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Grateful Dead have been back in serious focus recently, as Dead and Company kick off a new second wave of residency shows at the Las Vegas Sphere. AOL reports the band, led by Grateful Dead originals Bob Weir and Mickey Hart with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jay Lane, and Jeff Chimenti, are launching 18 highly anticipated shows over nine weeks. Tickets for the residency—wrapping May 17—are still in hot demand, with standard seats ranging from about 135 dollars to nearly 400, while VIP suites go for a whopping 22,000 for a three-night run. The Sphere, a 2.3 billion dollar venue that’s attracted bands like U2, Phish, and The Eagles, cements Dead and Company’s ongoing mainstream appeal, not just with Deadheads of old but also with a fully immersive Vegas experience that has attracted glowing headlines since its debut.

This week marks the start of the beloved tradition 30 Days of Dead, the annual November event on Dead.net where rare live performances are made available as free daily downloads, sparking deep engagement and nostalgia among die-hard fans. The discussion threads on Dead.net and related fan sites show users analyzing details of the song choices, expressing gratitude for the ongoing generosity, and trading stories about earlier days, cherished shows, and even the nuances of Jerry Garcia’s evolving performance style. For many, this digital celebration remains “the happiest month of the year,” a needed center for the worldwide Dead community—especially those who can’t make it to Vegas.

On the honors and tribute front, Dead and Company’s continued impact is showing up nationally. AOL confirms the Grateful Dead were recognized as 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year during Grammy Week and received Kennedy Center Honors last December, putting them in league with America’s most enduring music legends. Still, it’s not all old glories. A 60-CD box set called Enjoying the Ride went up for preorder, featuring 60 hours of previously unreleased Grateful Dead live material spanning 1969 to 1994. It’s part of a full-on commercial renaissance: Retrospec’s new line of Grateful Dead-branded bikes, ebikes, kayaks, and balance bikes for kids joins a boom in Dead-centric merchandise aimed at fans new and old.

Fans are also abuzz on social media and local forums about offshoot events, like Shakedown Citi bringing Dead-inspired music to Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre in New York, filling smaller rooms with faithful energy and bridging generations. Meanwhile, tribute nights and Grateful Dead music sessions continue to proliferate nationally, from San Francisco to Richmond, keeping the band’s improvisational spirit alive in grassroots scenes.

Industry speculation and rumor remain quiet these past few days, with no major controversies or bitter splits. The overall mood is celebratory: a 60th anniversary, another major residency, fresh releases, community-driven events, and social posts from band members reflecting on their journey keep the legend burning. Watching the Sphere residency, the Dead’s cross-generational pull and innovative energy seem nowhere near finished, and even skeptics might admit, there is still nothing quite like a Grateful Dead show—whether in person or in the warm, communal swirl of their ongoing digital and cultural presence.

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