Watch: Zach Bryan Covers Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil” with John Mayer at Largest Ticketed Concert in U.S. History

Photo Credit: Trevor Pavlik

On Saturday, September 27, Zach Bryan made history. The country sensation drew a crowd of 112,408 to the first-ever show held at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., which represented the largest gathering of guests to attend a single concert in the US, according to AEG Presents, the promoter behind the gig. The epoch-making night also included special guest John Mayer, who took the stage for a collaborative cover of one-time torchbearers of the same title, the Grateful Dead.

Previously, the record was held by fellow country artist, George Strait, who pulled 110,905 attendees to his 2024 Kyle Field appearance in Texas. Notably, the King of Country had previously held the third slot, with a jaw-dropping 104,793 fans watching him play last year in New Jersey. Before Saturday’s record breaker, the Grateful Dead were in slot two, for their Sept. 3, 1977, concert, which was held at Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J., with a staggering 107,019 people at the show. 

During last night’s performance at the new venue, nicknamed “The Big House,” Bryan introduced “Friend of the Devil” as “one of my favorite songs ever, and I’m going to try not to ruin it.” With assistance from the Dead & Company guitarist, the pair shared a slow take on the Grateful Dead original, which was extemporized by Mayer and taken into new and melodic territory during the nearly eight-minute exchange. 

Watch a fan-shot video of the exchange below.