Obama: closet Deadhead?

President Obama managed to squeeze in some time meet privately with the Grateful Dead last week (what economic crisis?). The band has said that Obama is one of the reasons they decided to reunite and tour this summer. The group, which included Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti (from Weir's Ratdog) and Warren Haynes, who is joining the Dead on their 2009 spring tour as lead vocalist and guitarist. The Dead chatted with Obama in the Oval Office for a bit. Then, on their way out, Phil Lesh and his wife Jill spotted a vase of Scarlet Begonias sitting on the table (one of their most famous songs, check it out if you are unfamiliar, or only know the Sublime version). After the tour of the Oval Office, the band went to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to meet with some of their fans: senior advisors David Axelrod and Pete Rouse, and deputy chief of staff Jim Messina. All three were planning on attending the Dead show in Washington that night. One can only hope they brought out their tie-dye for the occasion.

-Julie McCollum

Listening to: “Casey Jones” by the Grateful Dead

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