Today in 1990, the Grateful Dead would add a player who would play a large role in honoring their 50th anniversary as Bruce Hornsby officially joined the group for his first live performance on this day in 1990. 

In the midst of a six-night run at Madison Square Garden, the band called on Hornsby to join the group as a second keyboardist opposite Vince Welnick following the death of Brent Mydland. Hornsby’s tenure in the Dead would last until March of 1992 when he would depart, only to reunite with some of his Dead’s bandmates last year as a part of Fare Thee Well. 

“26 years ago today, without a net or rehearsals,” Hornsby tweeted today along with a link to the below performance of the full show that includes live Dead classics like a “Touch of Grey” opener, “Box of Rain,” “Crazy Fingers,” “Uncle John’s Band” and others as well as covers of The Band’s “The Weight” and Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower.” 

Watch below.