Grateful Dead: Bid ‘Fare Thee Well’ In Chicago, Break Record Ticket Sales [Photos]


The Grateful Dead headed back to Chicago’s Soldier Field to play their final performance. The band also broke record ticket sales for three nights in a row, with their final show closing out on Sunday night.

Prior to the Grateful Dead’s three shows scheduled for the weekend, the record number of tickets sold at the stadium was 67,936 at U2’s 360 Tour, according to Soldier Field. On Friday night, it all changed when 70,764 Deadheads purchased tickets. On Saturday night, the Grateful Dead sold 70,844 and on Sunday night, there were 71,000 ticketholders.

SANTA CLARA, CA - JUNE 27: A man holds tickets to the Grateful Dead show at Levi's Stadium on June 27, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. The Grateful Dead is kicking off their 50th anniversary tour with shows in Santa Clara, California and Chicago. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – JUNE 27: A man holds tickets to the Grateful Dead show at Levi’s Stadium on June 27, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. The Grateful Dead is kicking off their 50th anniversary tour with shows in Santa Clara, California and Chicago. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The special three-day concert was the last and final performance by the Grateful Dead. When tickets sold out within minutes of going on sale in March, the Dead decided to add a second two-day concert series in Santa Clara, Calfiornia. After the Soldier Studio tickets sold on Ticketmaster, the passes were immediately selling out. Some were as high as $116,000.

The Grateful Dead is notorious for cancelling gigs, including some of their bigger performances. The band also infamously flubbed through their set during a rainstorm at Woodstock. Bob Weird, admitted to CNN that they’re aware of their imperfect concert sets.

“We found plenty of adventure in our music, maybe at times too much. Every night has its own challenges.”

This marked as a historic moment for Deadhead fans. Soldier Field was the last place that legendary musician Jerry Garcia played with his band before he passed away in 1995. Now the Grateful Dead played the last three shows of their “Fare Thee Well” tour, in which the remaining members say is their last performance. The “core four” now includes Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Phil Lesh. It also included Phish guitarist Trey Anatasio and keyboardists Bruce Hornsby and Jeff Chimenti, according to Billboard.com.

With legendary and classic musicians such as them, it would make sense that Grateful Dead tickets would be scooped up quickly. In fact, the three-day concert was so popular that even Katy Perry and John Mayer attended.

SANTA CLARA, CA - JUNE 27: Grateful Dead fans sit in the parking lot before the Grateful Dead show at Levi's Stadium on June 27, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. The Grateful Dead is kicking off their 50th anniversary tour with shows in Santa Clara, California and Chicago. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – JUNE 27: Grateful Dead fans sit in the parking lot before the Grateful Dead show at Levi’s Stadium on June 27, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. The Grateful Dead is kicking off their 50th anniversary tour with shows in Santa Clara, California and Chicago. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

For many Deadheads, this is an historic moment in time. Grateful Dead fan Rebecca Ostrega brought her 10-year-old son to the concert. They both wore matching tie-dye Dead T-Shirts she purchased at a museum. Ostrega also said that she bought several of the Mouse posters.

Those who couldn’t make it out to Chicago’s Soldier Field to see the Grateful Dead perform can now download the 19-song, three-plus hour performance. The NYCTaper has the entire Grateful Dead concert album available on its website. The album release is available in both MP3 and FLAC formats, with bundles split into the concert’s two sets. As previously reported via the Inquisitr, the Grateful Dead also has an exclusive Fare Thee Well 80-disc box set for a steep $700.

CHICAGO, IL - JULY 03: A general view of atmosphere during Fare Thee Well, A Tribute To The Grateful Dead at Soldier Field on July 3, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – JULY 03: A general view of atmosphere during Fare Thee Well, A Tribute To The Grateful Dead at Soldier Field on July 3, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images)

Deadheads could also check out a live concert stream of the Grateful Dead’s last performance on Saturday, July 4. RiverBender.com thought of a quick solution for fans who missed out on the historic concert. Fans who live in Alton, Illinois could watch the Grateful Dead live stream at the Riverbender.com Community Center located in 200 W. Third St. in Downtown Alton. Doors opened at 6 p.m. and tickets were $15.00, cheaper than the actual Grateful Dead concert tickets.

What are your thoughts on the Grateful Dead performing for the last time? Were you able to attend their three-night concert at Chicago’s Soldier Stadium or via livestream? Share your thoughts and/or experience below in the comments section.

[Image: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images]

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