Grateful Dead given permission for concerts

The Grateful Dead have been granted permission to hold two reunion concerts in Wisconsin.

The local highways committee initially rejected the band's application for a concert permit due to public safety fears.

But the shows at The Alpine Valley Music Theatre, near Milwaukee will now go ahead on August 3 and 4.

The concerts will be the first time original band members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir have played together since the death of founding member Jerry Garcia in 1995.

Around 200,000 people were originally expected to flock to the 35,000 capacity venue.

Promoters Clear Channel have now promised the local authorities they will discourage ticketless fans from turning up.