Bomb Threat Halts Dead & Co.

A bomb threat phoned in during a Dead & Company concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles May 31 caused a brief interruption as the band was escorted from the stage and bomb-sniffing dogs were brought out.

– Hollywood Bowl

After about seven minutes, Dead & Company returned to the stage, the lights came back up and Bob Weir told the crowd, “All clear, kind of,” according to fans who talked to KCBS-TV after the show.

Concertgoers, unaware of the bomb threat, reported seeing what they believed to be crew members approaching the band during “He’s Gone” and speaking to them just before the lights were cut and the stage cleared.

Fans reported enhanced security at the show, including instructions to arrive early.

The County of Los Angeles issued a statement June 1 explaining the incident, acknowledging that on-site security investigated what was an unfounded bomb threat.

“Because the safety of our patrons is paramount, we immediately initiated a thorough search of the area that turned up no evidence validating the threat,” the statement from the Department of Parks and Recreation said.

“Hollywood Bowl security always includes onsite law enforcement officers, explosive detection dogs and metal detectors at all entrances to the venue.

“The concert resumed without further incident.”

Hollywood Bowl is a Los Angeles County facility managed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.