The Dead waving political flag on tour

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo., July 22 (UPI) -- The surviving members of the Grateful Dead, now touring simply as The Dead, have politics on the brain for their Wave That Flag summer tour.

"We're in a political year," says drummer Mickey Hart. "We really want people to get out and vote and take back America, what's left of it. We have to straighten this country out really quickly, or else we'll lose it. So that's what Wave That Flag' is all about."

The Dead is taking the HeadCount organization out on the 21-date tour -- which kicks off Friday in Maryland Heights, Mo. -- to register concert-goers to vote in the November election. The group is also collecting food donations for local Americas Second Harvest Food Share affiliates and for impoverished Native American reservations.

"We just think that's an important combination," Hart says. "There's a lot of needy things going on out there. If we can bring some easy relief to the suffering, it's an easy thing."