When a band made up of a variety of legendary and skilled musicians took the stage at the Kennedy Center Honors 2024, the audience knew they were in for a remarkable tribute to some of that year’s honorees. With the Grateful Dead being celebrated that year for their enormous contributions to music, music fans will love to see these musicians pay tribute to their legacy by playing one of their biggest hits – ‘Not Fade Away’ in a rendition that had the audience up on their feet.
Originally a Buddy Holly B-side, ‘Not Fade Away’ was recorded by the Grateful Dead in 1971 as an anthem to spiritual love and has become closely associated with the band. That night, Dave Matthews, Susan Tedeschi, Leon Bridges, and Maggie Rogers took to the mics to perform vocals in an all-star tribute to the song. However, Derek Trucks on guitar stole the show, with one viewer commenting on the online video, “if you don’t get chills when Derek rips into that solo, check your pulse.”
As a band that has become synonymous with the counterculture movements of the 1960s, the Grateful Dead have come to represent a defining era in America’s cultural history. The performance featured a VW camper van on stage, along with two performers dressed in 60s hippie style. The visuals are sure to have brought back memories for those who experienced the era, including the surviving Grateful Dead members who were in attendance that night – Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart.
The evening also honoured the band’s late members. Jerry Garcia, who passed away in 1995, and Phil Lesh, who died just months before the ceremony, were remembered with a moving rendition of ‘Ripple.’ The performance began with a video of Garcia singing the song’s opening verse before Sturgill Simpson took over. In a moving moment for fans, Phil Lesh’s son, Graham, played guitar for the performance and was shown playing in front of an enormous tribute image to his late father.
With additional performances of their iconic tracks, the evening’s tributes paid to the Grateful Dead will serve as a reminder for readers just what an enormous part of American history they are, not just musically, but culturally too. As a symbol of an era and countercultural movement, the ripples of which can still be felt in the present day, their receiving of the Kennedy Center Honor was the perfect opportunity to give this iconic band the celebration they deserve.
The tribute at the Kennedy Center Honors 2024 was a memorable celebration of the Grateful Dead’s enduring impact on music and culture. The energy and talent brought forth by Dave Matthews, Susan Tedeschi, Leon Bridges, and Maggie Rogers left the audience in awe. Derek Trucks’ electrifying guitar solo remains a highlight, evoking the spirit of the iconic band.
