BK is out for Deadco tour.

Is he still playing the Fleur De Dead shows with Billy and the Kids in New Orleans?

This is th

E cul

Mination of a shift in direction as we kee

P these s

Ongs alive

Wow. 

Well, there we have it. We have already seen the last of Bill K with DeadCo.

Not at all a surprise based on what’s been happening, but still the reality of it now is pretty stunning.

maybe billy is tired of playing every single show at funeral dirge tempos? its hard to imagine another reason for this that could be attributed to creative differences, if we assume that "creative differences" isnt just a code word for "A cant stand being in the same room as B anymore".

which it might be.

A Phil and Billy rapprochement would be cool.

So no bill at NO or Cornell? Lame

Rumors on Reddit that Phil will be at the Barton Hall show and that's the reason for the Frost cancellation on May 5. Seems unlikely, though with Billy out, less implausible. And wouldn't violate the 2015 pledge that Fare Thee Well was the last time for the Core 4.

I guess he don't need the money 

Would have been a nice paycheck

Maybe he micro dosed too many times

I cannot possibly fathom that Phil would be with DeadCo in Ithaca as long as Mickey is also on the bill. 

It. Is. Not. Happening. 

With Billy, shouldn’t it be very very, very obvious that his health is the issue, which is why he missed so many shows last year? Tempos or not, Billy doesn’t leave that kind of money on the table unless he HAS to. 

It’s sad and it’s life. 

This is why they have Jay on retainer.  Get well Bill.

Let it go people

What is also sad, and a little infuriating, is that Jeff and Oteil are not listed as signatures on Billy’s letter. 

They really are just hired hands, paid a flat wage and almost certainly no share of merch sales etc. This again makes it obvious. Letter signed by the Big Four only. Way to go, brothers.

Politics and the music business. 

Management. 

Greed. 

Jerry would be having none of that. At HIS insistence alone, Vince Welnick was a fully paid equal band member. 

As I've always said, they called it Dead & Company for a reason. Strictly business

At the end of the Billy & The Kids show at Red Rocks a few years ago, as Billy K was leaving the stage, he made a comment about having not had such a good time in much too long of a time. I know he's had health problems the last couple of years, but I always saw that comment as a shot at D&C.

Dead and Company LLC

Bum news overall (even as I am not ticketed) and I hope Billy is OK. DeadCo has only only ever listed Weir, Mickey, Billy, and Mickey as "principles" while  many other great and long-standing traditions and norms sadly went out the window when Jerry checked out too. 

This 'final tour' goes coast to coast and back for 29 shows in 58 days which is obviously very aggre$$ive.

After Jerry, I don’t think it is fully understood how often the GD organization would chew people up and spit them out, up to the present day in its various forms. Even WITH Jerry to a much smaller extent, but not nearly as much, because the Big Man really really did have a heart. 

Apologies/Correction:

DeadCo has only only ever listed Weir, Mickey, Billy, and *Mayer* as "principles"

It will be Jay Lane who takes Billy’s place of course, and he’ll get the same flat wage that Jeff and Oteil get. 

Betcha Billy stipulated that he still gets his share of merch sales though, because after all he was listed in the band when the tour went on sale. 

I know that my point about the Big Four and the other Little Sidemen is beside the point when it comes to wishing Billy well and mourning his departure. Bill is the man, the Dead’s true drummer. Today is a sad day, and not unexpected.

But yeah, this thing about the Four and the Others really smells shitty to me. Think about it: Billy's departure is announced, and only the Four sign the letter. I don’t care if that’s “legal” or “contractual.” It’s a shitty, DICKISH thing to do. Whoever among them decided to sign the letter that way is a dick. A limp dick at that. 

When the Dead circulated that letter in July 95 after the Deer Creek riot, it was signed by all six of them, Vince included. That was Jerry’s doing. That’s what has changed. 

Anyway, all that being said... Stay healthy, Bill. You’ve earned a peaceful retirement, even though you say you’re not retiring. I’ve heard that one before. 

