Grateful Dead Co-Founder Bob Weir Dies at 78

"Bob Weir, guitarist and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, has died. "It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir," his family wrote in a statement on social media. "He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could. Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues." He was 78. Bob Weir was born in San Francisco in 1947."

"Weir took up the guitar at age 13. He met Jerry Garcia on New Year's Eve 1965, when he heard banjo coming from Dana Morgan's Music Store. He went inside, found Garcia, and started a band. The Grateful Dead was the band's third name. As an acoustic outfit, they were called Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions. They changed their name to Warlocks when they went electric, then settled on the Grateful Dead."

"Phil Lesh described Weir's rhythm guitar style as "quirky, whimsical, and goofy." He became the Grateful Dead's second vocalist in 1972, after the death of Ron "Pigpen" McKernan. Weir's songs with the Dead were a mix of country covers and rhythmically innovative originals like Weather Report Suite. Weir stuck with the band after Garcia's death in 1995, and in several post-Grateful Dead iterations of the band like Furthur and the Dead."

Bob Weir died at 78 after beating cancer but later succumbing to underlying lung issues; he transitioned peacefully surrounded by loved ones. He was born in San Francisco in 1947, adopted at birth, and raised in the Bay Area; he was expelled from preschool and the Cub Scouts. He began playing guitar at 13 and met Jerry Garcia on New Year's Eve 1965, leading to the formation of a band that became the Grateful Dead. The group evolved from acoustic jug-band roots to electric performances and became a San Francisco institution known for its light show and drug culture. Early LSD use made Weir withdrawn for a time, but he developed a quirky, rhythmic guitar style, became the band's second vocalist in 1972, wrote a mix of country covers and innovative originals, and remained active in post-Grateful Dead projects including the 2015 Fare Thee Well tour.

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