Grateful Dead and Dead & Company are two closely related but distinct bands with some overlapping membership. While there are similarities between the two groups, they are not exactly the same band.
Brief History of Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was a legendary psychedelic rock band that formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The original members were Jerry Garcia (guitar, vocals), Bob Weir (guitar, vocals), Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (keyboards, harmonica, vocals), Phil Lesh (bass, vocals), and Bill Kreutzmann (drums). Mickey Hart (drums) joined shortly after. The band was known for its unique improvisational style that blended elements of rock, folk, country, blues, and jazz together into extended jams and songs. Some of their most well-known songs include “Truckin’,” “Box of Rain,” “Touch of Grey,” and “Casey Jones.”
The Grateful Dead developed a very devoted fanbase known as “Deadheads” who would follow the band on tour from show to show. The band was infamous for encouraging their fans to record their live shows and trade tapes. They allowed their fans to freely share their music in this manner, which contributed to their exploding popularity. The Dead toured consistently from 1965 up until Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995, playing over 2,300 live concerts. After Garcia passed away, the remaining members officially decided to disband out of respect for their fallen leader. The Grateful Dead were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
How Dead & Company Formed
In 2015, twenty years after Jerry Garcia’s death, the four surviving original members of the Grateful Dead (Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart) decided to reform and play together again. They recruited singer and guitarist John Mayer to fill Jerry Garcia’s large shoes and bassist Oteil Burbridge to fill in for Phil Lesh, who opted out of touring. Jeff Chimenti joined on keyboards. This new iteration called themselves Dead & Company.
Dead & Company play an extensive selection of Grateful Dead songs as part of their concert repertoire. Their performances also include full-length improvised jams, which were a signature of the Dead’s live concerts. However, John Mayer brings his own unique guitar style and influence to the band. Some Deadheads have criticized Mayer for not perfectly replicating Jerry Garcia’s playing. Others appreciate his fresh take. Despite some skepticism at first, Mayer has impressed many with his enthusiasm for and dedication to the Dead’s music.
Band Members
| Grateful Dead | Dead & Company |
|---|---|
| Jerry Garcia | John Mayer |
| Bob Weir | Bob Weir |
| Phil Lesh | Oteil Burbridge |
| Mickey Hart | Mickey Hart |
| Bill Kreutzmann | Bill Kreutzmann |
| Ron “Pigpen” McKernan | Jeff Chimenti |
As the table illustrates, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann are core members of both bands. However, Jerry Garcia is only in Grateful Dead, while John Mayer takes over lead guitar and vocals in Dead & Company. Phil Lesh was replaced by Oteil Burbridge on bass. Jeff Chimenti handles keyboards instead of Ron “Pigpen” McKernan.
Styles of Music
While Dead & Company exclusively plays Grateful Dead music, the Grateful Dead had a much more extensive repertoire. In their 30 year career, the Grateful Dead wrote many original songs that became classics in the rock canon. They were highly experimental and tried out many different styles like folk, country, blues, bluegrass, and more. Their unconventional songwriting and wide range of influences were things that defined the Grateful Dead’s signature sound.
Dead & Company have a more limited musical scope since they only focus on Grateful Dead material. While John Mayer adds his own flair, most of the songs remain faithful to the originals. The major similarity is that both bands emphasize improvisation and extended instrumental jams between verses. However, Dead & Company have not created any new songs beyond the existing Grateful Dead catalog.
Tours and Shows
The Grateful Dead were constantly touring during their 30-year run. They held lengthy residencies at famous venues like Winterland Ballroom and the Fillmore. Their concerts were known for being long free-flowing performances with unique setlists every night. Deadheads could expect to hear a wide range of the Dead’s repertoire with plenty of space for improvisational jams. As touring was their primary source of income, the Grateful Dead played as many shows as possible each year.
Dead & Company also regularly tour, but not quite as extensively as the original Grateful Dead did. They play multi-night runs at various large venues and festivals around the country. Their shows include extended jams on Grateful Dead songs as well as drum and space solos like the Dead performed. But Dead & Company have taken breaks between tours and do not play as many shows annually. They have yet to play a foreign tour outside of the U.S., whereas the Grateful Dead toured Europe multiple times.
