American jug band. The group formed in the Spring of 1964 and played through the summer of that year. It is most notable as a precursor to The Warlocks & The Grateful Dead, marking the first collaboration between Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir and Ron Pigpen McKernan. The group had a varying line-up without established roles, with Garcia, Weir and Pigpen serving as unofficial bandleaders. Tom Stone (8) replaced Eric Thompson as banjoist in July 1964.