It seems like almost every year there are rumors out there on the message boards: DMB won’t be touring next year or, the rumor’s more dramatic step-brother, DMB is breaking up. Turns out this year, the “no tour in summer 2011 rumor” that’s been circulating for the last week or so is actually true.
Is this the end of the world? No. We’re one of a small group of fan bases that gets to see our favorite band play live every single summer. Plenty of bands tour on a very infrequent basis. However, when summer tour happens like clockwork every year, it’s difficult to imagine a summer without DMB.
The great news for us here is that DMB made the announcement ahead of time which, in my own personal opinion, will make summer 2010 even more special than usual. I also think that when the tour does recommence in 2012 the excitement is going to be pretty darn near explosive. In my humble opinion, the fact that DMB actually made an announcement that they wouldn’t be touring in 2011 at this early date (or at all) is a testament to the band. This isn’t something they had to do and it speaks highly of their appreciation for their fans and their understanding that annual summer tours have come to be a significant part of many people’s lives.
Although this is only a temporary situation, it reminds me of an interview I had with someone a few weeks ago. He’s been a DMB fan since 1992 and was a Deadhead long before that. In the course of our conversation I asked him what it was like when Jerry died and all of a sudden this lifestyle he’d been accustomed to came to an abrupt halt. He laughed and told me, “Well, I was able to save up some money for the first time in my life.” And ain’t that the truth? Whether it’s saving up to go big in 2012, having a bit more time and money to go on new adventures in 2011, or putting that usual ticket and travel money toward all the things you’ve been forgoing in lieu of DMB, one thing is for sure: Our wallets will all be a bit fatter than usual come September 2011.
