Keyboardist Bruce Hornsby was a featured special guest on yesterday’s episode of Tales From The Golden Road on SiriusXM. Bruce mostly discussed his role and take on the upcoming Fare Thee Well Grateful Dead 50th anniversary celebration shows in Chicago over the Fourth of July Weekend. Our friends at Bruuuce.com have transcribed highlights from Bruce’s time on the show.

One of the more interesting points Hornsby discussed is that he immediately accepted when asked to take part in the performances. “I instantly wanted to do it. It’s a deep thing, from a personal, historical perspective for me. In the 29 years since the release of my first record, I’ve been really fortunate to have received so many calls to collaborate with amazing musicians and artists. There are three that are the deepest and most enduring ones, and they cover a pretty broad spectrum stylistically. One is Spike Lee, then there’s Ricky Skaggs and of course the Grateful Dead, probably the most intense of these collaborative ventures, since ’87 when I first started opening for them. So for me to be able to culminate all these years creating mayhem with these guys, by being a part of these shows, it means so much. It means a great deal to me, so it was an instant yes for me,” Bruce said.

How does he feel about performing with Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio? “We both love the Grateful Dead songbook, but we try to express ourselves within that music, and not try to replicate. We’ve only played together once, at the Berkeley Greek Theater concert, we did Standing on the Moon. He’d never heard the song, and he did a fine job,” Hornsby explained.

Bruce won’t be the only keyboardist on stage in Chicago. Jeff Chimenti is also aboard for the shows. When asked his take on the Furthur/RatDog keyboardist, Hornsby responded “I don’t know if we’ve played much together but he’s a fantastic piano player. He could easily have the chair covered; I think they probably want me as much for the vocal end of it as the playing. Jeff will be playing organ and if I go to the accordion and do my Clifton Chenier imitation, maybe he’ll jump on the piano. I’m totally game for whatever happens. But Jeff’s a great musician and he’s been around the post-Grateful Dead world for many years now.”

Will any of Bruce’s solo hits be performed in Chicago? “I’m sure the answer is no, there won’t be any of my songs. I don’t think that’s why people are there; they aren’t coming to hear that. They’re coming to hear the great American Grateful Dead songbook, and that’s why I’m there too,” Hornsby said.

The Virginia native also discussed the potential rehearsal situation, “I imagine it’ll be pretty organized. I think a group of maybe 60 songs will have been figured out, and then we’ll methodically go through them. Maybe we would work on the more complex pieces: Help on the Way, Estimate Prophet, Weather Report Suite, Unbroken Chain… maybe try to wing a couple with no rehearsal. But I’m just guessing,” Hornsby mentioned.

For more Bruce’s thoughts on Fare Thee Well, his solo concerts, his first Dead show and what else is in store, Head to Bruuuce.com.