Grateful Dead

I'd be happier to be paying less for a seat to a show this time around, but that's not what's happening and each one of us has to decide how much financial pain we're willing to endure. I was just looking at the VIP packages and they remind me a lot of the pricing I saw on the last Rolling Stones tour. The face value on seats in the first 26 rows at most Stones shows in '05-'06 was $450! My wife, daughter and I bought tickets for the 28th row for $175 apiece and folks told us we'd practically stolen them. I guess it's all relative, but it seemed like a chunk of cash at the time. I also remember that tickets to a show in Foxboro, MA late in the last Stones tour weren't selling all that well and all of a sudden a loge section opened up at $22.50 a pop! I called everyone I knew in the Boston area to let them know. Maybe, just maybe something like that will happen this Dead tour as well and folks will get to find an inexpensive ticket. I hope so. Good luck. "When it comes to humility, I'm the greatest!" - Bullwinkle Moose

Any comments from the band on this debacle? Or are they saving their wind for phoney political lectures?............RIP Jerry, you are missed!!

When did The Dead become The Eagles? Wayyy tooo much $$!!! Jerry would be pissed and Bob,Phil,Billy+Micky should be ashamed!!!Kickin' people when they're down--NOT the Grateful Dead way.

All Phish tickets are 49.50, no matter where the seat. Don't tell me prices are going up 100% when another band can sell em for 49.50.As stated before, you think that in a bad economy, that a band with so much money wouldn't make their fans hold their own ankles while they bend over. It just aint right. Between the political support and the major inflation of tickets, this band has definitely sold out. If half the price for every ticket was for some charity, I might consider going, but right now, I need charity while these rich old men enjoy their private estates. Again, Phish tickets are all 49.50. Who has more concern for their fans? See you on Phish tour.

I gotta admit I was shocked and extremely disappointed with the average ticket price for these shows. I was planning on doing the Philly run, but for me an my girl to go it would be almost $500 dollars alone in tixs. In my opinion that is way, way too much. I'll most likely still try and hit one of the shows but I honestly think we're all getting raped!!

C'mon guys, 100 bucks for a ticket. Jerry must be spinning. 350 for a special ticket package. And in the worst recession since WWII. I'd rather see the DSO for 35.00. Certainly not what you would expect from a band that once touted their tickets were a "righteous 5 dollars" . I'm staying home.

I tried like crazy at 11 a.m. yesterday for chicago tix. so much traffic on the site that it wouldn't let me do anything. Tried at 11 pm last night, said there weren't enough tix for me to order 2. tried again at 5 a.m. this morning.... got one tix in a not so wonderful section... i said, well honey, have fun... logged on 5 minutes later and got one more tix, with a seat directly behind the first tix i purchased. i don't know if i should push my luck with another tix just in case or not. but hey, at least we are both going. and i got lucky with a hotel "suite" right across from arena for $89, compared to a regular room for $125. lucky to get that, 2 hotels i tried were already "no vacancy" for that night.Chi-town here we come and we are STOKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we will be there early afternoon if anybody wants to hang out b4 the show!!!!!!!!!! just let me know.

Sleeping right in the back of the car in D.C. and Charlottesville. Taking the backpack stove and some rice and noodles. no hotel and bringing my own food for 3 days will cut down the cost alot. Theres ways to make this tour if you want it bad enough

in 03 saw the boys with dylan opening and also playing several tunes with them plus Robert Hunter was thrown in there inbetween for good measure, sure wasn't 100$, but, this is 09, and you know who to really thank for these prices. Jimmy Herring took the lead role that tour, so glad it's Warren instead this time. IMHO the best and closest match to Jer was the 2000 other ones tour, with Steve Kimock and Mark K. from ratdog both on lead, that space they played at live oak in fla was awesome. No one, no how, no where will ever replace Jer. logged on at 11:55 am, sent to waiting area, sat for 45 mins, booted right up and got great seats at greensboro. It must have been the roses, just moved to NC from FL and would not have been able to go if still lived in fla, thanks to the band for letting me wave that flag one more time. See you all there.

I cannot even put into words how disappointed I am in the ticket prices and what is obviously a money grab. I am shocked that the remaining members would have anything to do with something so under-handed. $100 for a floor ticket.....they cant be serious. I was so excited about the tour, and now I am finally done. I have paid $50 to see Phil, but usually at small and cool venues. $100 for a sports arena. Im sorry, but people attending are suckers, plain and simple. the group I toured with, many of whom I am still in regular contact with are all in the 38-42 age range and are all professionals with income to spare. I know for a fact not one of them is going. I'll take a walk down to the venue the night of the show and try to score a ticket from the desperate people who will be stuck. At least thats what I think will be the case.