The NOLA Billy and the Kids show is in 5 days ... wonder if we'll get any comment from the stage

(...I would be surprised if Furthur wasn't similarly managed by Phil & Bob)

It's OK by me.  I won't be there either.  Best wishes for Bill.  I'm sure his cash register will still make some DeadCo jingles.

Furthur? Absolutely it was Bob and Phil. And then, everybody else was on a certain type of payroll. 

Joe Russo is doing WAY way better running his own show with JRad. 

Anyone else today who was in Furthur, almost certainly not. 

I'm sure Joel will find a way to blame jill 

The only thing that matters now is whether Lane will play right-handed or left-handed.

Discuss.

Joel? As in Selvin? 

It’s big news with Billy. If DeadCo had announced that they had “big plans for 2024 and beyond,” that would be different for Billy to say he’s tired of it. But this? They have one tour left to play. That’s not “creative differences,” I’m sorry.

Sounds to be like they canned him tbh... Bill quitting would only involve the searching of one soul, at most. An announcement of his forced departure would not include the names of the “hired hands” not to mention Bill "wants you to know" makes it sound like he was not part of the statement and of course nothing from him yet

"With Bill's full endorsement and support."

And the horse that three of the Final Four rode in on?

I heard it was Meyer's call

"Its either Billy or me"

and its been in the works for a while.

notice the sudden announcement for the Billy and the kids nola show

"This is the culmination of a shift in creative direction....."

sounds like a fucking HR department....

All good theories. 

Still, for ONE MORE TOUR... something smells bad about it. Billy doesn’t get fired from the Dead, I’m sorry. He’s a full on equal partner and trustee. Has been since 1965. Billy doesn’t get fired, Bobby doesn’t get fired. 

Hope he’s okay. 

Maybe Billy kicked John in the nuts.

Will Mickey throw drumsticks (or those odd brushes he uses now) at him???

Sounds personal. Maybe Bob asked to sit-in at the Kids show and Billy said only if he gets to call the tempo.

> Maybe Billy kicked John in the nuts.

We can hope, but really, it should have been done years ago.

Billy told Bob to keep his slow tempos for Wolf Bros, and Bob replied he only saves those for DeadCo (smirk). Chaos ensued.

I blame Marcus King, lol    

It’s all fun and games until a serious medical report comes out. 

Hope he’s okay. The final tour is not when this happens. 

{{{ ❤️ Bill the Drummer ❤️ }}}

Caption this photo.

I never knew D&C ever had a "creative direction"!

Billy wouldn't leave that kind of $$$ on the table over a creative dispute. He's obviously not healthy.

I never really thought he'd finish the tour anyway, the last one almost killed him.

^^What exactly do you mean when you say,  "We're out of weed?"

I never knew D&C ever had a "creative direction"!

'87-'89-ish, if I recall. 

lotta ugly rumors here.   

This one is going over 100

Was Bobby was telling him to "drum slower"? Or did "Drums/Space" get cut from the set lists? 

Either way, kinda lame to quit the tour that had already been announced, unless perhaps someone is dealing with substance abuse issues..but that's never stopped them from playing shows previously. 

I guess it doesn't matter anyway..It's all over now, Billy K. 

>lotta ugly rumors here.  

we are just getting started

<<<<< Maybe Billy kicked John in the nuts.

Lance - Matt Kelly said that was funny

Just checked the Saenger website and they're still selling tickets to next Thursday's Billy and the Kids show.

If Mayer really issued an ultimatum, they should have told him to take a hike.

>>>If Mayer really issued an ultimatum, they should have told him to take a hike.  

Agree.   and then the fun of who would they bring in would happen.  John K rerun?  

he's old and over it.

you should be as well.

What Turtle said.

He may be over D&C, but since he's playing a Dead-themed show at the Saenger next week, he doesn't appear to be done.

He's not dead, his tenure with D&C is. He's a musician who will play when and with whom he wants to.

