing with tone, chops and a purpose lately.
2012-2014 have been mind-blowing years for Phish. Their playing has been off the hook.
"I personally find it incredibly hard to believe that Trey Anastasio will be involved."
I personally find it incredibly hard to believe that anybody would be surprised by Trey's involvement.
He has played with Bobby and Phil many times, including the legendary April 1999 shows that many people consider THE best post-Jerry Dead project. When Trey got out of rehab/jail, the first person he played with was Phil. If you don't like Trey, that's fair, but there is a very solid track record there.
"If it was the late 90s or very early 00s I'd be all for Trey playing; but ever since 2004-present day his playing isn't what it once was,"
The Newt, Trey has really turned it around in the past year or two. Remarkably so, in my opinion.
He still isn't back up to his world-destroying level of the mid-90s, but he is once again a musician worth listening to, especially if you used to be a fan. Check out some of their recent shows, he is playing with tone, chops and a purpose lately.
2012-2014 have been mind-blowing years for Phish. Their playing has been off the hook.
He still isn't back up to his world-destroying level of the mid-90s, but he is once again a musician worth listening to, especially if you used to be a fan. Check out some of their recent shows, he is playing with tone, chops and a purpose lately.[/quote[
I still like phish and go to shows at times, or watch webcasts of them; but Phish 3.0 or from 2009-2015 isn't nearly as good as phish 1.0 was, as there's no improvisation there at all now.
I don't like any of the new songs or any songs after the album story of the ghost as that was the last good phish album. The Halloween show would have been cool had it been totally improvised; but all the new instrumentals were rehearsed and were phish's attempt at jamtronica.
And who is Scott Allen?
he wrote a recently published book about the dead.......
and many claim that he is fueling the rumors just to sell the book...........
Phil announced a couple new shows today with Stanley Jordan as one of the guitarist.
I bet that will be interesting.
a friend of mine who does alot of phil shows says besides the Q, the stanley jordan shows are his favorite.....
he went last year when stanley played and really hasnt stopped talking about it since......
however, he is not going this year but both he and i are going to the Cap for the phil birthday shows........
Phish 3.0 or from 2009-2015 isn't nearly as good as phish 1.0 was, as there's no improvisation there at all now.
I respectfully disagree. In many ways, I prefer some of their improvisational jaunts now, and I was not late to the party. When I started seeing them (I think it was somewhere in '94 or '95), I loved a lot of their improvisation, but the shredding Trey that people tend to miss I simply don't. Many of their jams that ended frenetically felt contrived to me. Trey would move slightly out of the pocket, do chromatic climbs, and then Kuroda would hit the high beams, and we would all climax only to have it happen several more times. Yes, I'm oversimplifying, but I think they have a nice mix of traditional soloing, some funk, and I love it when they go ambient now. There are still plenty of left turns to keep it interesting. Moreover, Mike is such a better player than the early days that I find myself often focusing in on him.
Also, I'm not sure where you're coming from when you say there's "no improvisation at all now." They did 28 songs over their New Year's Run past the nine-minute mark. Before we get into the quantity vs. quality discussion, I would suggest that comes down to personal taste. I can't imagine somebody who liked Phish 1.0 still not enjoying the Tahoe Tweezer (
) among many, many other 3.0 jams.
Having said all this, I like it all. The same day I got the New Year's Run, I bought their recent '93 Darien LivePhish release, and it's ridiculously good. I'm just thankful for all the soundboard captures through the years. The only period I don't find myself listening to is post-Big Cypress through Coventry, and I'm sure there's a few gems in there as well.
As for Trey's history with the Dead, I'm well aware, and the '99 shows are in somewhat regular rotation, but I'll still be very, very surprised if he ends up involved in any Dead reunion...albeit pleasantly surprised.
I'm a Kimock nut although I think he's a long shot for the chair.
Peace.
Blooby
however, he is not going this year but both he and i are going to the Cap for the phil birthday shows........
God Bless you Kevin! My hat is off to you for making the effort. I'm sure it will pay off in spades.
Are you going to the Warren shows that have already sold out? Are you making the whole run?
Any info about your experience, lodging, etc would be appreciated. I really want to get to that venue.
i went to the cap for the NYE show.......and just that show.........
great place........very friendly vibe.......
its it literally right across the street from the train station (metro north) so it can be access from most anywhere......
the party hotel is the hilton.....or rather the philton........
they even run a shuttle back and forth for show goers.....
kinda pricey but its a mile away and its a party...
every floor for NYE smelled like pot........very nice....
cap theatre-----great place.....i cant really describe it better than what has said about it...
very light pat down going in----once inside, well........it aint the beacon....
i was up on the rail, center and it was free and open puffing........nobody said anything and it was all around.....
i never really walked around the place once i got down front but its a nice open floor theatre.......seats up in balcony.....
garcia's is right next door and is a bar that holds after show events (its kinda a tiny place)...
i dont plan on doing the whole phil run----just his birthday and the monday show...
my plan for that weekend is----kimock in NYC friday night, sco mule saturday night, then two phil shows......
Freakin' nice weekend!
