The Kid: A Tribute to The Life of Bob Weir

Photo by Chloe Weir

“A life well lived” is an adage used in times of grief, used to console others and help them mourn their loss. On January 10th, Bob Weir, notoriously known as the co-founder of the Grateful Dead, lost his battle to late-stage lung cancer at 78 years old. Though never public knowledge (until his passing), Weir was diagnosed with lung cancer in July, before Dead & Company’s (Members of the Grateful Dead with the addition of John Mayer) final shows in San Francisco to celebrate 60 years of the Grateful Dead’s music. The shows were his last public appearances, and he brought the same vibrant, peaceful energy he always had. 

Bob Weir’s life was nowhere near a “life well lived;” it was a life lived in a psychedelic rock-and-roll dream state. At a New Year’s Eve party in 1963, Weir was 16 years old when he met Jerry Garcia, a fellow rising Palo Alto musician, and formed The Warlocks (the Grateful Dead’s original name). The original members of the Grateful Dead were Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, and Bob Weir. As he was so young, Weir’s adopted mother begged him to live a “normal life” instead of waking up for dinner, staying up all night working on music and with the band, coming home for breakfast, and falling back asleep. He was eventually kicked out of the house at 18, while his chosen family was right there behind him, supporting his dream of becoming a full-time musician. He was often quoted as saying that his connection to the members of the Grateful Dead was “thicker than blood.” As a family would, they all lived together at 710 Haight & Ashbury, in San Francisco, which soon became the home for the counterculture movement in the 70’s.

The Grateful Dead were first put on the map for The Acid Test Concerts, a San Francisco concert series held where “Kool Aid” (fruit-punch laced with LSD) was sold for $1. The band members themselves took LSD and played their instruments to see what would happen. Through this, the Grateful Dead found their sound by weaving rhythms, forgetting the modern “rules” of music, and finding their footing as a jam band. As their touring continued through the 70’s, 80’s, and much into the 90’s, a counterculture community formed around the band and followed them to each tour stop. This is where the term “Dead Head” was created; hippies who were looking for a community to accept them went to modern society, which wouldn’t. The crowds only grew larger and larger,  and became a place where the “Dead Head” sold their homemade goods to attempt to afford a ticket to their show that night. Tie-dye clothing everywhere, grilled cheeses made to order, and nitrous-filled balloons to keep the concert-goers occupied. For the “Dead Head,” this newly formed community turned into a family for so many lost souls who were looking for a home they never had.

 As the rhythm guitarist, Weir egolessly supported Garcia as the lead guitarist. As Garcia was “the face” of the Grateful Dead, Weir was commonly referred to as “The Other One” by critics. He wowed the world with his ability to mix traditional blues and jazz, morphing it into rock and roll. the Grateful Dead was so appealing to fans that even legendary musicians would ask to join them on stage. Music legends such as Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, and others wanted a piece of this transformative music. Touring with the Grateful Dead, he experienced places and people that other musicians couldn’t even imagine. One example was their performance at the Giza Pyramids in Egypt on a lunar eclipse, where the Grateful Dead were swarmed by bats to fight off the aggressive mosquitoes. Another is the band’s performance at Cornell University, which is highly regarded by fans as their best live performance, ever. 

The music never stopped. Once Weir took the lead of the Grateful Dead in 1994, replacing Garcia who was experiencing health complications, he conducted himself flawlessly as the new face of the band. While he mourned the loss of his close friend, Jerry Garcia, he found himself immersed in music with different projects such as RatDog, Wolf Brothers, and Dead & Company. Those around him witnessed him heal through his guitar playing and performances. Weir spent 60 years playing the Grateful Dead's music, more than anyone could (ever) imagine.

Weir had great success with Dead & Company, which included the remaining members of the Grateful Dead and John Mayer, who was tasked with lead guitar to imitate Jerry’s unique style of playing and singing. Spanning 10 years (touring until 2025), many were ecstatic to hear the Grateful Dead’s music live again. This project attracted the old-school “Dead Heads” and invited the newer generation to experience what it means to be a part of this counter community. Touring mostly the United States with the occasional winter festival in Cancun, Mexico, the Grateful Dead’s message was never lost in translation and urged fans to lead with love and peace in their everyday lives. 

Cut to the present day, Bob Weir’s body quietly left this world, the way many people expected. His memorial was led by his wife, Natascha, who spoke with a feeling of acceptance and celebration, “the way Bobby would’ve wanted it.” As she was speaking, a red-tailed hawk sat in a tree near the stage, but the hawk was not bothered by the screaming of the crowd or scared of the massive crowd that showed up for the loss of a music legend. In many Native American cultures, the red-tailed hawk is commonly seen as a protector and a spiritual messenger, crossing between the spiritual and physical worlds; a symbol of power, courage, and strength. As Weir was incredibly spiritual by nature, there wasn’t a single dry eye in the audience, knowing that he was looking over those at his homecoming memorial. The hawk swooped towards his wife and daughters on stage, as Natascha said, “It is so nice to see you again, Bobby.”

Bob Weir was never just “The Other One” in the Grateful Dead; he is the reason why the Grateful Dead exists, and he is the reason why there is so much love and acceptance in a world that can be fueled by hate and normalcy. He taught us how to lead a spiritual life and never accept the mundane. His was not just a “life well lived,” but a life lived to its fullest potential, a life well explored, a life filled with so much love, and a life lived by a legendary musician. Fare thee well, what a long, strange trip it’s been.