Senator Al Franken Takes Over SiriusXM's Grateful Dead Channel

Senator Al Franken: Deadhead, Who Knew? (Leigh Vogel/SiriusXM)

If you've seen the epic, four-hour-long GRATEFUL DEAD documentary, "Long Strange Trip," you know that MINNESOTA SENATOR AL FRANKEN is a huge fan of the band, a self-declared DEADHEAD who goes to great length to describe his favorite version of songs like "Althea."

Yesterday, the former "SATURDAY Night Live" writer/performer hosted a day-long special on SIRIUSXM's GRATEFUL DEAD CHANNEL. The special takeover featured the performer-turned-politician interviewing band members BOB WEIR, MICKEY HART and BILL KREUTZMANN, introducing music and lots more. 

SENATOR FRANKEN talked with HART about keeping up the good work here, creating the band's long jams here and his involvement in WASHINGTON, D.C. here.  He chatted with WEIR about being busted in NEW ORLEANS here.  

The takeover featured three historic GRATEFUL DEAD concerts that SENATOR FRANKEN attended: WINTERLAND in SAN FRANCISCO, CA (OCTOBER 16th and 17th, 1974, and DECEMBER 31st, 1978).

The day-long special also featured the SENATOR sharing stories about his many adventures (and misadventures) with the band including hosting their legendary 1980 HALLOWEEN concert at RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL as a member of FRANKEN & DAVIS; and why the acoustics for the group’s FARE THEE WELL shows at CHICAGO’s SOLDIER FIELD were actually better inside the soundboard’s port-a-potty. The SENATOR also shared individual concert performances from the group the he believes best epitomizes their strength as a live unit.

SENATOR FRANKEN's takeover aired TUESDAY, MAY 30th, via satellite on channel 23, and through the SIRIUSXM app on smartphones and other connected devices, as well as online at siriusxm.com. The day-long special will be rebroadcast on SATURDAY, JUNE 2nd beginning at 6a (ET). 

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