It seems so simple.

It's John Mayer's band and he can do what he wants.

Time to head out on Ass Bites tour

f Mayer really issued an ultimatum, they should have told him to take a hike.<<

If Mayer was the one out, there would be a Soccer Mom Refund Revolt.

Does anyone here think they'd be playing stadiums with Kimock? Or panty-dropper John K?

The big question here is will Lane be able to carry mickey like Bill has these last yrs?  Mickey is almost deaf and has not been mic'd in yrs.  Bill just got tired of it. It must have been quite a strain. 

>It must have been quite a strain.<

Yep

I vote for Bill Walten replacement ! at least no one ll be stuck behind him

I don’t have the answers, but I totally don’t buy the theory that he’s just “over it.” 

This is one more tour, with a ton of money to be made, and one more time around the country on that level. 

Three months from today the whole thing will be over anyway. 

Something doesn’t feel right about this. Billy must have had plenty of times when he felt like he was over it. But this is one more tour, the last tour. Less than three months from now, Billy would have had the rest of his life to not worry about it anymore. There’s a missing piece here that doesn’t feel right. 

At the very minimum, it is very sad. Final tour and no Billy, that’s just wrong.

If it was Billys decision he would have made the announcement 

It's the price you apy for being unreliable

Lol an appropriate end to this clown show of a band. Pretty fitting honestly. Billy can do whatever he wants he IS the GD. nice way to ruin a legacy by letting JM bitch and dictate to  a 77 year old founding member of the band  its me or him.  Don't you have enough money John Mayer just go the fuck away and never come back.   If he did that to Keef he would have slapped him about  the ears and shoved him off the stage. This is well deserved for this band and their fans. This whole show was and has been a grift. Billy knows whats up and is more than happy to set away when his brothers bend to that little shits will.  Its ALL about money. Not music or family. Get over it. It hasnt been that way since they brought JM on to make them money. Not make them happy or bring the music to new level because JM sure can't do that and if anybody was at that radio city music Hall, Ace, 50th anniversary last year, he showed the whole audience after eight years he still doesn't understand the music. He sounded like a lost little boy trying to find his way back home to a key note.  Disgrace he is. The idea that he is doing the music. Any justice is just so completely laughable. Family this music that what an experience   What a joke and ahalf. Its all horse hockey to lube up those wallets. 

Nostalgia is an ugly business, no matter how much coin is being generated. In fact, that makes it even worse.

As long as the hippie hoi polloi can stumble around Shakedown for a couple hours, they are happy. The brutality of John Mayer is by all accords, inconsequential. 

Irving Azoff hysterically laughing all the way.

Billy's not happy with the band. Why go through the grind of one more tour just for a few bucks?

Were they making Bill pay Jay Lane's retainer from his share of the loot?

The possibility of a Billy and the kids tour with Molly Tuttle would be much more intriguing anyway 

Fitzman makes a point that actually feels completely valid: Reliability. Most of the last tour, Billy was a no-show, and there was always a lingering question of will he or won’t he play the gig. That’s unsustainable. If you’re in a band, then you’re in a band. You don’t just come and go and leave everyone guessing. When that happens, you justifiably lose your position. Mayer might have felt that way because whether you like him or not he’s the kind of guy who always shows up to work. But it could have been Bobby and Mickey themselves going to Billy and saying, “Dude, can you do these dates or not?” If he said, “Screw you, I’ll let you know,” then they actually have every right to say, “Have fun doing your own thing. We’re out here working.” 

In that sense, they’re totally right. You’re in the band or not. If you can’t commit to doing all the dates, better to know up front and everyone can be clear. 

The Simpsons took a shot at Mayer this week.

Again we’re all speculating, but the reliability factor is valid. And it might have just come down to the two original Warlocks, Bob and Bill. Bob would be totally justified in saying, “Bill I love you brother, but we have ONE more tour to do here, and we gotta get on with it. Are you in or out? It’s your gig if you can commit to it.”

