Bob Weir, guitarist, singer and founding member of the Grateful Dead, has died at the age of 78.
A family statement, posted on his website, confirmed Weir – who was diagnosed with cancer in July – died “peacefully, surrounded by loved ones” after developing “underlying lung issues”.
In a lengthy tribute, the statement added: ‘Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music.”
Weir was one of the group’s two frontmen and main vocalists for most of the band’s history.
Born in 1947 in San Francisco, and originally named Robert Hall Parber, Weir struggled at school, partly due to dyslexia.
In 1964, he met folk musician Jerry Garcia, with whom he formed the Warlocks, which morphed into the Grateful Dead.
Weir was the youngest member of the original band and was sometimes referred to as “the kid”.
(L-R) Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh, Jerry Garcia, Brent Mydland, Bill Kreutzmann and Bob Weir. Pic: AP
It was Weir who sang the verses on the band’s trademark boogie anthem Truckin’ and who wrote such key songs as Sugar Magnolia, Playing In The Band and Jack Straw.
After the death of fellow co-founder and lead guitarist Garcia at the age of 53 in 1995, Weir carved out a solo career – much of it with his band, RatDog.
He also participated in reunions of surviving Dead members in different configurations.
Weir was linked to numerous other rock bands during his career, including Kingfish, Bobby And The Midnites, Furthur and in 2015 formed Dead & Company with a lineup of former Grateful Dead members.
Weir performs in Tennessee with Dead & Company in 2016. Pic: Invision/AP
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The band’s colourfully dressed followers became known as Deadheads, who often wore tie-dyed psychedelic clothing – a visual representation of the group’s improvisational form of music.
Weir’s own musical tastes ranged from Chuck Berry to cowboy songs to R&B and reggae.
As the band’s rhythm guitarist, Weir often played little fills, riffs and figures instead of straight chords. “I derived a lot of what I do on guitar from listening to piano players,” he told GQ magazine in 2019.
Thanks to relentless touring, constant musical evolution and a passionate fan base, the Grateful Dead – who existed from 1965 to 1995 – did not have to rely on producing hit records.
Weir’s death leaves drummer Bill Kreutzmann as the only surviving original member. Founding bassist Phil Lesh died in 2024.
Weir is survived by his wife, Natascha, and two daughters, Chloe and Monet.
