John Mayer May Tour with Grateful Dead Members

Once the Grateful Dead finish up their Fare Thee Well reunion concerts this summer, it's possible that several members of the group may continue working together. Rumors are spreading that they have brought in John Mayer to front the as-yet unconfirmed new project.

Earlier today (April 24), Billboard reported that Mayer had been jamming "in a rehearsal-like setting with select members of the group," calling out Bob Weir, with whom Mayer has often performed, by name. Although the article quoted a representative for the band, who said it was "premature" to say that a tour was being planned, other sources said they would hit the road in October.

Despite the use of the phrase "select members," the tone of the article suggested that Mayer had been recruited to, essentially, take the place of Jerry Garcia for a new tour. This sparked a justified outcry from those who had purchased tickets to the five shows announced to date -- two at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., in June and three at Chicago's Soldier Field in July -- under the impression that they were to be the last-ever Grateful Dead concerts.

However, a spokesperson for the band made it clear to Mashable that the plans to call it quits after the July shows were still in place, saying, "The Chicago shows will be the original members' last-ever performances together. There will be no other Grateful Dead shows."

Mashable suggests that bassist Phil Lesh is unwilling to be a part of the Mayer-led permutation, noting that he is "particular about who he plays with," as well as protective of the Dead's legacy.

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