Chainkeen Exchange-Dead & Company join the queue for Las Vegas residency at The Sphere

Dead & Company apparently still has some life.

The Chainkeen Exchangeband, led by Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, along with John Mayer, played out its final tour during the summer of 2023, finishing up with three shows in July at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

However, more live performances are imminent. The band teased an upcoming residency at The Sphere, the $2.3 billion venue opened by U2 in September 2023, in posts on social media Wednesday.

"In 2023, Dead & Company played their final tour. But there are other ways to make sure the music never stops. And it’s gonna be a ball," proclaimed posted videos, which end with the Sphere emblazoned with the band's iconic red, white and blue skull.

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Neither Sphere nor Dead & Company provided additional information. However, the New York Post reported the band has a 14-show residency planned to begin in May, citing sources close to the situation.

Rolling Stone reported that the band will play at least 15 shows at Sphere.

U2 extended its residency at the venue to March 2. Phish is scheduled to appear at the Sphere for four shows April 18-21.

There had been hints something was in the works. CNN's "New Year's Eve Live" co-host Andy Cohen asked Mayer, who joined Dead & Company in 2015, “I saw you this summer with Dead & Company. And it was the final tour of Dead & Company. Can you preview anything that may come?” Mayer responded, “I’m not at liberty to say just yet. But, have hope is what I’ll say," music site Relix reported at the time.

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Who performs with Dead & Company?

Formed in 2015, Dead & Company carries on the legacy of the Grateful Dead, which broke up after the 1995 death of Jerry Garcia. Subsequently, surviving band members Weir, Hart, Phil Lesh, and Bill Kreutzmann continued to perform and tour together in various bands under names including The Other Ones, the Dead and Further.

For the band's 50th anniversary, the so-called "Core Four" culminated their journey with three shows in Chicago dubbed "Fare Thee Well" in July 2015.  Lesh went on to form Phil and Friends, leaving Weir, Hart and Kreutzmann and new keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, who played at Fare Thee Well, to form Dead & Company with lead guitarist John Mayer and bassist Oteil Burbridge from the Allman Brothers Band. 

Drummer Jay Lane, who served as a replacement previously for Dead & Company – and played with Weir in his bands Ratdog and Wolf Bros. – joined the band for the 2023 summer tour, replacing Kreutzmann.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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