Zach Bryan & John Mayer Cover Grateful Dead’s “Friend Of The Devil” At Record-Breaking Michigan Stadium Show

Despite not releasing a full-length album for the first time in four years, 2025 has undoubtedly been one of the wildest years on record for Zach Bryan. In between scoring major career milestones, such as selling his catalog for a staggering $350 million dollars and becoming the eighth highest-selling country artist of all time according to the RIAA, the “Something in the Orange” singer has still managed to find himself in a whole bunch of ongoing drama.

Even ignoring all of the aftereffects of his messy, public breakup with Barstool’s Brianna Chickenfry from last year, Bryan managed to find himself in the crosshairs of plenty throughout 2025. Beyond stirring up criticism after telling a 14-year-old fan to “GOMD” (get off my d*ck) after failing to meet with fans after his second of three nights at MetLife Stadium, he would also attempt to fight Gavin Adcock recently at Born & Raised Festival after months of prodding from the “Never Call Again” singer. Long story short, it’s been a year full of ups and downs for Bryan, especially in the public eye.

With so much controversy surrounding him, a plethora of former fans dismissing him for his actions and a general feeling of uncertainty regarding how he’ll manage to continue his unprecedented success, Bryan managed to cap off the tumultuous year in record-breaking fashion last night in Michigan.

Back in February, he announced that he would be playing a show at the University of Michigan’s Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, the first-ever concert at the Big House, along with John Mayer, Ryan Bingham and the Texas Gentlemen and Joshua Slone.

While selling out a stadium show in any capacity is no small feat, the Michigan Show proved to be nothing short of monumental, given the fact that it has the largest capacity in the country with an official capacity of 107,601 and the ability to host over 115,000. When tickets went on sale for the show, they sold out within hours, with Zach announcing that it would be the largest ticketed show in United States history:

“You guys just sold out the biggest ticketed show in American history. I owe you my life, my humility and every ounce of effort I have. I love y’all more than any song. What a wild and rowdy damn 6 years. God bless the musicians who came before us.

The respect is immeasurable. Thank you so much for having us University of Michigan, we won’t let you down.”

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Last night, Bryan did just that, breaking the record for the largest ticketed concert attendance in US history with a crowd of over 112,000. Of course, this record was previously set by none other than George Strait last year at Texas A&M University’s Kyle Field, in College Station, Texas, in June, with fellow Texas natives Parker McCollum and Catie Offerman. The attendance for that show was 110,905, just over a thousand less than Zach was estimated to have in Michigan last night.

On a historic night filled with a jet fly-over during the national anthem, killer opening sets from the likes of Mayer, Bingham and Slone and an atmosphere rivaled only by the heated Big Ten matchups that take place every year at the Big House, Bryan delivered a 27-song setlist chalked full of his biggest hits.

After opening the show with the likes of “Overtime,” “Something in the Orange,” “Oklahoma Smokeshow,” “Dawns” and the new Kings of Leon collaboration, “Bowery,” Bryan surprised the crowd by bringing out Mayer once again for a performance of Grateful Dead’s legendary 1970 track, “Friend of the Devil.”

Though this is the first time the Oklahoma native has ever played the song live, it should come as no surprise that he finally covered the track, given that he referenced it in his certified gold 2023 single, “Deep Satin.” Couple that with the fact that Mayer himself has been playing with the Grateful Dead’s offshoot band, Dead and Company, since their debut in 2015, it truly felt like a no-brainer to include the cover on the historic night.

Bryan would end up flubbing the chorus at one point, telling the crowd:

“I told y’all I wouldn’t mess this up, but here we are.”

With that being said, however, the crowd didn’t seem to mind. Overall, it was a pretty unique cover that is sure to make some diehard Deadheads upset. As a huge fan of both Mayer and Bryan, I enjoyed it, mistakes and all.

Watch here:

The post Zach Bryan & John Mayer Cover Grateful Dead’s “Friend Of The Devil” At Record-Breaking Michigan Stadium Show first appeared on Whiskey Riff.