"I’m still blown away" - John Mayer on playing at Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary

John Mayer recently opened up about paying tribute to the Grateful Dead and performing as part of the group's 60-year legacy. According to People, he thanked fans for accepting him as part of the band, and expressed joy at the opportunity to play alongside Trey Anastasio from American rock band, Phish. He said:

"I’m still blown away."

John Mayer, along with past Grateful Dead members Mickey Hart, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and two other musicians, was a part of the offshoot band, Dead & Company in 2015. The group primarily pays homage to the orginal Grateful Dead, which was formed in 1965, and celebrates the band's legacy through their music. Kreutzmann, who stopped touring in 2023, was replaced by Jay Lane, though the other members have continued to honor the band's legacy.

More about Grateful Dead's 60-year anniversary, as John Mayer gives a tribute performance for the band

John Mayer and other members of Dead & Company performed at the weekend-long celebration for their fans at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The performances, which began on Friday, August 1, continued till August 3, and featured a range of songs from Grateful Dead's vast musical catalogue. John Mayer wrote on Instagram, commemorating the special occasion:

"Night 3 in Golden Gate Park celebrating 60 years of @gratefuldead will be a one we’ll never forget. I finally had the chance to play with @treyanastasio, and beyond the full-circle moment of it all, the lock we had going was instant. Trey’s ear-to-fretboard data transfer time is unparalleled. I’m still blown away."

He added:

"Extra special thanks to @grahamelesh for joining us all three nights. No matter how many shows we play as a band, I will always be a guest in this musical world, and I’ll never lose sight of what is the great honor of my life. Happy 60th, Grateful Dead, and long may you run, @bobweir, @mickeyhart, and @billkreutzmann."

The Waiting For the World to Change singer also expressed how grateful he was to have taken the place of former lead singer and guitarist, Jerry Garcia, who passed away in 1995 at the age of 53 from a heart attack, at a drug rehabilitation center. He wrote:

"It must be said… I’ll never come close to playing like @jerrygarcia. But if I can somehow get you closer to him – and to the spirit he created 60 years ago – then I suppose I’ve done my job. Thank you for accepting me. ♥️.”

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Grateful Dead's 60-year anniversary performance comes a little over a year after the surviving members of the band were honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in July 2024.

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