Dead & Company, the band formed in 2015 consisting of former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann along with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, and Jeff Chimenti, has become one of the most successful touring acts in music today. However, with band members now in their 70s and early 60s, fans have begun wondering how much longer the band will continue to tour together. Here we look at the factors that may determine if Dead & Company’s upcoming 2023 tour could be their last.
The Band Members’ Ages
At the end of Dead & Company’s 2023 tour, the band members will be:
- Bob Weir – 76 years old
- Mickey Hart – 80 years old
- Bill Kreutzmann – 77 years old
- John Mayer – 45 years old
- Oteil Burbridge – 59 years old
- Jeff Chimenti – 55 years old
Weir, Hart and Kreutzmann are all now in their late 70s or 80s, an age when most musicians have long since retired from the grueling life of touring. While they remain energetic and enthusiastic about performing, it’s hard to imagine them wanting to continue the band indefinitely into their 80s and beyond.
Comments from the Band
In recent interviews, some band members have hinted that their days together may be numbered. Though they clearly still enjoy playing together, they have acknowledged that age is catching up with them.
Mickey Hart has said “We’re not kids anymore. The music is still there, but I don’t know about the legs and the back.” Bill Kreutzmann has similarly commented “I don’t know how much longer I can continue to play at this level.”
However, Bob Weir has been more optimistic, saying “As long as we still have the drive to get better, I think we’ll keep going.” It seems Weir may be the one who is most interested in seeing Dead & Company continue into the future.
Demand from Fans
Even with the band members getting older, demand from fans to see Dead & Company live remains sky high. Whenever new tour dates are announced, tickets sell out nearly instantly.
Dead & Company have now become one of the most reliable touring acts in the industry. From 2015 to 2022, the band grossed over $368 million in ticket sales from just 343 shows, according to Billboard Boxscore. That’s over $1 million per show on average.
| Year | Gross Ticket Sales | Number of Shows |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $13.7 million | 21 shows |
| 2016 | $55.8 million | 62 shows |
| 2017 | $67.2 million | 52 shows |
| 2018 | $86.5 million | 65 shows |
| 2019 | $54.9 million | 35 shows |
| 2020 | $0 | 0 shows |
| 2021 | $45.7 million | 41 shows |
| 2022 | $44.5 million | 47 shows |
This incredible demand and financial success may motivate Dead & Company to want to keep touring as long as possible.
Can ticket demand stay so high?
Some may wonder if demand will drop off soon as older “Deadhead” fans lose the ability or interest to attend large concerts. But Dead & Company have actually attracted a significant new following of younger fans who discovered the band through John Mayer’s involvement.
Plenty of millennials and Generation Z music lovers are now Dead & Company fans too. For many of them, this version of the band is “their” Dead, just as the original Grateful Dead was for older Deadheads. These new younger fans are helping drive ongoing ticket sales.
Health Issues
Probably the biggest factor that could force Dead & Company to stop touring is if one or more of the core members experiences serious health issues. In the later years of the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia’s declining health impacted the band’s ability to tour.
So far Dead & Company have been fortunate to have avoided any major health scares. But as they continue aging, the risk grows. Kreutzmann has already had to miss a few shows due to health problems and Hart has also battled with back issues.
Could band members be replaced?
If one of the band members did have to leave Dead & Company for health reasons, it’s possible they could be replaced so the remaining members could continue. However, it likely would not be the same. The musical chemistry between Weir, Hart and Kreutzmann is so unique given their 50+ years playing together.
Replacing Mayer would be easier from a musical perspective, but he has become central to the new popularity of this incarnation of the band. Taking him out of the equation could significantly dampen enthusiasm.
So while the band could theoretically continue with a partially new lineup, major changes would likely alter the experience for both longtime fans and new fans alike.
Financial Motivation
Given the massive ticket sales Dead & Company have achieved, finances are clearly a major motivation for them to keep touring. The band members certainly don’t need the money, but it’s hard to walk away from that kind of financial success year after year.
