Following the announcement that Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio will be playing lead guitar for the Grateful Dead “Fare Thee Well” reunion shows, it seems that Anastasio has taken the role more seriously than previously expected. According to various reports, Anastasio is currently “in character,” and will only respond to the name Jerry Garcia.
His wife, Susan Eliza Statesir, recently gave an interview about Anastasio’s behavior, saying, “At first, I just thought it was Trey’s work ethic. He’s always practiced for hours on end, so I wasn’t surprised to see him playing Grateful Dead songs constantly. Once he started letting the beard go and gaining weight, I knew there was something going on.”
She continues, “After the first month, maybe a couple days after that big Rolling Stone article came out, that’s when he stopped responding to his own name.”
Statesir is referring to the Rolling Stone feature on Anastasio, where the guitarist talks about his practice regimen for the upcoming reunion shows over July 4th weekend in Chicago. Apparently Anastasio is taking things so seriously that he will only go by the name Jerry Garcia.
“I think the talk about Kimock and Haynes really got to him,” says Phish keyboardist Page McConnell, “He just felt so self-conscious that his method of training took on a whole new personality. We may have to tour as a Grateful Dead cover band this summer if Tre… I mean, if ‘Jerry’ can’t snap out of it.”
If Anastasio amputates his finger, we’ll know things have gone way too far…
[Via April Fools!]
[Photo via PT]