The live experience is ultimate in the world of The Grateful Dead which lead the band to recording its shows from its legendary 1972 European tour. It was unknown at the time that the album would go on to become the band’s landmark live statement, a 3 LP live album, known worldwide as Europe ‘72.
The latest statement comes from Dark Star Orchestra, announcing its celebration of 50 years since that game-changing 1972 tour of Europe, with a tour of its own. Uniting a global fanbase of Grateful Dead fans, the hallowed music will once again ring in the halls and theaters across the continent September 13 - 25, 2022, as every show will be a recreation of a historic Europe ‘72 tour performance. DSO’s European itinerary weaves from London to Paris, Germany to Italy, each night exposing the band’s crafting of hyper-accurate live Grateful Dead music to an entirely new audience. The European tour’s itinerary has DSO performing in four of the exact cities from Europe ‘72; notably in Paris, France, the band is performing at The Olympia - the very same venue the Grateful Dead performed on May 3, 1972.
Before heading to Europe, Dark Star Orchestra’s Europe ‘72 recreations come to life in the States - 50 years to the day - as the Dead’s 4/8/72 show from Wembley Empire Pool London, England will be performed at the Skull & Roses Festival on April 8 in Ventura, CA. Additionally, the band will take the Europe ‘50 Years Later’ recreation to The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY on May 13, offering the Dead’s performance from Lille, France from 5/13/72.
Adding to the band’s authentic sound at these two stateside performances is the presence and participation of Jerry Garcia’s ‘Alligator’ guitar; a 1955 Fender Stratocaster originally used by Jerry on the Europe 1972 tour, shared with DSO’s lead guitarist Jeff Mattson to handle and elevate the specific tones from this legendary instrument.
This historic Jerry Garcia instrument is provided for use with a special thanks to Grateful Guitars Foundation’s Andy Logan. Logan states "Grateful Guitars is thrilled that Dark Star Orchestra is celebrating the Grateful Dead’s legendary Europe ’72 tour’s 50th anniversary. We’re excited to celebrate some specific show anniversaries this year in the United States and especially to ‘take that ride again’ and tour Europe with the band and our loving tribe. We know this will enliven Deadheads around the world and will help ensure this music thrives for generations.”
Dark Star Orchestra keyboardist / vocalist Rob Barraco summarizes the magnitude of experience stating, “It is an honor of my lifetime to pay tribute to such a transformative event that we all have come to know as Europe ‘72.”
Tickets for all European shows go on sale Friday, March 25 at 6 AM ET are available via DarkStarOrchestra.net.
Dark Star Orchestra Europe ‘72 50th Anniversary European Tour Dates:
9/13 - London, UK - Shepherd's Bush Empire
9/17 - Paris, France - Olympia
9/18 - Cologne, Germany - Live Music Hall
9/19 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp
9/20 - Berlin, Germany - Astra Kulturhaus
9/22 - Munich, Germany - Muffathalle
9/23 - Milan, Italy - Santeria Toscana 31
9/24 - Florence, Italy - Teatro Puccini
9/25 - Rome, Italy - Monk