I got my tickets to Chicago, but no luck so far for Denver. Does any one know if a regular release through ticketmaster will come after this Pre-sale??I'm taking my 8yr old on this field trip, Can't think of anyone else I would want to bring more!

why so much money guys/ we are all hurting but does it have to come to this. only the rich can afford a night like this, that counts me out! whats a simple man suppose to do ? . its not about the music any more NOW IS IT? GREED, GREED, GREED THATS THE PICTURE I GET.

Awesome! we took our 7 yr old to see phil in st. louis over the summer. he had a blast and is still talking about it. he wanted to follow them to milwaukee! and was upset that we couldn't! have fun. good luck scoring denver tix.

musictoday didnt take no time to charge my card, They want their money buddy.

I was a little shocked by the prices too, but mail order tickets are $69 bucks or something like that. I checked one of the venues websites and the tickets were at least 60 to 80 dollars higher than the pre-sale price. May be the last time, so I am going to spend the $$$. BTW mail order started yesterday and runs through the 20th I hear. I went to GDTSTOO.com and found out there.

I am justifying the ticket prices I paid with the large collection of sbd's I have collected over the last 20 years. I didn't have to pay for them. Kinda like the band is just collecting now. I am still way ahead of them though as I have 7 - 300+ binders full of gd & jg data dvds! 8D Soooooo........ Winnah winnah chicken dinnah...... Still hope they sell sbd's at the venue though cause I need those too.

When it gets to this its over, and I can assure you the band realizes it, and set these prices with this in mind. For all our sakes and pockets I hope these shows melt our faces! Good, Bad, or Ugly this will be the end of Dead shows as we know them....no not negative, just the reality of the scene, for those of us who spend any time in reality. Sorry Jerry :(

I, like us all, had hoped for a good vibe, a traditional gathering from this tour. I also wanted my 13 year old son--a big fan like his dad--to see his first show. Instead, I got no tickets, a huge on-line marathon headache and a sad realization of the enormity of the corporate sell-out by the band. Did anyone notice that every decent seat (in Denver anyway) was marketed as "VIP" in the $380-$505 range? Not just on the floor but every decent seat. The VIP label alone sent chills down my spine. I naively believed that the Dead was one of the last sanctuaries for community, where VIP stood for Very Uptight People (you know, the ones that can't let any little thing slide). Would deadheads of the early 70's have tolerated this VIP sell-out? Is this the vibe that brought us together, the love community Jerry preached? I'll remain an LIP (Less Important People), I guess, and bang on my guitar at home with my son. For me, the Dead is dead. Adios, boys. Or, more appropriately, Adidas.

Did anyone else have an incredibly hard time yesterday with the presale tickets? The site kept freezing on me or kicking me off (and I have broadband!). I googled presale tickets and hit a site that offered tickets but as I was in the middle of a business meeting and covertly trying to buy tickets, I didn't pay enough attention to what I was doing, and ended buying 4 tickets for nearly $300 EACH, and then realized it was some lame ticket-broker site! That was at 12:15 EST - how do those fascists get tickets so quickly and then turn around and resell them? I just don't get it. I'm so MAD at myself for not paying attention better - but on the other hand I was not going to miss this Charlottesville show, so live and learn...just wondering if others had trouble too...

After they started this insane ticket price inflation. So what am I doing Saturday night? Taking my wife to see the Eagles (please don't throw your shoes at me...my only excuse is that she asked, and she never asks, so how could I say no?). So much for my personal vows, anyway. At this point, I know that I've become jaded to what's happened with ticket prices (music, sports, you name it), so the choice becomes either stop doing something I love (seeing the bands I want to see, going to games), or living with the change. I'm living with it, but I still won't hit the aftermarket for tix, will refuse the "VIP" crap, and will muddle along as best as I can with those options off the table. I'm not happy living with it, but I know that I'd feel a lot worse just cutting off from this stuff. Sigh....

