RatDog, originally RatDog Revue, was formed in 1995 by Grateful Dead singer/guitarist Bob Weir; bass player Rob Wasserman, who had been accompanying Weir on his solo performances for some time; guitarist and harmonica player Matt Kelly, who had been a member of Kingfish with Weir as early as 1974; and drummer Jay Lane. Just after the band launched its first tour in August 1995, Grateful Dead singer/guitarist Jerry Garcia died, leading to the dissolution of the Grateful Dead, and RatDog suddenly was promoted from being merely Weir's latest side project to being his primary performing unit. He continued to tour with the band through December 1995, and went back to performing in February 1996, having added keyboard player Johnnie Johnson. In November, saxophonist Dave Ellis joined, and in December keyboard player Mookie Siegel made the band a septet. In May 1997, Jeff Chimenti replaced Siegel. Johnson dropped out in February 1998, and guitarist Mark Karan replaced Kelly that October. During 1999, Weir, Wasserman, and Lane toured under the moniker RD3. In September 2000, Arista/Grateful Dead Records released the studio album Evening Moods, credited to Bob Weir and RatDog, the band consisting of Weir, Wasserman, Lane, Chimenti, and Karan. A year later, Grateful Dead Records released the double-CD concert recording Live at Roseland, recorded April 25 and 26, 2001, at the Roseland Theater in Portland, OR, and credited to RatDog, consisting of Weir, Wasserman, Lane, Chimenti, Karan, and saxophonist Kenny Brooks.

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