Grateful Dead may play again for Obama

Deadheads rejoice. Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart, some of the surviving members of the Grateful Dead, who got together in February during the Democratic primaries for a fundraiser for the party's eventual presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama, say they could do it again for the Illinois Senator.

"We're not making plans, but I think we stand at the ready to be of service," Grateful Dead percussionist and drummer Mickey Hart told Billboard. "We're all deeply into this, into Barack Obama and the thought of taking this country back in some shape or form, what's left of it -- it's probably one thing we can all agree on! So, you bet, I would spend a night with my brothers for that any time, any place."

Grateful Dead leader Jerry Garcia died in 1995. Since then band members have played together occasionally, in addition to fronting their own solo projects. In fact, Hart is out on a 20-city summer tour with his band that launched June 6 in Santa Rosa, CA. Hart's tour includes several music festival stops, including the inaugural Rothbury Festival in Rothbury, MI on July 3, and the trek finishes up July 24 in Detroit Lake, MN at the 10K Lakes Festival, where the band will showcase the Robert Hunter penned songs debuted by the Rhythm Devils in 2006, including “Fountains of Wood,” “The Center,” and “Your House,” in addition to Grateful Dead staples such as “New Speedway Boogie” and “Fire on The Mountain.”

The Mickey Hart Band features Steve Kimock (guitar), George Porter Jr. (bass), Jen Durkin (vocals), Walfredo Reyes Jr. (drums), and talking drum master Sikiru Adepoju.