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For jam-band devotees, life has been a major buzz kill the past few years: Phish and the Dead broke up in 2004, and Gregg Allman's recent bout with hepatitis C forced the Allman Brothers Band to cancel their annual residency at New York's Beacon Theatre last year. But to the surprise of even the most die-hard fans, all three of the scene's biggest acts will be back on the road this spring.
After reuniting at the wedding of their road manager last fall, Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Jon Fishman and Page McConnell will play the first Phish concerts in five years starting on March 6th in Virginia and winding up in East Troy, Wisconsin, on June 21st. Jimmy Koplik, northeast chairman of Live Nation, which is promoting the tour, says he was "not at all surprised" when he heard about the reunion: "I hate to use the term, but hippie bands love playing together, and it's all about being on the road. I never believed they would permanently break up." As far as additional shows — including any west of the Mississippi — Koplik says, "My guess is that they're going to see how they feel playing together, and they'll make their decision from there. But I don't think anything has been determined."
Three days after the first Phish reunion show, the Allman Brothers will finally return to the Beacon for a 10-show stand kicking off March 9th that will commemorate the band's 40th anniversary. Although the band is keeping mum, sources say the shows will also be tributes to Duane Allman, complete with guest appearances by those who worked with the late guitarist (Eric Clapton and Boz Scaggs top the rumor list). "Because it's the 40th anniversary, we've invited some other people that people might consider, you know, special," hints drummer Butch Trucks. "And because they knew and loved Duane, many of them have said yes. So we're working our butts off trying to learn their tunes!" (For $100, fans can watch the shows live on the Web via Moogis, Trucks' Internet company.) As for reports that guitarist Dickey Betts, who was fired in 2000, might partake in the shows, Trucks is more blunt: "It's not gonna happen. We won't confirm or deny rumors — except that one."
Then, on April 12th in Greensboro, North Carolina, the Dead (who dropped "Grateful" from their name in 2003) return to life for a monthlong arena tour ending May 10th in Mountain View, California. Surviving members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann reunited for a Barack Obama benefit in Pennsylvania last fall, which helped the band reconcile after a bitter 2004 breakup. "We woke up and said, 'Why aren't we doing this?'" says Hart. "It seems like it was one of the things we loved the most in our lives. The idea was to let it rest and let it come back to life on its own without pushing it. This kind of music you can't make unless you like the guy."
Hart also feels the tour (with keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and guitarist Warren Haynes — who will also play with the Allmans — again augmenting the quartet) will be good for both the country's mood and economy. "The spirit of the country must be lifted," he says. "That's what we do — we lift spirits. And I assume this is going to be a very successful tour. If you were a mayor, you'd love to see us come through, because you'd see a bump after we left. We're good for business."
[From Issue 1071 — February 5, 2009]
Related Stories:
- The Dead Reunite for First Tour in Five Years
- Trey, Mike Talk Phish Split
- The Allman Brothers Band Bio, Reviews, News and Interviews
- Phish Band Bio, Reviews, News and Interviews
- The Grateful Dead Bio, Reviews, News and Interviews
- More from Issue 1071