In a post on the dead.net Web site, the band wrote, “Grateful Dead conjures up many different emotions and feelings for all of us; it was a BAND, it continues to be a community, an approach to life, an electrical current, a dream, the list goes on. Whenever and wherever we played this past year, we all knew that we were experiencing the Grateful Dead in its multiplicity of forms.

“Therefore, with the greatest possible respect to our collective history, we have decided to keep the name Grateful Dead retired in honor of Jerry’s memory, and call ourselves: The Dead.”

The Dead already have a gig on the books. Along with “very special guests,” to be named, The Dead will give a benefit concert February 14 at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco. All proceeds will benefit the Unbroken Chain Foundation, the Rex Foundation, and the Further Foundation.