Photo by Jay Blakesberg
Dead & Company, the beloved ensemble consisting of former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, alongside John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti, and Jay Lane, have proven once again that music and charity go hand in hand. With the ensemble’s Final Tour reaching its triumphant conclusion with three sold-out shows at San Francisco’s Oracle Park this past weekend, the band’s goodwill is on full display, raising a remarkable $2 million from memorabilia auctions held during various tour stops.
Throughout their eight-year journey, Dead & Company have cultivated a culture of giving back with their Participation Row, a charity social action village that accompanies the tour. The auctions hosted on Participation Row have become a hallmark of the band’s philanthropic efforts, drawing in enthusiastic contributions from devoted fans. The proceeds from this year’s auctions, including the cumulative sum of funds raised for charities since 2015, now stand at an impressive $4,000,984.
The recent charity auctions saw an outpouring of support from Deadheads, with the San Francisco shows alone generating over $700,000 in donations. Among the remarkable bids were $275,000 for the official tour guitar, which holds immense sentimental value as it was played by Bob Weir, and $238,000 for the guitar commemorating the band’s final shows in San Francisco.
In addition to the guitars’ record-breaking bids, unique pieces of Mickey Hart’s fine art fetched over $150,000, further showcasing the collective commitment of fans to making a difference through these auctions. The generosity of Deadheads seems to know no bounds, as they passionately rallied around the various items up for bid, contributing to the band’s longstanding tradition of giving back.
HeadCount, a non-profit organization championing voting rights, played a vital role in organizing the auctions, and, notably, Bob Weir serves on its board. The success of the charity auctions further supports the initiatives of HeadCount, as well as Reverb and numerous other non-profit organizations that are dear to the Dead Family.
“The final auction results are in and we could not be more GRATEFUL. Last night, Deadheads donated over $700,000 to HeadCount, @reverb_org and the Dead Family non-profits,” the non-profit shared on social media. “That included an incredible $275k for the official tour guitar, another $238k for the guitar commemorating the final shows in San Fran, and over $150,000 for pieces of @mickeyhart’s fine art. In all, this year’s auctions eclipsed $2 million in donations – more than all the previous Dead & Co Participation Row auctions combined! The total since 2015 is $4,000,984. We want to thank the band, @dangelicony, @ajmasthay and everyone who ever made a bid or just cheered us on.”
Moreover, Dead & Company demonstrated their dedication to philanthropy beyond the auctions, with the band donating two dollars from each ticket sale to HeadCount. The band also engaged DeadHeads through multiple promotions on their official website, encouraging fans to participate in charitable causes actively.
See the post by HeadCount detailing the success of their philanthropic endeavors up until San Francisco below.