Ron Holloway Reunites With Gov’t Mule In Baltimore

Gov’t Mule and Joe Bonamassa's summer co-headline run landed in Baltimore on Saturday for a concert at Pier Six Pavilion. Local legend and longtime Mule collaborator Ron Holloway made his triumphant return to the stage after a prolonged health struggle to play saxophone on the evening’s “Soulshine” finale.

Holloway’s appearance, one of three guest spots during Mule’s set, came after the saxophonist endured a lengthy health battle that began with an injury in fall 2024 and led to a 2025 hospitalization, surgery, rehab stays and a diagnosis of Wernicke’s disease.

The “unofficial fifth member of Gov’t Mule” went down a long road to recovery that included hospital stays, surgeries, stays in rehab centers and several setbacks. A GoFundMe campaign was started last August by Holloway’s friend and bandmate Jenny Langer which raised over $147K. Thankfully, Ron is on the road to recovery and was able to perform with Gov’t Mule at Pier Six Pavilion on Saturday.

Gov’t Mule took the stage first in Baltimore. Frontman Warren Haynes and his bandmates threw down a 10-song performance at Pier Six Pavilion. The parade of special guests began late in the set when Joe Bonamassa rhythm guitarist Josh Smith sat in on Gov’t Mule original “Painted Silver Light.”

Read Smith’s note about his first collaboration with Gov’t Mule below:

“Warren asked me on the first night of this tour what song I wanted to play and without hesitation I said “Painted Silver Light”. I’ve loved that song from the first time I heard it. I stole a promotional copy of that first album from the office at The Musicians Exchange in Ft. Lauderdale before it ever came out. I wore that album out. Then they came down to play an early show there, and I was there when they loaded in and sound checked just hanging out. The show blew me away and Warren was just (and still is) the nicest and most sincere guy ever. Swipe to the end to see a pic of us that day back in 1996 at the Exchange. This tour has been a blast, getting to spend this much time hanging with Warren!!! He has truly been a massive influence on my playing my entire life.”

Gov’t Mule brought out Joe Bonamassa after “Revolution Come, Revolution Go” to trade licks with Haynes on the blues standard “Key To The Highway.” Haynes went on to repay the favor by joining Bonamassa and his band for “If Heartaches Were Nickels” and “Stratus” during Joe’s set.

Ron Holloway was greeted by a hero’s welcome in his hometown on Saturday. “We’re so glad to see him,” Haynes exclaimed as he introduced the saxophonist. Holloway took a seat mid-stage for “Soulshine,” standing up in time for a pair of sax solos.

Watch Ron Holloway guest with Mule on “Soulshine” and more fan-shot video from the double bill in Baltimore: