The death of Bob Weir, the Grateful Dead co-founder, rhythm guitarist, vocalist and writer of much of the legendary psychedelic rock band’s songs, drew a chorus of tributes from fellow musicians and fans who described him as a “musical guru” and “the last actual hippie”.
Weir recently survived cancer but died from “underlying lung issues”, according to a statement posted on Saturday on Instagram.
The Grateful Dead, a mainstay of the 1960s and 70s countercultural scene, engendered a passionate following of fans known as Deadheads, who often followed the band on its tours and attended hundreds of shows. One of them, Andy Cohen, the prominent TV personality and producer, described Weir as “impossibly beautiful and wildly fiery, intense and passionate”.
“Nobody forgets their first Dead show and mine was in 1986 in Alpine Valley, Wisconsin. Bob was just a speck on the stage from where I was, but man was his voice fierce and smooth,” Cohen wrote on Instagram. “Bob checked out but his music is going to live gloriously forever, and so will he. One of the absolute coolest and best to ever do it.”
Trey Anastasio, guitarist of the jam band Phish, which inherited many of the Dead’s fans after the death of its lead guitarist, Jerry Garcia, in 1995, said of Weir: “There were times when I was talking to him when I thought he was the last actual hippie.”
“Bobby was completely allergic to compliments in the most endearing way,” Anastasio added on social media. “I’d say, ‘Man, that guitar riff you were doing on that song sounded really killer’ and he’d respond, ‘Well, I’m sure I’ll fuck it up next time.’ I loved that about him.”
Anastasio was among the musicians to open for – and sit in with – Dead & Company, a band featuring Weir and the guitarist John Mayer, during its final shows last August in San Francisco.
The country music artist Margo Price shared images of her and Weir performing and mentioned how he was unpretentious and a “musical guru”.
“He always had a twinkle in his eye. Like a barefoot philosopher or the Lorax, he was mystical,” Price wrote on social media, referring to the Dr Seuss character.
Billy Strings, the bluegrass musician who has become wildly popular in recent years, was also among the openers and played multiple shows with Weir.
Strings posted: “I’ll always cherish the memories I have of Bob .. of hanging out in his hotel room and him showing me his record collection and mobile recording rig. Sitting there listening to kind of blue in silence. Soaking in the frequencies. Of him busting into ‘when I paint my masterpiece’ at my wedding.. and in an instant he turned the place into a joyous musical celebration.”
The singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers, who also played with Dead & Co, wrote that Weir “showed me so much kindness so early in my career and welcomed me into a spirit of making music that has everything to do with community and connection and soul”.
“I am so grateful for the musical contributions of this beautiful human and for the path he blazed of creativity and curiosity,” Rogers added.
The country and folk artist Brandi Carlile thanked Weir for helping her career.
“Tonight I’m thinking about all our friends in music young and old and how @bobweir had time for all of us… he came to our shows, helped us write songs and got so many of us out on stage to jam and just stand in his light,” Carlile wrote.
The legendary musicians Bob Dylan and Ron Carter, who both played with Weir, also acknowledged Weir, with Dylan posting an image of himself playing alongside Weir on stage.
Weir’s death comes a little more than a year after the Dead’s bassist, Phil Lesh, died. The only surviving original members are now the drummer, Bill Kreutzmann, and the percussionist, Mickey Hart.