Sadly I can't afford to go to any shows right now. I was so built up to go and even had the hotel reserved. We just don't have the cash right now. My husband promised me we can see several smaller shows to make up for it. I'm hoping Widespread Panic has some good dates on their spring tour, maybe I can hit two of those for the price of one of these, LOL! We've got some good shows coming here to Knoxville too this spring so I should be able to get my fix. I know it won't be the Dead, but there is always the infinate number of Grateful Dead show recordings I have that I can listen to. :) Congrats and have a great time all of you who got tickets. To those who haven't gotten theirs yet, good luck. I hope everyone has a blast!! :)

LunaSol, I know for at least the Charlottesville shows that tickets through the arena or musictoday.com will go on sale Jan. 23. It breaks my heart to say this, but I truly think the people promoting this show (like the musictoday.com people, who I knew growing up in Charlottesville) are money-grubbing fascists...how could Jerry have left us?

Like I said before, the dead should do 1 FREE show to please everyone! BOB,BILL,MICKEY, and PHIL, come on guys, I understand you all have to survive too. But why would you charge so much money for tickets when you get to do something you love. (PLAYING IN THE BAND) I might not be able to afford a ticket but rest assure I will be in the parking lot in Philly trying to score a ticket. If anyone agrees with me about 1 FREE show, feel free to e-mail at markmoye@ymail.com or send me a inbox under phatmoye on deadnet. After all, its suppose to be all about the music anyway!!! (I NEED A MIRACLE EVERYDAY)

Check this out.. 1. Madonna- $306 2. Eagles - $234 3. Billy Joel - $224 4. Bon Jovi - $217 5. AC/DC - $210 6. Hannah Montana - $209 7. Celine Dion - $198 8. Neil Diamond - $193 9. Bruce Springsteen - $191 10. Michael Buble - $189 Above are the top 10 average ticket prices for 2008... The fact that we can still see the remaining 'Core 4' (even idiot Bob...) for $100 is a value in comparison. Don't forget all of the free music over the years...

Tix are still available, yes they are pricey! Come on people.. what if...dare I say it...this is the last time. Try to go to at least to your hometown shows.

Joetroy on page 91 wrote: "I've had much better experiences through Ticketmaster and Live Nation (who knows . . . they're probably both at the root of this debacle anyway)" Yup, LiveNation is behind this. "Musictoday is a Live Nation company." http://www.musictoday.com/ They set up their own ticket company to compete with TM. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/23/business/23ticket.html Note in the article this phrase, "It also comes as the sale — and resale — of tickets has emerged as a coveted source of revenue in the music business as CD sales plunge." How many of those scalpers and scalper sites can be traced back to LiveNation and TicketMaster?

add ticketsnow to the list. It openly advertises as a ticketmaster site (ticketmaster reps will even tell you to go to it), however, its a blatant scalper site. I guess supply and demand wins...

after several hours i was able to buy tickets (premium ones at 96 per seat). this method sucked (especially as i have read in the posts that some were able to buy ticklets as early as 11:30am) my biggest fear is that shows will turn out to be warren shows (as some have been in the past) i am not spending 96 bucks to see warren play warren tunes i want to see the dead play dead tunes

I can wrap my head around $100 tickets, I suppose--not that I can afford it, but I certainly can't fault anyone who can paying it. Still can't get over the VIP packages--and I think the names are the problem: Golden Road, High Times? And the economy package is Workingman's Dead? How about the Wharf Rat package? A cardboard box in the lot, a bottle of two-buck chuck, and a j of ditchweed for $20 bucks? (No offense to the Wharf Rats organization, who are way cool people.) Have fun, whatever ya'll do--

You guys think that people buying tickets through ticketmaster on the 24th will be able to get any tickets on the floor or lower levels at all?

so pay the 100 and be happy!I would glad to shell out 200!

Had a little crisis yesterday trying to sneak my way into the Chitown show. I had to work at 11am and didn't have access to the computer at 11:05 (9:05 Bay Area Time) so I did what I had to.....my mom was the only one to be able to do it. Although very computer illiterate, I had prep her before I got to work for my backup plan. She did it! Got my two ticks and although they are in crappy section 114 (used to go to the lawn at Shoreline anyway to dance) I'm happy as can be. Don't care about the prices although a little high, I would give away my car to see them just one more time. See you all in Chitown and who knows, maybe I'll find the way back home to catch the Shoreline shows.....I'll run and see! _________________________________________________________ Will you come with me? Once in awhile you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right!

Good question. This presale flies against any of my previous presale experiences in more ways than just the Musictoday meltdown, but I have purchased presale tix to other events only to find better seats when the general public sale began. The way I look at it is that Ticketmaster wouldn't accept being stuck with just the crap seats to sell...so there may still be some gems out there to be had. Or I could be wrong.

