Bob Weir: A Songwriting Powerhouse for the Grateful Dead, and Legacy's Chief Custodian
In a career spanning over five decades, Bob Weir emerged as an integral part of one of the most iconic bands in American rock history – the Grateful Dead. Nicknamed "the Kid" due to his age when he joined the band at 16, Weir managed to fit into the complex dynamics that had formed around Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, and others. Despite being overshadowed by some of his bandmates, Weir's contributions to the band were instrumental.
Weir's relationship with Garcia was often likened to that of a junior sibling – their partnership forged an "intwined sense of intuition" that underpinned the Grateful Dead's legendary improvisational skills. This bond allowed for the creation of some of the band's most iconic live performances, including "That's It for the Other One." Weir's rhythm guitar style added a unique element to the band's sound, influenced by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner.
As one of the primary songwriters for the Grateful Dead, Weir emerged as a powerhouse in his own right. His early solo work, such as "Ace," showcased his ability to craft both weary ballads and complex epics like "Weather Report Suite." However, it was his later work that cemented his status as a master of earthy hard-driving rock'n'roll.
After Garcia's passing in 1995, Weir struggled to come to terms with the loss. He eventually re-emerged as the chief custodian of the Grateful Dead's legacy, working tirelessly to keep their music alive through various projects. One notable example is his collaboration with indie band the National on "Day of the Dead," a tribute box set that highlighted the Grateful Dead's influence on later alt-rock.
In 2015, Weir formed Dead & Company, featuring twin drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, alongside John Mayer. The band has proven to be incredibly successful, earning over $115 million in revenue from their 2023 tour alone. Weir also fronted the Wolf Bros, which reimagined Grateful Dead classics and Weir's solo work in both stripped-back and grandiose styles.
In a poignant moment, Weir gave his final live performance at the Grateful Dead's 60th Anniversary shows in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The setlist featured iconic tracks like "Knocking on Heaven's Door" and "Touch of Grey," marking a sense of closure for the legendary musician.
Weir once shared a vision of Dead & Company continuing to play live, even after his passing – with younger musicians keeping the legacy alive in 200 or 300 years. This notion encapsulates Weir's enduring spirit and dedication to preserving the Grateful Dead's music for future generations.
In a career spanning over five decades, Bob Weir emerged as an integral part of one of the most iconic bands in American rock history – the Grateful Dead. Nicknamed "the Kid" due to his age when he joined the band at 16, Weir managed to fit into the complex dynamics that had formed around Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, and others. Despite being overshadowed by some of his bandmates, Weir's contributions to the band were instrumental.
Weir's relationship with Garcia was often likened to that of a junior sibling – their partnership forged an "intwined sense of intuition" that underpinned the Grateful Dead's legendary improvisational skills. This bond allowed for the creation of some of the band's most iconic live performances, including "That's It for the Other One." Weir's rhythm guitar style added a unique element to the band's sound, influenced by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner.
As one of the primary songwriters for the Grateful Dead, Weir emerged as a powerhouse in his own right. His early solo work, such as "Ace," showcased his ability to craft both weary ballads and complex epics like "Weather Report Suite." However, it was his later work that cemented his status as a master of earthy hard-driving rock'n'roll.
After Garcia's passing in 1995, Weir struggled to come to terms with the loss. He eventually re-emerged as the chief custodian of the Grateful Dead's legacy, working tirelessly to keep their music alive through various projects. One notable example is his collaboration with indie band the National on "Day of the Dead," a tribute box set that highlighted the Grateful Dead's influence on later alt-rock.
In 2015, Weir formed Dead & Company, featuring twin drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, alongside John Mayer. The band has proven to be incredibly successful, earning over $115 million in revenue from their 2023 tour alone. Weir also fronted the Wolf Bros, which reimagined Grateful Dead classics and Weir's solo work in both stripped-back and grandiose styles.
In a poignant moment, Weir gave his final live performance at the Grateful Dead's 60th Anniversary shows in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The setlist featured iconic tracks like "Knocking on Heaven's Door" and "Touch of Grey," marking a sense of closure for the legendary musician.
Weir once shared a vision of Dead & Company continuing to play live, even after his passing – with younger musicians keeping the legacy alive in 200 or 300 years. This notion encapsulates Weir's enduring spirit and dedication to preserving the Grateful Dead's music for future generations.
... I mean, the dude was a master of creating these epic jams with Jerry Garcia that just took you on a trip 
. And his solo work wasn't too shabby either - "Ace" is still one of my faves to this day 
. But what really gets me is how he's kept the Grateful Dead's legacy alive all these years... I mean, 60th Anniversary shows in Golden Gate Park? That's just mind-blowing 
. And I love how he's been open about wanting younger musicians to keep the spirit of the band alive - that's just so cool 
. Dead & Company is doing an amazing job with his legacy, and it's awesome to see John Mayer bring his own vibe to their shows 
. Weir's dedication to preserving the music for future generations is truly inspiring 
...
... i mean, he was literally the heartbeat of the grateful dead 
. and to think he's still carrying on the legacy even now with dead & company... like, what a way to leave an impact on music history 
. i love how he's got this vision of keeping the dead alive for centuries to come 
- it gives me chills thinking about all that iconic music getting passed down through generations 
he was literally the heartbeat of the grateful dead and his songwriting skills are INSANE!!! 
he's been keeping the band's legacy alive thru dead & company and wolf bros and its amazing to see him still pushing the boundaries of music 20+ yrs later! 
they're making bank off that tour and it's crazy how much revenue they're raking in... over 115 million? that's wild, but also kinda unfair to the rest of us who can't afford ticket prices 
. Forming Dead & Company with John Mayer and other talented musicians has been a huge success, and it's awesome to see new fans discovering the Grateful Dead through their music 
. It's like, a beautiful thing, you know? The way he's able to balance his own artistic expression with being the custodian of this amazing musical heritage is just inspiring 
. his collaboration with the national on "day of the dead" was a great tribute to the band's influence on alt-rock. and the fact that he formed dead & company with some of the original members' relatives 
. it's amazing how weir has been able to balance his solo work with keeping the grateful dead's spirit alive 
Bob Weir is literally a rock legend and I'm still trying to wrap my head around how he kept it all together after Jerry Garcia passed away 
And can we talk about that collaboration with The National on "Day of the Dead"? Genius move! Interesting 
he really is a powerhouse songwriter and his live performances with dead & company are always electric 
️! The way they blend Weir's solo work with Grateful Dead classics is pure magic 
. he was like a guardian of the band's music, makin' sure it stayed relevant and keepin' their fans happy. and im lovin the way he brought in new energy with Dead & Company, especially when John Mayer joined the crew 
. and can you believe Weir is already thinkin' about passin' the torch to younger musicians in like 200 years? that's just mind-blowin, dude 
he did so much with the grateful dead that people often forget about him being a key songwriter & guitarist. but at the same time, i feel like he's kinda overplayed out on stage w/ dead & company...i mean, don't get me wrong, they're still awesome, but it feels like john mayer is kinda stealing the show sometimes 
. It's been wild to see him evolve as an artist, from solo acoustic nights to high-energy rock shows 
and the way they describe his relationship with garcia is kinda weird 
anyway, it's cool that he kept going after garcia passed away 
.
i was trying to comment on this article about bob weir but it took like 2 mins to load 
and now i've lost my train of thought lol anyway where was i? oh yeah bob weir is a legend for sure his guitar playing is insane 
and that he's still carrying on the grateful dead legacy after all these years is pretty amazing