However, it’s also possible the core members may decide the physical toll of touring no longer outweighs the financial gain. These musicians have already made more money than they could ever spend.
Still, it’s hard to argue with the financial windfall Dead & Company have generated. And if they believe they can keep attracting huge audiences, the money may convince them to push forward.
Impact of the pandemic
After losing a year of touring income in 2020 due to the pandemic, Dead & Company may be especially motivated now to “make up” those lost earnings in 2023 and beyond. The huge pent-up demand for concerts also favors their continued success.
Connection with Fans
Outside of finances, the most compelling reason for Dead & Company to keep going may simply be the joy of playing together and connecting with fans. The Grateful Dead certainly wasn’t only about money – it was about community.
If the current band members still feel that magic and excitement when performing, it may continue driving them forward. The enthusiastic crowds singing along song after song clearly energize them.
However, only the band members themselves know if that passion remains strong enough to overcome the increasing challenges of age and the road. If that drive turns more into a chore, the end could be near.
Conclusion
Predicting the future is impossible, and the band members themselves likely don’t even know how much longer they will continue touring together. There are persuasive factors both for ending Dead & Company after the 2023 tour and for keeping it going indefinitely.
But considering that the core members are now in their 70s and 80s, it’s probably more likely than not that Dead & Company are at least entering their final few tours. While we can hope the band continues playing as long as possible, fans should be prepared for the possibility that these could be the last chances to catch Dead & Company live.
Regardless of how much longer Dead & Company goes, the past seven years of tours have been an unexpected gift. Getting to see three legendary Grateful Dead members reunite with stellar supporting players has been joyous for both old and new fans. We should appreciate every show as the gift it is.
Whenever Dead & Company does finally call it quits, they will have left behind a legacy as one of greatest touring bands of the modern era. But until that day comes, Deadheads will keep on truckin’ to every show possible. The long, strange trip may wind on for a bit longer yet.
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The Grateful Dead were legendary pioneers in live improvisational rock music. From 1965 to 1995, the original Dead toured almost constantly, playing over 2,300 live shows. Their live performances were the core of their musical identity, featuring long improvised jams and a different setlist every night.
No band had ever toured as relentlessly as the Grateful Dead did over those 30 years. Their dedication to being on the road and playing live was unmatched in rock history. While many bands would tour for a few months out of the year behind an album release, the Grateful Dead just toured nonstop year after year.
After Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995, the remaining members continued for a while with The Other Ones and The Dead. But it was not the same without Garcia, and after a few years they stopped playing together. It seemed the days of having the core Grateful Dead members playing live shows together was over.
That’s why Dead & Company has been such an amazing and welcome development for Deadheads. The opportunity to see Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann playing live together again has been an incredible gift over the past 7 years. Add in top tier musicians like John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti and Dead & Company has produced a magnificent new chapter for the Dead’s legendary live music.
Seeing 75 year old Bob Weir effortlessly singing and soloing through classics like “Sugar Magnolia”, “Truckin'” and “The Other One” has been little short of miraculous. Mickey Hart, now nearly 80, seems ageless as he drives the rhythm and leads wild drum solos every night. And Bill Kreutzmann at age 77 maintains his rock steady drive on the drum kit through lengthy shows.
The Dead’s amazing songs live on through Dead & Company with renewed energy. John Mayer has handled Jerry’s old guitar duties with aplomb, paying respect while also fearlessly soloing over classics like “Bird Song”, “Althea” and “Morning Dew”. And Oteil Burbridge on bass and Jeff Chimenti on keys have seamlessly filled their roles.
Dead & Company shows in large stadiums and arenas have felt like joyous communions between the band and blissful masses of Deadheads. For those few hours the outside world melts away into music and dancing. The band often smiles from ear to ear, feeling that familiar magical connection.
Each tour has been a cause for celebration and reflection. Do we take Dead & Company for granted, or appreciate this unbelievable opportunity to spend golden moments with old musical friends who have defied the limits of age? Every note played on stage reminds us that this touring lifetime is finite. All we can do is enjoy the long, strange trip each time it passes through town.