Bill Kreutzmann Misses Dead & Company Red Rocks Opener Due to Non COVID Related Illness
The Rhythm Devils were split apart on Tuesday night, as drummer Bill Kreutzmann sat out Dead & Company’s Red Rocks show due to a “non COVID related illness.”
“Please join us in giving [Jay Lane] a warm welcome who graciously stepped in last minute,” the band wrote ahead of the show. (As fans know, Lane currently plays with Bob Weir and Don Was in their Wolf Bros side project.)
Explained Kreutzmann via social media, “Thanks to Jay Lane for stepping up for brief relief – the altitude is compounding with some cold-like symptoms (not COVID) & docs advised I take it easy so I can continue playing in top shape for you.”
And the lineup changes didn’t stop there as Micky Hart also ducked out of the performance early, writing on social media, “Please excuse my early departure from tonight’s show. All is well. Looking forward to night two of Red Rocks.”
But, as they say, the show must go on.
A bundled-up Dead & Company opened the brisk outdoor show with a nice pairing of “Not Fade Away”> “New Speedway Boogie,” with the latter’s lyrics “I spent a little time on the mountain/ I spent a little time on the hill” matching the venue’s idyllic natural setting.
Fans also enjoyed a mid-set Beatles cover (“Dear Prudence”) as well as “Don’t Ease Me In” to close the first half.
Set two, however, saw the band kick into overdrive, performing a stand-alone “Scarlet Begonias” before jamming through the rest of the set.
They moved through “Estimated Prophet”> “Eyes of the World”> “Fire on the Mountain” before sinking into an amended “Drums”> “Space” with Lane taking the lead.
“Fire on the Mountain” emerged one last time before a trio of “Turn On Your Love Light”> “Morning Dew”> “Casey Jones” to end the show.
The band encored with (arguably John Mayer/D&C’s signature cover) “Althea.”
Dead & Company return to Red Rocks tonight – Oct. 20.
Check out the full setlist and watch each set-opener below:
Dead & Company
Oct. 19, 2021
Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, Colo.
Set I: Not Fade Away> New Speedway Boogie, Big Railroad Blues> Tennessee Jed, Friend of the Devil, They Love Each Other, Dear Prudence, Don’t Ease Me In
Set II: Scarlet Begonias, Estimated Prophet> Eyes of the World> Fire on the Mountain> Drums> Space> Fire on the Mountain> Turn On Your Love Light> Morning Dew> Casey Jones
Enc: Althea