Popularity and Fanbase
The Grateful Dead attracted an enormous cult following during their career which grew exponentially by the end. They were selling out stadiums across America in the early 90s. Their fanbase, known as Deadheads, became a huge counterculture community that followed them around on tour. Deadheads were known for their dedication to the band – many would travel cross-country to see multiple Grateful Dead shows in a row. The band developed a relationship with their fans by allowing free taping and trading of their live shows.
While still popular, Dead & Company have not reached the same level of mainstream popularity and cultural status. They have attracted both old and new fans but have not developed the obsessive subculture that grew around the original Grateful Dead. Their tours continue to sell out venues, though, indicating their strong popularity. Dead & Company also allow fans to freely record their shows, maintaining the taping policy the Dead started.
Here is a table comparing the stats between the two bands:
| Stats | Grateful Dead | Dead & Company |
|---|---|---|
| Years Active | 1965-1995 | 2015-present |
| Studio Albums | 14 | 0 |
| Live Albums | 103 | 7 |
| Songs in Repertoire | Over 500 originals | Grateful Dead covers |
| Tours Completed | Regular tours 1965-1995 | 6 tours 2015-present |
| Total Concerts | 2300+ | Approx. 150 |
| Fanbase Size | Massive | Large |
This table highlights some of the key differences statistically between the extensive history of Grateful Dead and the relatively new Dead & Company. It is clear that Grateful Dead had a much longer run with more albums, songs, tours, and concerts under their belt.
Record Sales
The Grateful Dead did not have any major commercial hits, but were able to build a massive fanbase through their live performances and allowing free tape trading. The Dead had one single top 10 hit on the Billboard charts – “Touch of Grey” in 1987. While they did have dedicated listeners who bought their studio albums, the Dead made the bulk of their income from constant, lucrative touring.
Dead & Company have not produced any studio albums or original material. However, they have put out several highly successful live albums. Their 2016 album Dead & Company Live sold 95,000 copies in its first week, debuting at #6 on the Billboard 200. The album also had the highest first-week sales of any Dead-related album in over two decades. Dead & Company’s live albums and tours have produced solid revenue, even without releasing new songs.
Cultural Impact
As pioneers of jam rock and improvisational psychedelia, the Grateful Dead had an enormous influence on rock music and counterculture. They helped spawn the growing popularity of jam bands playing extended free-form shows. The Dead inspired countless bands across many genres. Their unique relationship with their fans also set a precedent for band/fan dynamics. Official Grateful Dead merchandise became a must-have for any Deadhead. The band’s skull and lightning logo is one of the most recognizable symbols in rock history.
While popular, Dead & Company have not made the same groundbreaking cultural impact. They have not created their own original identity and remain mostly focused on preserving the existing Grateful Dead catalog. However, Dead & Company have introduced the music of the Dead to a new generation of fans who may not have been exposed to it otherwise. John Mayer’s fame brought plenty of mainstream attention to Dead & Company early on. But only time will tell if Dead & Company develop their own separate cultural legacy beyond the existing footprint of the Grateful Dead.
Conclusion
In summary, while Dead & Company is closely tied to the Grateful Dead, they are distinct bands with some key differences:
- The Grateful Dead was together 1965-1995 with Jerry Garcia as frontman. Dead & Company formed in 2015 with John Mayer as lead guitarist and vocalist.
- The Dead had an expansive repertoire of original songs spanning many genres; Dead & Company exclusively play Grateful Dead covers.
- The Grateful Dead toured constantly and built up an obsessive cult following through the decades. Dead & Company tour regularly but have not reached the same level of fame.
- The Grateful Dead were pioneers who made a huge impact on rock music and culture. Dead & Company connect old Deadheads with new fans but have not matched the Dead’s cultural influence.
There are enough similarities, especially the three core members, that Dead & Company can be considered a continuation of the Grateful Dead tradition. However, fundamental differences like the loss of Jerry Garcia, lack of original songs, and John Mayer’s leading role make Dead & Company a related but distinct band from the iconic Grateful Dead.
