Written by Mike Greenhaus
Friday, 07 November 2008

The remaining members of the Grateful Dead are rumored to play one of President-elect Barack Obama’s upcoming inauguration parties on January 20. In an interview with The Daily News, Bob Weir mentioned that he has been told to “keep January 20 free.”

Though no official word has been made, The Dead are a likely choice for the first Democratic president since 2001. Last February, Weir, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart reunited for an Obama benefit on the eve of the California primary and, last month, the trio recruited Bill Kreutzmann for another benefit in State College, PA. Lesh, in particular, has been a vocal supporter of the President-elect, while Weir has served on HeadCount’s board of directors since 2004. Weir, Hart and Kreutzmann anchored an all-star band at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s inauguration party in 2007.

Phil Lesh & Friends will perform at New York’s Nokia Theatre this evening, while Bob Weir and RatDog are off until a stop at Boston’s Orpheum Theatre on Saturday.