but not by choice. I was a Deadhead but not a good enough player to be in a jam band, and then indie rock came along and showed me that there were all kinds of possibilities, even if you couldn't shred." Johnson has spoken frequently of his love for Prince, whom he has referenced several times in his song lyrics. Johnson is a longtime fan of The Grateful Dead. Fruit Bats have covered the songs "Wharf Rat" and "They Love Each Other" in concert. Johnson has appeared several times as a guest on several Grateful Dead related projects. In August 2019 he joined Joe Russo's Almost Dead for several songs at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre, and once again with that band in July 2021 at their set at Westville Music Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut. In October 2021 he played three shows at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, as part of Phil Lesh and Friends. Discography Albums Compilations and live albums References External links Fruit Bats history at SubPop Interview with Centerstage Chicago (December 2006) Interview with Eric Johnson at Jambands.ca (March 2010) Indie rock musical groups from Illinois Musical groups from Chicago American indie folk groups Merge Records artists Spacebomb Records artists Musical groups established in 1997 Musical groups disestablished in 2013 Musical groups reestablished in 2015