Rhythm Devils

The Rhythm Devils is the name used for a percussion-focused project led by former Grateful Dead drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart. The name originated in the 1970s as a nickname for their extended percussion segments within Grateful Dead performances. In 1980, Hart and Kreutzmann were recruited by director Francis Ford Coppola to record percussion-based music for Apocalypse Now, resulting in the album The Apocalypse Now Sessions: The Rhythm Devils Play River Music. The Rhythm Devils later operated as a touring band beginning in 2006, featuring various lineups that included musicians such as Mike Gordon and Steve Kimock. A concert film and DVD titled The Rhythm Devils Concert Experience was released in 2008. The group performed through 2011, including appearances at festivals such as Gathering of the Vibes.