Dead & Company, John Mayer to follow U2 with residency at Las Vegas Sphere: sources
Dead & Company will come back to life this spring with a 14-show residency at James Dolan’s Las Vegas Sphere, The Post has learned.
The $2.3 billion Sphere — which the owner of the Knicks and Rangers spun off from Madison Square Garden last April — has been looking to book a long-running act to follow U2 after their 40-show run ends in March.
The band, which includes former Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir and guitarist John Mayer, will begin their residency in May, according to a source close to the situation.
The deal is expected to be announced this week, the source added.
Reps for the Sphere and Dead & Company didn’t immediately comment.
Dead & Company’s expected return, which was previously reported by The Post, comes after the band played a concert last July 16 at San Francisco’s Oracle Park that was billed as the final stop of their farewell tour.
On Tuesday, the LED-covered venue flashed the psychedelic colors and “Stealie” logo made famous by the Grateful Dead and its legendary guitarist Jerry Garcia, according to marketing site Live For Live Music.
The band’s Instagram page Wednesday posted a video of the tie dye-lit Sphere with the not-so-cryptic message: “In 2023, Dead & Company played their final tour. But there are other ways to make sure the music never stops. And it’s gonna be a ball.”
However, Weir, Mayer and the other aging rockers were attracted to the Sphere because the residency does not involve travel, a source had told The Post.
Mayer hinted about a possible Sphere residency during an appearance on CNN’s New Year’s Eve show.
Asked about the band’s upcoming plans, the “Your Body Is a Wonderland” crooner said, “I’m not at liberty to say… just yet. But have hope, is what I’ll say.”
Dolan has also booked Phish, a psychedelic band whose extended jams have long been inspired by the Dead, for a four-night run at the 20,000-seat venue in April.
He has been in talks with other acts including Beyoncé, sources said.
Dolan rents the land for The Sphere from the adjoining Venetian, which opened a new, smaller concert hall last fall called The Voltaire.
It is currently features pop star Christina Aguilera, whose residency began in December and runs through March.
