Event

The War On Drugs, Vampire Weekend, Mick Fleetwood and Others Honor Grateful Dead at Charity Gala

Published February 1, 2025

The War On Drugs, Vampire Weekend, Mick Fleetwood, and other artists gathered to honor the Grateful Dead at a charity gala held in Los Angeles.

The event took place on January 31 and was part of the annual MusiCares Persons Of The Year ceremony, which recognizes outstanding contributions to music. This ceremony has previously honored greats such as Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Dolly Parton.

During the ceremony, the Grateful Dead received the esteemed recognition, becoming the third band to be celebrated with this honor, following Fleetwood Mac and Aerosmith. Surviving members Mickey Hart and Bob Weir attended to accept the tribute on behalf of the band.

Several artists performed in tribute to the Grateful Dead. The War On Drugs played the classic track "Box Of Rain" from 1970, while Vampire Weekend delighted the crowd with their rendition of "Scarlet Begonias" from 1974. Other performances included Billy Strings covering "Wharf Rat," Dwight Yoakam's version of "Truckin’," Sammy Hagar performing "Loose Lucy," My Morning Jacket with "One More Saturday Night," and Norah Jones covering "Ripple."

Attendees also included notable figures such as John Mayer, Stewart Copeland from The Police, Noah Kahan, and Maren Morris, who all contributed to the memorable evening. Fans captured footage of the joyous event, highlighting the festive atmosphere.

The gala had been announced in October and was initially planned to include a posthumous tribute to Jerry Garcia, one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead. Sadly, founding bassist Phil Lesh passed away shortly after the announcement, and he was also remembered at the ceremony.

In December, the Grateful Dead were honored at the Kennedy Center Honors, where Sturgill Simpson performed a moving cover of their song "Ripple."

In other news related to the band, Dead & Company, featuring Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart along with John Mayer and others, has announced a residency at Las Vegas venue the Sphere for 2025. This will continue from their successful 2024 residency, with tickets already available for fans.

GratefulDead, charity, honor, music, performance