Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

WASHINGTON - The list of celebrities raising money for Sen. Al Franken keeps getting longer. The latest: former Grateful Dead singer and guitarist, Bob Weir, who will perform with his current band, Ratdog, at a fundraiser for Franken next week at the Northrop Auditorium.

"As you know, I really love the Grateful Dead. Really," wrote Franken in an invitation obtained by MPR News. Tickets for the event start at $250 and go up to $2,600 for those choosing the "Sound Check, Dinner & Show" option.

Weir and Franken are longtime friends. Franken and his former comedy partner, Tom Davis, even 

performed comedy sketches during a Dead concert

 in New York's Central Park in 1980 and 

Other celebrity friends deployed by Franken for fundraising including comedians Conan O'Brien and Amy Poehler and "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm. Those celebrities helped grow Franken's donor base by raffling off the opportunity to attend a fancy fundraiser to meet the celebrity in person.

Franken is far ahead in the cash race with about $6 million in his campaign bank account as of March 31.

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Brett Neely

Author

Former Grateful Dead singer and guitarist, Bob Weir will perform with his current band, Ratdog, at a fundraiser for Franken next week at the Northrop Auditorium.

Franken taps Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir for fundraiser

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox