Dead & Company closed out a historic run of concerts in San Francisco over the weekend, marking 60 years since the founding of the Grateful Dead. Among the performers was guitarist John Mayer, who took to Instagram to express his gratitude for being part of the celebration and for being embraced by the Dead’s deeply devoted fanbase.

“Night 3 in Golden Gate Park celebrating 60 years of @gratefuldead will be one we’ll never forget,” Mayer wrote, recapping the final night of the anniversary shows. The concerts featured a mix of founding members and guest musicians, including Grahame Lesh, son of late bassist and founding member Phil Lesh, who joined the band onstage all three nights. On Saturday, Lesh performed “Morning Dew” with the group, a song long associated with his father and the band’s early years.

Phil Lesh, a central creative force in the band’s original formation, passed away in October 2024. His absence was felt throughout the weekend, though his musical legacy was underscored by his son’s presence and performances. In his message, Mayer reflected on his place in the band and the larger Grateful Dead legacy. “No matter how many shows we play as a band, I will always be a guest in this musical world,” he wrote. “I’ll never lose sight of what is the great honor of my life.”

Mayer also acknowledged the enduring influence of Jerry Garcia, the late guitarist and vocalist whose improvisational style defined much of the Grateful Dead’s signature sound. “It must be said… I’ll never come close to playing like @jerrygarcia,” Mayer wrote. “But if I can somehow get you closer to him and to the spirit he created 60 years ago, then I suppose I’ve done my job. Thank you for accepting me.”

Since joining Dead & Company in 2015, Mayer has become an integral part of the band’s modern chapter, helping to reintroduce the Dead’s catalog to new generations of fans. His commitment to honoring the original material while adding his own interpretive style has earned him respect from longtime fans and collaborators alike.

The 60th anniversary shows also included a notable collaboration with Phish frontman Trey Anastasio, who joined Dead & Company on Sunday night for performances of “Scarlet Begonias” and “Fire on the Mountain.” Anastasio’s own Trey Anastasio Band served as the opening act for the evening. “Beyond the full-circle moment of it all, the lock we had going was instant,” Mayer wrote of playing with Anastasio. “Trey’s ear-to-fretboard data transfer time is unparalleled. I’m still blown away.”

The weekend performances came months after the Grateful Dead received several major honors. In December 2024, the band was recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors, and in January 2025, they were named MusiCares’ Persons of the Year, further solidifying their cultural and artistic impact over six decades.

In an interview with Rolling Stone ahead of the anniversary shows, guitarist Bob Weir acknowledged that a full reunion of the original members had once been discussed, but plans shifted following Phil Lesh’s passing. “I think when Phil checked out, so did that notion,” Weir said. “Because we don’t have a bass player who’s been playing with us for 60 years now. And that was the intriguing prospect.… I think you need somebody holding down the bottom. Phil had all kinds of ideas that were pretty much unique to him.”