Singer-songwriter John Mayer gushes about The Grateful Dead

SAN RAFAEL, California (AP) — Singer songwriter John Mayer is defending members of The Grateful Dead in their decision to regroup after playing what was supposed to be the band's final tour this summer. Mayer is rehearsing in a city north of San Francisco with three of the four remaining members of the band for a fall tour that kicks off Oct. 29 in New York. The Grateful Dead's Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann are part of Dead & Company with Mayer; Phil Lesh is not involved. Singer Jerry Garcia died in 1995. The four remaining members played five concerts that were heavily promoted as the band's final act, but members said they decided to regroup after Mayer and Weir performed together on a talk show.