Bob Weir and his group Ratdog [ tickets ] are set to embark on a late-winter tour of the West, and he'll again be on the road this summer with The Dead [ tickets ]--a group that features his fellow Grateful Dead alumni.

Ratdog opens its month-long tour of clubs in late February. The band's current lineup includes vocalist/guitarist Weir, drummer Jay Layne, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, guitarist Mark Karan, saxophonist Kenny Brooks and bassist Robin Sylvester. Sylvester played his first gig with the group in March of 2004.

Weir formed Ratdog in 1995 with bassist Rob Wasserman, who is no longer involved with the group. The only Ratdog studio album is "Evening Moods," which Arista Records released in 2000.

In related news, the official Grateful Dead website reports that The Dead will return for another summer tour in 2004. The outing will consist of two legs; the first running from mid-June through July 4 and the second running from late July through late August. A confirmed itinerary hasn't been announced.

The Dead's lineup features Weir, Phil Lesh (bass), Mickey Hart (drums), Billy Kreutzmann (drums), Jimmy Herring (guitar) and Jeff Chimenti (keyboards).

Joan Osborne and Rob Barraco, who toured with The Dead last year, won't be along for the ride in 2004. However, singer/guitarist Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule will be on board for the New Year.

The Dead's new lineup will debut at band's second annual Winter Jam concert, set for Feb. 9 at The Warfield in San Francisco.