The article (like many of its style) draws strong comparisons to the grateful dead. They serve as a cautionary tale as well - the road, especially when defined

The article (like many of its style) draws strong comparisons to the grateful dead. They serve as a cautionary tale as well - the road, especially when defined as year in year out tours, can take a heavy toll. They lost three keyboardists to drug and alcohol abuse (two directly and one had to leave), their last one had serious drug problems and their bassist struggled with hep C and needed a kidney transplant. Garcia was of course the most famous casualty - he died in rehab due to the complications of long term abuse. He struggled with addiction for ~20 years and according to some reports often longed to quit the road entirely in part because of its effects on his health. In the end the band simply made too much money - and provided for too many peoples livelihood through their touring regime - and when met with resistance to stop he simply felt he needed to soldier on for other's benefit. It's not all drugs and alcohol either - many musicians find the road punishing sooner or later for reasons ranging from diet and exercise to alienation and homesickness. I'm sure a few consultants out there can sympathize. None of this is to say that a comfortable living can't be made on the road or that a live music oriented can't counter some of the negative effects piracy has on artists. But clearly there are some people out there (who are being held up as the ultimate examples) that might not choose to do it that way again.