>> Final tour and no Billy, that’s just wrong. <<

No Phil Lesh has kept me away from this band (mostly).

Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, William Apostel, Melvin Seals, Rob Eaton, and Joe Russo would make for an interesting group.

I think that band would need to price out around $600 a ticket to cover the insurance on Phil, Bill, and Melvin.

Watching the Skull sets, Phil really seems to be winding down. He’s there, but barely. And I think his next show now is in July? 

It looked like it was all he could do to play in Ventura. He seems to lean on Grahame and team. 

That's been happening for a while now. His fretwork is still great though. He came out after a show last summer and talked to my daughter I was surprised at how bad his hearing has gotten. He moves very slowly nowadays but on par with 82 I'd say

He’s hanging on somewhat. But anyone who says that Phil is still “crushing it” is wishfully living in the past, unfortunately. He’s scraping by. 

the phil warfield show in dec. i thought he played very well. what i saw online this weekend was not the same.

I'm impressed with DCs draw.   Never got it.  Never will.   But I'm glad people are enjoying themselves.   

At this point, it's Bobby and Mickey technically bringing in the masses.  Good for them. 

The last two years Billy has had difficulty getting through shows - despite his best intentions/efforts. There were shows he started and couldn't finish. Jay has been there as his understudy. This development shouldn't come as a big surprise. Getting old is hard.....and harder if you hit things with sticks for a living.

Roy Haynes still on drums — at age 98 — begs to differ. 

But, hey we do know that Billy spent a lot of years hitting the booze and cocaine pretty hard. He hasn’t exactly taken the best care of himself over the years, even if he’s made healthier choices in recent years. John Coltrane was sober for the last 10 years of his life, but it was all the damage from the heroin and alcohol abuse beforehand that caught up to him. 

>>>>but it was all the damage from the heroin and alcohol abuse beforehand that caught up to him. 

I just think if Keith Richards, and the many others we could name has taught us anything it has so much more to do with genetic luck of the draw than it does with how many drugs you did at one point in your life. I mean Ding Dongs and Camels did as much damage to Jerry's health as heroin if not more. 

Tempted to pay for the live stream of his show on Thursday

https://www.nugs.net/live-download-of-billy-and-the-kids-saenger-theatre...

everyones body is different and ages differently. one super old guy bangin on the drums doesnt really mean anything significant - thats just that guy. billy is billy. doesnt necessarily have to do with drugs or anything like that. usually when old drummers hang it up or dramatically reduce their playing, its for physical issues associated with their muscles, joints and bones, which generally are not things that are permanently effected by past drug use.  

Yeah Nood' total publicity stunt for upcoming Billy n kids stream 

Relax. Billy is in good shape and was recently spotted having a leisurely breakfast at the Egg-ery in Santa Monica. He was eating a faux egg vegi omelet (sideorder of bacon) and was flirting with the waitress. Kept asking, "Got anything stronger than this coffee back there?"

The press release spells it out clearly -- the parting is due to creative differences in how GD songs should be played. .."in ways that we each feel is best..." 

Whatever. I would imagine Billy would take the **massive** paycheck from one final tour, and THEN play the music exactly the way he wants.  I could be wrong, of course. If he’s okay and in good health and giving up the money because he just feels like it, that’s awesome. 

Relax. Billy is in good shape and was recently spotted having a leisurely breakfast at the Egg-ery in Santa Monica. He was eating a faux egg vegi omelet (sideorder of bacon) and was flirting with the waitress. Kept asking, "Got anything stronger than this coffee back there?"

someone not being able to drum in a touring rock band 3-4hrs a night due to health related issues/aging does not necessarily mean they are in poor health overall. drumming professionally for long periods of time can be hard on the body and players can get stuff like pain, joint issues etc etc that prevents them from drumming like they used to. its a totally normal thing for some drummers to have to hang it up or reduce their drumming due to these types of health issues while otherwise being healthy, active, and capable of other kinds of physical activity.

i dont think its super likely health related reasons are behind this, but you cant discount them just because billy looks/acts healthy and still engages in other activities.

