Watch Warren Haynes Cover ‘Black Peter’ With Jerry Garcia’s Alligator Guitar In San Francisco
Haynes also used Alligator for a cover of Steely Dan’s “Pretzel Logic” at The Fillmore on Saturday.
By Scott Bernstein May 5, 2025 • 11:06 am PDT
Warren Haynes brought the Warren Haynes Band to The Fillmore in late Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia's hometown of San Francisco on Saturday night. Haynes utilized Jerry’s iconic “Alligator” guitar for a Hunter/Garcia classic and Steely Dan cover during the show.
The “Alligator” Fender Stratocaster, which has a 1955 swamp-ash body and a 1963 maple neck, was gifted to Garcia by Graham Nash in 1970. Jerry Garcia played the instrument extensively for a two-year period from mid-1971 through mid-1973, including on the Dead’s historic Europe ’72 Tour. The original “Alligator” axe, nicknamed thanks to the distinctive sticker placed on its pickguard, is currently owned by Andy Logan, the founder and president of Grateful Guitars.
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Warren Haynes is joined in the latest iteration of his eponymous band by Gov’t Mule bandmate Kevin Scott on bass, drummer Terence Higgins, saxophonist Greg Osby and keyboardist Matt Slocum. On Sunday, the ensemble delivered their usual mix of gems from Haynes’ solo records, Mule favorites, Allman Brothers classics and choice covers.
Haynes first strapped on “Alligator” towards the end of the second set. Warren put the axe through its courses as the WHB worked a frothy jam into the Grateful Dead ballad “Black Peter.”
Watch fan-shot video of the Warren Haynes Band performing “Black Peter” at The Fillmore below:
The Gov’t Mule frontman had “Alligator” in hand when he returned for the encore. Haynes and his quintet once again led with improvisation, including a “Slipknot!” jam, before launching into a cover of Steely Dan’s “Pretzel Logic” to punctuate the show.
The Warren Haynes Band continues their West Coast swing tomorrow, May 6 in Monterey, California. Scroll below for a complete list of Haynes’ upcoming tour dates.
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