Jay Blakesberg To Appear On ‘Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen’

Bravo executive and talk show host Andy Cohen is a huge Grateful Dead fan dating back decades and he also considers Dead & Company guitarist John Mayer among his best friends. Tonight’s episode of Cohen’s Bravo talk show Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen will feature one of our scene’s most prestigious photographers, Jay Blakesberg. Jay recently issued Eyes Of The World – Grateful Dead Photography 1965-1995, which was co-edited by Blakesberg and former Relix editor-in-chief Josh Baron.

Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen usually airs at 11 p.m., but tonight’s installment will begin at 11:15/10:15 p.m. CT. Former hockey pro and current jam fan Sean Avery will be Cohen’s guest along with Bethenny Frankel. Each episode of the show features a guest bartender. Jay Blakesberg will be doing the honors on Monday night. Monday’s What What Happens Live With Andy Cohen is sure to be the most Dead-friendly broadcast since Andy brought Mayer and Bob Weir on the show back in June 2016.

In addition to plenty of Blakesberg’s Dead photos, the 272-page, hardcover Eyes Of The World – Grateful Dead Photography 1965-1995 showcases the work of more than 60 additional photographers including such renowned contributors as Annie Leibovitz, Jim Marshall, David Gahr, Mark Seliger, Herb Greene, William Coupon, Michael O’Neill, Adrian Boot, Michael Putland, Peter Simon and Baron Wolman. All told, Eyes Of The World presents a total of 220 images, including some never-before-seen shots of the band, and a foreword penned by Graham Nash.

“There were quite a few of us photographers fortunate to have had the opportunity to help document the Grateful Dead,” said Blakesberg in a statement. “But no single photographic perspective can tell this band’s full story. For many years, I have thought a book that considered the archives of numerous photographers – Jim Marshall, Herb Greene, myself, and others – would be the ultimate photography book on this band. It was Josh who went above and beyond, seeking out the rare and unseen archives that truly makes this a unique collection. I’m very happy to see this book come to life.”