So if it's not health, you really think they just got into a fight about tempo?  That would be somethin'

"This is the culmination of a shift in creative direction as we keep these songs alive and breathing in ways that we each feel is best to honor the legacy of the Grateful Dead."

The "shift in creative direction" would seem to be Weir's re-envisioning of how GD music should be played, so yeah, it would seem to be about tempos. I'm giving Weir credit for this since it's not just D&C that's embraced the slowing down; it's how the Wolf Bros roll too.

The last part of the statement--"In ways that we each feel is best"--seems to imply unity of the members at first, but in another reading, it could also imply a forking. "Ways" is plural, so this could be saying that Billy K gets to play as he sees fit, while D&C pursue Weir's vision for the music.

Everyone is out, except those that are in, enjoy

What is shocking to me is how some folks here are actually taking the wording of the statement AT FACE VALUE. 

If Billy has a serious health issue that is being kept private, of course the PR statement wouldn’t say anything about it. 

I think the whole “creative differences” thing in the statement is a total ruse. It’s a sanitary way to cover up what’s really happening (not that I know what that is). 

I just wouldn’t take the PR statement at face value. Don’t we remember? Billy had to miss MOST of the tour last year, and it was for health reasons, not “creative differences.” My guess again is that Billy was asked straight up if he could commit to doing all these dates, and if not then bye bye. I don’t know and we won’t know, maybe not ever. But I would certainly not take this PR statement seriously as it is written. It’s a publicity statement to rationalize how Billy won’t be there. 

Except they've been very public with BK's health problems up to this point, and to introduce a new narrative about creative differences would seem to unnecessarily complicate things.

I heard it was a disagreement between John and Bill about shirts or something 

Here is some bad 80's to pair with all of this...Speculation.

https://youtu.be/VutHETzf2vU

>>> Everyone is out, except those that are in

Just exactly perfect, fabes.

By El Nino (kxela) on Saturday, April 22, 2023 – 09:54 pm

This one is going over 100

Billy had to miss MOST of the tour last year, and it was for health reasons, not “creative differences.” My guess again is that Billy was asked straight up if he could commit to doing all these dates, and if not then bye bye

It seems pretty clear to me that this is exactly the issue. The band deserves to know who is playing drums every night. Doing the math on this is not difficult at all.

So we can know that we are getting a glorified Wolfpack summer shed tour that will have more yoga moms than usual 

Someone here when they announced their Final Tour noticed that none of the band members names were listed this time.

This was a brilliant observation months ago and now it seems like we have an answer to the reason why.

^ sigh.... Rolex Ratdog

I'm going to respectfully diverge from the pack and take this Press Release at face value.

It's a multi million dollar enterprise and these words are precisely crafted. They didn't have to explain anything, really. But they felt the need to.

I can't believe they purposely lied and created a false narrative. Not that PR people aren't paid to do so, I just don't think it was necessary to invent a lie in this case. It's fine to say Billy has health issues that precludes him from heavy touring, if that was true. What's the big deal saying that? Dude is almost 77 and a rock and roll animal. Who would have a problem with that?

But "they" specifically felt the need to say he's going his way, we're going ours. He got voted off the island for music related issues ... i.e., how to interpret the song catalog. It's obviously not good PR to say your band is fragmenting over creative differences, but that's what they decided to share. Seems believable to me. 

Billy didn't write it, but he made sure it said he's in good spirits, good health, and not retiring. Intentionally including that sentence was part of his deal. Check with his lawyer.

And sure he endorses the band -- he's got bills to pay.

Just my speculation, of course. 

Exactly.  He still gets a cut and pays Jay's salary for the tour.

So now that Bill's out how long until they announce they will keep touring?? 

