Bob Weir was outvoted. Joel Selvin covers the changes in Grateful Dead-land today:
The decision to change the group’s name was not unanimous. “At least a couple of the guys really wanted to do it,” said Dead guitarist Bob Weir. “I think it’s a bit premature. I was just fine being the Other Ones. If they really want to do it, they’re going to—I’m clearly out-voted on this.”
Apparently the band is also shopping for a new deal:
With the Dead’s long-standing distribution deal with Arista Records set to expire later this year, offers have been solicited from various record labels, according to sources close to the band.
Among the most likely scenarios is that distribution of mainstream Dead product to record stores will be taken over by Warner/Rhino, which has been handling the Dead catalog from the band’s years with Warner Bros. Individual CD editions of the band’s first nine albums with bonus tracks are currently being released by Rhino. The band’s own “Dick’s Picks” series, which includes 27 multidisc volumes of Grateful Dead live recordings, many of which have sold more than 50,000 copies, will continue as a mail-order business.
Selvin let Weir get in the last word:
“As long as we’re changing names,” he said, “let’s roll up our sleeves—I’m thinking about changing Ratdog to Chew Toys.”