Dead & Company Summer Tour 2023 (billed as "The Final Tour") was the tenth and final concert tour by the American rock band Dead & Company. The nationwide tour comprised 29 concerts spanning from May to July 2023.
Upon its announcement, it was confirmed to be the band's final tour. It also marked the first full tour without founding member Bill Kreutzmann. It began on May 19 in Inglewood, California, and concluded on July 16, in San Francisco. Prior to the tour's start, the band headlined the 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Overview On September 23, 2022, Dead & Company announced their next summer tour would be their last. The following month, the band announced the tour would consist of 29 shows beginning on May 19.
In April 2023, the band announced founding member Bill Kreutzmann would be departing the group and replaced by Jay Lane. Lane previously stood in for Kreutzmann during the 2022 summer tour. In the announcement, the band reassured fans of Kreutzmann's health and cited "a shift in creative direction" as the reason for his departure.
The tour began on May 19 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.
The third and final concert at Folsom Field in Boulder featured two drone shows during the concert's second set which displayed the Grateful Dead's "stealie" logo and marching bear icons. At the same concert, Dave Matthews joined the band to play covers of "All Along the Watchtower", "Not Fade Away," "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," and "The Weight."
The tour concluded on July 16 at Oracle Park in San Francisco. The final show also featured a drone display similar to the one in Boulder.
Reception The tour was widely praised by fans and critics alike with Mayer's skillful guitar work being particularly lauded. Lane's inclusion as a full-time member was also well received.
The tour grossed $115 million off of 845,000 tickets sold, making it the band's most successful tour.
Future Speculation of the band's dissolution circulated upon the tour's conclusion. In an interview with ABC, drummer Mickey Hart reassured fans of potential future shows saying, "It's not final anything. We never said we'll never play again, but we'll never tour again."
In February 2024, the band announced they would be performing a concert residency at Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dead Forever: Live at Sphere consisted of 30 shows, spanning from May 16 to August 10, 2024.
Tour dates +Concert Dates for Dead & Company Summer Tour 2023DateCityVenueTickets SoldRevenueMay 19, 2023InglewoodKia Forum28,346$5,282,997May 20, 2023May 23, 2023PhoenixTalking Stick Resort Amphitheatre18,720$2,386,430May 26, 2023DallasDos Equis Pavilion19,690$2,558,782May 28, 2023AtlantaCellairis Amphitheatre18,797$2,323,775May 30, 2023CharlottePNC Music Pavilion18,576$2,393,344June 1, 2023RaleighCoastal Credit Union Park20,180$2,355,777June 3, 2023BristowJiffy Lube Live23,234$2,930,648June 5, 2023BurgettstownThe Pavilion22,919$2,297,030June 7, 2023Maryland HeightsHollywood Casino Amphitheatre18,969$1,996,795June 9, 2023ChicagoWrigley Field82,078$11,730,898June 10, 2023June 13, 2023CincinnatiRiverbend Center20,064$2,207,226June 15, 2023PhiladelphiaCitizens Bank Park41,502$6,528,618June 17, 2023Saratoga SpringsSaratoga Performing Arts Center47,220$4,992,418June 18, 2023June 21, 2023QueensCiti Field73,650$11,147,015June 22, 2023June 24, 2023BostonFenway Park74,251$11,631,108June 25, 2023June 27, 2023NoblesvilleRuoff Center23,919$2,466,421July 1, 2023BoulderFolsom Field131,450$13,371,629July 2, 2023July 3, 2023July 7, 2023GeorgeThe Gorge Amphitheatre43,486$5,828,061July 8, 2023July 14, 2023San FranciscoOracle Park118,360$20,414,993July 15, 2023July 16, 2023
Musicians Bob Weir – rhythm guitar, lead/backing vocals Mickey Hart – drums, percussion John Mayer – lead guitar, lead/backing vocals Oteil Burbridge – bass guitar, percussion, lead/backing vocals Jeff Chimenti – keyboards, backing vocals Jay Lane – percussion
Dave Matthews played with the band for one show on July 3, 2023.
See also Reunions of the Grateful Dead
References