I can see Bill being upset that Mickey gets to pretend drum and he has to actually drum. They could have had Bill pretend drum with Jay Lane actually drumming and just bring Mickey out for Drums and everybody would have been happy. 

Smiling Billy at rehearsal last night at Saenger Theatre in New Orleans.

What is that bronze Uncle Sam looking thing on his kit?

^^^^What is that bronze Uncle Sam looking thing on his kit?

Could that be one of the belt buckles The Bear used to make, among other things?

The one that says Grateful Dead? Gold foil wrapped piece of chocolate?

Maybe a little New Orleans voodoo? John Mayer's shrunken head done up in bronze?

Headlight from a northbound train?

Great interview that will answer a lot of the questions and suppositions in this thread. Wonderful. You'll see.

Just watch

https://www.facebook.com/BIllKreutzmann/videos/1596337321101018

Maybe someone can find the video on another more accessible platform.

I'm not on FB, judit, and the video played just fine.

Sure didn't look, or sound, like health problems to me.

Oh, I'm glad you could just watch it without being on FB, Mike.

I think he clearly provided the info about where he's at and wants to be. Such a smile, such joy.

^ well, he did say he loves Billy and the Kids because they play with energy.  And he also implied he likes the musical spontaneity.

Fuck

nothing about the medallion 

Billy looks happy. 

Thanks, Bss. I'm laughing.

>>>  nothing about the medallion 

I have one. I'd post a picture, but it's in the room my wife is using for her mediation.

on the back of the one i have, it looks like there is some sort of double sided adhesive inlay that hasn't been peeled off.

a friend of my brother's gave it to me about 35 years ago. he knows nothing about the grateful dead

I'm sure there are a few messages to team dead co in there

I think we'll know for sure if they play Maggie's Farm tonight.

Liquid monkey shedding light

now back to the subject at hand

the reunionification of the 7 Walkers 

it's all about the Trichromes, Bss

^ Although I probably did go, I don't recall any Trichrome shows (though Hunter did dump a bunch of maybe not so hot lyrics on them for their 2002 CD so maybe they were ok).

I do perhaps have a foggy recollection of BackBone when they opened for Zero in Hawaii in 98. Here's some BackBone:

"I think this is the only live tape from 1975-1998 of him playing as the single drummer of a band!"

https://archive.org/details/backbone1997-07-14.flac16

Here's some Billy sitting in with Zero on the beach near Royal Waikaloan - Kona, HI MArch 1998

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxzpqudHwKA      (20 minute mark has decent BK footage)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPTzaOkBez0 (sun still out)

He was the only drummer in Go Ahead and Kokomo...

Billy was the only drummer in the JGB in the early 80s too.

No--he did a tour with JGB in the early 80s--saw many of this shows but it was just a tour--he was not the regular JGB drummer.  Loved Kokomo--got to hand with Brent and Billy for a bit on night at the old Chestnut Cabert in Philly

No--he did a tour with JGB in the early 80s--saw many of this shows but it was just a tour--he was not the regular JGB drummer.  Loved Kokomo--got to hand with Brent and Billy for a bit on night at the old Chestnut Cabert in Philly

My mistake, I should have clipped the entire sentence:

"Besides his work in the 80’s for those Grateful Dead offshoots like the Jerry Garcia Band, Kokomo, and Go Ahead, I think this is the only live tape from 1975-1998 of him playing as the single drummer of a band!"

The archive reviewer is quite the writer:

"Besides being a true rarity, 7/14/97 is an exceptional showcase of Kreutzmann’s skill, versatility, and unique style. He chops out the old-style blues rhythms like Sittin’ Here Thinkin’ and New Speedway Boogie in stylish fashion as a springboard for Rick Barnett, while surfing along with a more restrained, breezy drumming approach for the slower blues joints like Inner City Blues and Stayed Away Too Long (restrained and breezy, that is, until the whole trio explodes into those ripping guitar solo segments that really lay on the burners). For the jammier songs like All The Time, Drums, Dreams, the unknown instrumental, and Scarlet > Fire, Bill exhibits his trademark unstructured swirling flow, where he keeps “feel” instead of keeping “time”. The hi-hats rustle along in trippy coils and cycles around a thumping against-the-grain kick drum. The cymbals have a deliciously stony, metallic ring to them which Kreutz applies generously. There are points where the whole band is firing out notes in every direction, and Billy gives the snare drum some real snap to keep it all in very orderly disorder."

