Dead & Company’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Manager Explains Why Band ‘Put An End To The Touring’

When the Eagles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, co-founder Don Henley thanked the band’s longtime manager, Irving Azoff before anyone else besides his bandmates. “He may be Satan – but he’s our Satan,” Henley quipped about Azoff’s reputation for going hard after those who mistreat his clients. Irving Azoff, who was inducted into the Rock Hall himself in 2020, is one of Dead & Company‘s three managers and discussed the reasoning for the band’s decision to stop touring in a recent interview.

“Touring is physically hard and nobody wants anybody to get really sick out there,” Azoff told Pollstar. “Billy (Kreutzmann) got really sick last year, and I think that freaked [fellow Dead & Company co-managers] Steve (Moir) and I and Bernie (Cahill) out. If it would have been this year, rather than last, you’d look at it and say, ‘Hey, maybe this shouldn’t be over, but look, Mickey is a wonderful soul and a lovely guy and he can say, ‘I can go forever,’ and Bob would say the same thing, but the rigors of 30-some nights with trucks and buses and airplanes and all the moving around, probably for both the quality of the music and the health/safety it was time to at least put an end to the touring.”

Grateful Dead and Dead & Co. founding drummer Bill Kreutzmann faced health problems, including back and heart issues along with a positive COVID-19 test that led him to miss a number of shows in 2021 and 2022. Jay Lane stepped up to fill in for Bill The Drummer at those concerts.

Kreutzmann bowed out of The Final Tour two weeks before gigs at Jazz Fest and Cornell that led into the 29-show trek. “Bill wants you to know that he is in good spirits, good health and he is not retiring,” read a note credited to Kreutzmann, Mayer, Bob Weir and Mickey Hart.

“This is the culmination of a shift in creative direction as we keep these songs alive and breathing in ways that we each feel is best to continue to honor the legacy of the Grateful Dead,” continued the message. “The final tour will go on as planned with Bill’s full endorsement and support.” Jay Lane took the position previously held by Kreutzmann for the two-month excursion as well as the Jazz Fest and Cornell shows.

“These guys love each other and the music stands for itself,” Azoff added to Pollstar. “The touring parts are over, but there are still special events I’m sure will get offered to them, and you never say never. I’ve learned from managing the Eagles all these years that you never ask that question while the tour is going on. You’ve got to let them finish it, get some rest and get back to their lives and the future will bring what it brings.”

Dead & Company’s Final Tour ended on Sunday with the third of three sold-out concerts at San Francisco's Oracle Park. Members of the band have been leaving the door open for future performances including John Mayer (“Dead & Company is still a band – we just don’t know what the next show will be.”), Mickey Hart (“We never said we’ll never play again, but we’ll never tour again.”) and Oteil Burbridge (“Excellent question [‘Why are you guys stopping?’]. And one that no one seems to have an answer for.”) Stay tuned!