City Derails Grateful Dead Show, Moved To Alpine Valley

Chicago city officials have derailed two shows by the surviving members of the Grateful Dead — Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, and
Bob Weir — who will reunite as The Other Ones for Terrapin Station, A Grateful Dead Family Reunion, because the Dead
culture presents too much trouble for the city. The concerts, initially scheduled for
August 3-4 at Hutchinson Field (located at the south end of Grant Park) and
promoted by Jam Productions, have now been moved to Alpine Valley Music
Theatre in East Troy, WI, and will be promoted by Jam competitor Clear Channel
Entertainment.

The shows, taking place August 3-4, will not only mark the first time all four members are performing a full set together since 1995, it will also celebrate the music, art, and culture of the Grateful Dead. Ticket prices will be $44.50 per day, plus a $.50 donation to the Unbroken Chain and Rex
Foundations and applicable surcharges.

"After Radiohead, the Park District wanted us to do more shows in Hutchinson
Field, but we were rudely awakened when they turned down Terrapin Station at
the very last minute," Jam's Jerry Mickelson told the Chicago Sun-Times.

"After such a successful show with Radiohead, it's beyond me as to why we're
not being allowed to do this national event. It's no different than a convention–it's
just as important to this city both culturally and financially. I'm still sitting here
in shock that we're not being allowed to do this."

"The Park District needs to look at raising alternative funds and re-energizing
Grant Park, bringing more exciting events and more people into the park, and
one of the ways is by having concerts," Bob O'Neill of the Grant Park Advisory
Council told the paper. "But the issue with the Grateful Dead–and this is no
discrimination based on any type of music–is that the venue is not constructed yet,
and two days of concerts there would just burden the park too much."

"What's going on is that somebody is responding to stereotypes instead of the
facts," Dennis McNally, longtime spokesman for the Dead, said. "The facts are that
we did seven or eight shows at Soldier Field with nary a complaint. The fact is that
that strip of park land is an ideal location. Some very sensible land-use planner in
Chicago a long time ago set that up because it's a nice place for people to come
together and celebrate and not bother other people. The fact that this show isn't
happening there is a great pity."