Let's not forget BKs House of Spirits band circa 1999.

Just a Guy Who Plays Drums: An Interview with Bill Kreutzmann

https://jambands.com/features/1999/03/15/just-a-guy-who-plays-drums-an-i...

Fun fact - Those BackBone  / Zero bookings in Hawaii were arranged by Mark and Sheila who did a similar thing with DNB  / Zero the next year (99) and that eventually morphed into the annual DNB Islands Tour shindigs you guys love. 

 >>>>>The cymbals have a deliciously stony, metallic ring to them

BK is the master of the clanking cymbal.

BK appeared as the only drummer for a Kingfish show , maybe early 1985 at the old Headliners on University Avenue in Madison WI.

Really fun as I remember!

The All New Kingfish Revue 
Bob Weir - guitar, vocals
Matt Kelly - harmonica, guitar, vocals
unknown - keyboards, vocals
Garth Webber - lead guitar
David Margen - bass
Bill Kreutzmann - drums
Rahnie Raines - vocals

3 Shows: 12/16 12/22  12/26/84 No recordings found

From http://hooterollin.blogspot.com.....Kingfish #12  First show: January 5, 1985  Last show: February 14, 1985   No recordings found

Garth Webber-lead guitar
Matt Kelly-harmonica-harmonica, guitar, vocals
Barry Flast-piano, keyboards, vocals
Dave Margen-bass
Bill Kreutzmann-drums
plus: Brent Mydland-organ, vocals (Jan 21, 22, 24)

Notes: Kreutzmann's flurry of activity in the mid-80s has always been an indicator that members of the Dead were always looking for a little extra cash. I recognize that the occasional gig in Garberville or at a Keystone was often just for a laugh, or to get out of the house. I also understand that musicians often like to play challenging music at times, just because they they need to do it. However, Bill Kreutzmann would not have done a 16-date East Coast tour, playing simple rock and blues with Kingfish in the Winter, unless he needed the cash. I have to assume there was good money in playing the shows, since Brent Mydland had been flown out for the three dates in late January.  The Winter 1985 Kingfish tour has the unique distinction of being the only Kingfish tour with Grateful Dead members who were not Bob Weir.

Everyone but Bob appeared at the Madtown show, duh figures!

No Brent as well...

I am still looking for decently priced tix for Dead and Co. at the Gorge and have a Cash or Trade alert set.   People have been trying to dump their tickets left and right since they announced Bill wasn't on the bill.  Still waiting for cheap lawn seats though and can't believe people paid $500+ for this show.

Crazy. Just for kicks and to see the manipulated market in real time, I have been watching prices and availability too. Today LA Tix got slashed by more than half from where they have been sitting since they went on sale and from the looks of it there are plenty available for all shows on the tour, even the ones showing as 'Sold Out' on DeadCo's website. 

...some of the weirdest stuff I have seen are  drastic price swings with changes in qty per show (singles are the highest) and multiple consecutive blocks of tickets still available for "sold out" shows in sections that change by the minute. LOL. What a blatant scam - too bad Congress at large still operates with a 1950's worldview to catch on to any of that.

They have trained me not to buy tickets until 48 to 24 hours before the show in anything that is an arena or stadium. Just to see if I was right about that I went to see what Taylor Swift in Atlanta was running this weekend and damn it doesn't hold up for her. Nose bleeds and behind the stage still going for $1,000 plus fees. 

^^^^My niece was crushed when my sister wouldn't shell out $1000 for Taylor Swift 

She should put on a free show in the park.