And FUCK every "dead" member that sucks boardroom dick for a buck. Recession, $100+ tickets and assholes pretending it's about the music! 50 bucks for lawn seats and a house PA. Not a chance. Everyone who is too young forgets half of the quality of the show was in the sound system. Like Phil says - our fan base is trust fund kids. They're not out of touch. They're greedy old men that don't give a shit about anything except money.

I refrained for a while from reacting to some of the poison on this post - but after reading the one above I felt an urge to respond. I do hope you won't trouble us with your presence this tour. I have appreciated the positive energy though that keeps trying to stay afloat amidst all this complaining about $$$$, where they tour (or don't), who's playing guitar etc. The fact that they are willing to play is amazing - and what it has done to my energy level already makes me grateful. I'm still floating on clouds and can't wait for Greensboro, DC and C-ville which are the only ones I can make but which I eagerly anticipate.

Right on, Ranger Joe.See y'all on tour. Way geeked.

Your emotions over your dead hero are sadly manipulated by corporations for profit.

I am glad to know that you'll be at 2 of the 3 shows I can make, rangerjoe (Albany here I come). We gotta flood the boys with positive vibes. I'm as HIGH as a kite right now, and that's saying something as I'm currently only about 2 feet above sea level. I'll look for you in the clouds.

Are you kidding RJ? Time to change the bong water dude ......

So that I'm clear here........everyone should be cheering the High tix prices..........enjoying the limited number of dates and just sit down and shut up ? Ha !!! I know of no Head taht has ever keep their opions to themselves on this or other items............amazing.......so I guess dissenters be dammed...........and if your not well off......or between jobs.....or have say like lfie bills(food,shelter,ect.) to pay...........well then screw you ..............sad .........sad days........to be clear....very exited ...happy....over joyed for the Tour.........just wish the doors where open for all to come that have the desire........not just the well off. NBT

FIRST OFF- let me just say, we are FAR from WELL-OFF. We run a snow plow business, and have had only 1 inch so far, but u know what? we aren't bitchin about the $. This is going to be an awesome tour. you only live once. And to Masknu- go to hell buddy. if you are going to talk to the true dead heads that way, u don't belong anywhere near here. U are the asshole dude. don't take it out on all us because you can't choke down the balls and pay for a ticket. it's not whether or not you can afford it. it's how much of a fan you are, and knowing the reality is, they won't be doing this much longer. see em while u can. So, that said, i have kept my mouth shut the last 2 days watching some of the crap being typed on here. My mouth is no longer shut. Some people have no respect, don't waste your precious time on this site. leave it to the people who appreciate good music, and good vibes. take your bad vibes and shove them.

Free or cheaper shows (and more of them would be grand) but can you imagine what it would be like if these shows were only $20 - mayhem. And that's just the parking lot - tickets would be sold out so fast. And the scalping scene? Oh my! As the saying goes we are everywhere which means there's a lot of us to accomodate. And while I seriously don't want to be condescending - what is money anyways? And as I read earlier there are a lot of "us" that spend $100 without thinking on booze, smoke, dinner out, etc. and this tour is special for so many reasons. And those posters that accuse the boyz of greed or whatever - I must say don't seem to get it - I for one am going for "grate" music but I am also so very excited to see old friends, maybe meet new ones and to see beautiful people enjoying themselves, life etc. For me these are exciting times but they are stressful too with the economy, environment, war and while I don't delude myself into thinking that Dead shows will cure all our angst I do think if everyone could "experience" the vibe we'd be a better world. I'll get off my soapbox now - I'm home from work due to the weather going from minus 20 to 30 degrees above in a matter of days. We have been told that unless it is an emergency to stay off the roads - it is an ice rink outside. YeeeHaaa. Peace and love to you all.

