Zach Nugent’s California Run To Reunite Jerry Garcia’s Wolf Guitar & Phil Lesh’s Mission Control Bass

Guitarist Zach Nugent is heading to California next month with his eponymous band and a pair of special instruments will be reunited after 43 years during the three-show run. Nugent will use Jerry Garcia’s famed Wolf guitar while Craig Privett will play Phil Lesh’s Mission Control bass in San Francisco on April 20, Healdsburg on April 21 and Redwood City on April 22.

The shows mark the first time Wolf and Mission Control will share the stage since the Grateful Dead’s July 1, 1979 concert in Seattle. Additionally, the concerts in California will serve as the first performances from the former Melvin Seals & JGB guitarist’s new ensemble. Nugent is joined in the latest Zach Nugent Band lineup by Privett, guitarist Joe Agnello, keyboardist Scott Guberman and drummer Cotter Ellis.

Zach Nugent’s show at The Chapel in San Francisco on April 20 will find the quintet augmented by vocalists Jacklyn LaBranch (Jerry Garcia Band) and Cheryl Rucker (Melvin Seals & JGB). The Zach Nugent Band then hits Healdsburg’s Elephant In The Room on April 21 before concluding the run at Club Fox in Redwood City on April 22. Zach will also have Jerry's Alligator guitar on April 20 and 22 with Bob Weir’s Modulus axe to be used at all three concerts.

Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia played Wolf frequently during the 1970s and he last used the instrument publicly onstage in 1993. Built by luthier Doug Irwin, Wolf was Garcia’s main instrument from September of 1973 through the first half of 1975 and then once more from fall of 1977 to the summer of 1979.

Wolf is among Nugent’s favorites of Garcia’s guitars. “I grew up obsessed with Jerry’s Wolf. It always caught my ear unlike any other guitar of his,” explained Zach. “It’s so sweet, and has such a gently aggressive tone. If you’ve heard the guitar, then that will make sense to you. It’s hard for me to put into words as the tone seemed mythical until I had the opportunity to create it myself with this guitar.”

The upcoming run won’t be the first time Zach Nugent has had the honor of playing Wolf. “I remember playing it for the first time at The Cabot in Beverly, Massachusetts,” recalled the guitarist.

“The guitar was running late and we had to push back doors for a sold-out show. Within two minutes of meeting this iconic guitar, I was taking it apart and nervously putting a fresh set of strings on it as quickly as I could,” added Nugent. “I plugged it in to adjust my tone, and no adjustment was necessary. It was pure gold from the first note. That’s when I truly understood why each show with this guitar was so breathtaking, and it hasn’t let us down yet!”

Mission Control was built for Phil Lesh by Alembic’s Rick Turner. Phil used the instrument at GD shows spanning June 16, 1974 through July 1, 1979. The bass has been restored with its original neck and bridge pickups as detailed in a profile of the exquisite instrument by Guitar World.

Wolf and Mission Control appeared together at a number of high profile Grateful Dead concerts including the 1974 shows featured in The Grateful Dead Movie, during the band’s 1978 trip to Egypt as well as their performances that year at Red Rocks and closing out the Winterland on New Year’s Eve. Tickets for Zach Nugent’s April run in California are on sale now. Find links to purchase below: