The Dead to rise for tour this spring

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The surviving members of the iconic rock group the Grateful Dead have announced plans to embark on their first U.S. concert tour in five years.

Billboard.com said original band members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart will perform 19 concerts in 16 cities, alongside keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule guitarist Warren Haynes. Grateful Dead lead guitarist and vocalist Jerry Garcia died in 1995.

The Dead reunited last year for two benefit concerts to support then-U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama.

The band is set to start its latest tour April 12 in Greensboro, N.C. The concert series is slated to run through May 10 and will include stops in Washington, New York, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles.

"For me, it's the question mark that's really pulling me in ... what's gonna happen?" Billboard.com quoted Lesh as saying. "When you walk out on the stage, the possibilities are infinite every time."

Tickets are to go on sale Jan. 13.