Why all the hate towards others on this board recently ? If you do not agree with someone then so be it. No need for flaming off on someone or telling them to get lost. The Band belongs to all us and none of of us at once. The tribe is far and wide spread and includes many who do not think alike. Which is what I love best about my fellow Heads. We all do it as we do it man. So relax with the bagging on others. Be kind and the kindness will come back to you tenfold. If you hate then hate will be your life. NBT

Livedust posted the highest prices for concerts in 08 but they were RE-SALE prices from Stub Hub, not the initial prices. Hey I am quilty I paid over $650 to take me and sugar mag to 3 shows on this tour, and without trying to sound like a snob, I can do it without cutting into my grocery bill.In Jerry's words "Choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil" and Greed and Evil are synonimous. What would we all say if the Band said, "who needs this shit, we will send you all your whinning baby money back" and cancel the tour...that would kind of suck! Not to fear; not with the pre sale at the level it was. Took me 2 hours of hammering the mouse but got the tickets I wanted....oh, did I say I feel as if I payed to much. MY absolute worst fear is that the shows are similar to that mess they did at Penn State in 2008. Lets forget the $$$$ its all about the music and that was not what I was raised on, please let them practice before they tour. And as far as I am concerned Warren is the closest both vocally and instrumentally as we will ever get to Jerry, so let Warren sing! Just one freaks opinion...

AS I ALWAYS SAID ABOUT THE DEAD, IT IS WHAT IT IS,THIS IS WHATS GOING ON (HIGH TIX PRICES) YOU CAN TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT,I CANT REALLY AFFORD THE TIX, BUT A FEW HUNDRED BUCKS TO TAKE ME BACK HOME, ITS WELL WORTH IT, YOUR ALL TELLING ME WHEN JERRY WAS ALIVE YOU WOULDNT DO WHAT EVER YOU HAD TO TO BE IN THE SHOW? TO HEAR THAT MAGIC? TIX FOR PHILL ALONE IN NYC WERE ABOUT $72, ALL OF THEM TOGETHER NOT WORTH IT? WEVE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT THEM TOURING AGAIN FOR TOOOO LONG TO LET MONEY GET BETWEEN US ALL, IM NOT TELLIN ANYONE NOT TO BITCH,IF THATS YOUR TRIP SO BE OT, BUT THIS IS WHATS GOING ON SO IF YOU DONT WANT TO BE ON THE BUS ANYMORE THEN JUMP OFF, MYSELF IM IN IT FOR THE LONG HUAL, FULL STEAM AHEAD WEREVER IT TAKES ME,,,,,, THE WHEEL IS TURNING,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,SOME RISE, SOME CLIMB SOME FALL,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,JINGLE - FEW GOOD MEN MC - NEW YORK

I need a ride from Fort Stewart GA to NC can help with gas money and ect912-980-4331 ask for andy honest to the point of recklessness

How many of the sychophants apologists on this forum are Live Nation employees doing damage control? This band has been conned by a coporation - the same one that almost ruined other bands recently by abusing their fans. Fortunately for them, they've conned some of their fans too. Respect doesn't mean kissing ass choking on balls or whatever the snowplow guy likes to do in his spare time for fun. If I see coporate greed - I call them on it. The truth may hurt, but it's still the truth. They'd better be dragging some old sound equipment/men around if they're charging that much. Oh yeah and Warren (love him) aint up to the task - so many better guitarists that aren't so fixated on that southern rock sound. But, at least they aren't saying they're draggin some hag around, count the small blessings.

jerry wouldnt like the way this stuff went down but im sure he wouldnt want us to take it out on each other the reason i got into the dead was not only the music but a sense of community that made me look forward to shows i still do and i want everything to work out. calm down everything happens for a reason we may never know that reason but just know it will work out in the end jerry probably wanted to leave behind those kind people that were so nice at shows now were reduced to fighting with each other lets be nice to fellow heads all you pessimists got a long time till may so tell yourself things will work out or write a petition so you can accomplish something more than bitching tell the band you dont like what went down . i personally am excited and i cant wait until the shows see you all there hopefully

I guess my gripe with this is that the pre-sale gave me tickets that were not that good at all. You would think that if you are paying attention enough to get pre-sale then you should at least not get stuck behind / side stage at the top of the section. Right? I should have waited for public sale if I knew my seats would kind of stink. The other side of the coin is the price. I don't mind paying this for the Dead, I gave Phil 70 bucks for three shows last year. But the deal is I feel a little ripped off with Borin' Warren playing. It's almost a kick in the teeth after the fact. But in the end, I'm very greatful to be able to see this happen and will make my stand agianst corporate greed by only going to one show. I mean I have to go to at least one, but I can't support the prices that they are asking for. They should give the old timers a free ticket just to put up with Warren, never mind fuck them for 100 bucks. JG would roll over if he knew, and he knows. That's one less person giving off great vibes in the crowd. Too bad. The PHiSH are selling tickets for 49.50 for their comeback tour, why so much for Borin' Warren? Thoughts?