INFORMATION FOR
William Paterson University will kick off its celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Shea Center for Performing Arts on Saturday, October 11, 2025 by welcoming the premier Grateful Dead tribute band, Dead On Live, which will recreate the Grateful Dead’s historic performance in the venue 55 years ago on October 11, 1970.
Dead On Live is nationally known for their unique approach to the Dead tribute scene by recreating entire albums, iconic shows, and specific eras of the Dead’s stylistically diverse musical career, absolutely note-for-note.
In 1970, on their way to selling out arenas and stadiums around the world, the Grateful Dead pulled into Shea Center for two shows in one night during Homecoming Weekend. Reports from The Beacon, the University’s student newspaper, and online posts through the years described a scene that included a jammed auditorium and the last-minute arrival of bassist Phil Lesh, who arrived late because his New York City cab driver thought Paterson State College was in Paterson, not Wayne.
The set list included “Casey Jones,” “It Hurts Me Too,” “Mama Tried,” “Till the Morning Comes,” “Dancing in the Street,” “Candyman,” “Sittin’ on Top of the World,” “Morning Dew,” “Beat It on Down the Line,” “China Cat Sunflower,” “I Know You Rider,” “Dark Star,” “St. Stephen,” “Not Fade Away,” and “Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad.”
Dead On Live features an impressive cast of world-class musicians who reproduce virtually every note of every instrument, as well as all of the beautifully orchestrated vocal arrangements that are trademarks of the Dead’s classic American recordings In keeping with the true spirit of the Grateful Dead, every Dead On Live show also features plenty of jamming and improvisation.
Tickets are $45, Gold Circle; $39 for rear orchestra, $35 for front loge, and $29 for rear loge, obstructed seating, and accessible seating. There is a 10 percent discount for William Paterson faculty, staff, students, and alumni, as well as senior citizens.
To purchase tickets, or for additional information, call the Shea Center for Performing Arts Box Office at 973-720-2371 or visit wp-presents.org.
