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Yesterday (Jan. 10), Loudwire<\/a> reported that Grateful Dead<\/a> guitarist\/vocalist Bob Weir<\/a> has \u201cdied at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer and lung issues.\u201d Since then, numerous rockers and fans \u2013 as well as The Empire State Building<\/a> \u2013 have paid tribute to the legendary Grateful Dead co-founder.<\/p>\n Dozens of musicians have shared memories of and gratitude toward Weir on social media over the weekend.<\/p>\n One of the most in-depth and heartfelt tributes came from Phish<\/a> frontman Trey Anastasio<\/a>, who wrote:<\/p>\n Sad to hear that my friend Bobby has passed on. This one really hurts. I really loved him. He was a sweet, kind, gentle friend, and I never believed this would happen so soon.<\/p>\n I knew Bobby for many years, but it was in the lead-up to Fare Thee Well that we really became close. I went out to his beach house, and we spent three nights there alone, just the two of us: playing guitar, cooking scrambled eggs, listening to records, working out, talking, and walking on the beach.\u00a0 We went out to dinner together, and he let me drive his new car. That was also when I first met Tascha, whom I love so much. Tascha, my heart is with you, Monet and Chloe today.<\/p>\n Bobby told me incredible stories about his life during those days at the beach house. He told me how he was still in high school when the first acid test happened. When it was over, the sun came out, and he had to do his math homework as he raced back to school on the train. He said after the second or third acid test, he looked down at his homework and said, \u201cNah.\u201d And that was it. The rest of his life was on the road, in the Grateful Dead and other bands.<\/p>\n He told me stories about working on those classic Dead songs, what music the band was listening to as the songs were coming together. He said that when they were learning \u201cUncle John\u2019s Band,\u201d they were listening to the first CSN album and trying to harmonize like them. When they were learning \u201cHelp on the Way,\u201d they were trying to sound like the Mahavishnu Orchestra. I found all of that endlessly fascinating.<\/p>\n Bobby was completely allergic to compliments in the most endearing way. I\u2019d say, \u201cMan, that guitar riff you were doing on that song sounded really killer\u201d and he\u2019d respond, \u201cWell, I\u2019m sure I\u2019ll fuck it up next time.\u201d I loved that about him. (continued in comments)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Elsewhere, Smashing Pumpkins<\/a> mastermind Billy Corgan<\/a> simply said<\/a>, \u201cGod bless Bob Weir,\u201d just like Creedence Clearwater Revival<\/a> head John Fogerty<\/a> succinctly reflected: \u201cThanks for taking us all along on the musical trip, Bob. I\u2019ll never forget sharing the stage with you especially that night in Oakland in \u201989, I\u2019ll miss you, Bob Weir. Rest easy.\u201d<\/p>\n Iconic guitarist Joe Satriani<\/a> posted a photo of them together alongside this caption<\/a>: “It was an honor to know you and share the stage with you. Safe travels. R.I.P. Bob Weir.\u201d Similarly, Sean Ono Lennon initially wrote<\/a>, \u201cIt was a great pleasure and a privilege to know you brother. @BobWeir R.I.P.\u201d and then tweeted a follow-up statement<\/a>: \u201cHe will be missed. Bob Weir R.I.P.\u201d<\/p>\n As for Bob Dylan<\/a>, he shared a photo of himself on stage with Weir and late Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can see those reactions from rockers \u2013 and more \u2013 below:<\/p>\n READ MORE: Study Shows Which Bands Have the Most Valuable Vintage T-Shirts<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Naturally, just as many fans of the Grateful Dead \u2013 and Weir in general \u2013 posted about Weir\u2019s passing, too.<\/p>\n For example, Governor Gavin Newsom remarked<\/a>: \u201cBob Weir was a true son of California who helped create the soundtrack of a generation. He was \u2014 and will always be \u2014 a king of psychedelic rock. Bob will be deeply missed, and his music will forever live on.\u201d<\/p>\n Likewise, music photographer Josh Shreaer<\/a> uploaded a photo of Weir and Taylor Smith<\/a>, captioning: \u201cThis is the last time I photographed Bobby. For those who don\u2019t know, our daughter Stella Blue was named after a Grateful Dead song, and they\u2019ve made a huge impact on my life. This picture represents my two worlds colliding. RIP Bob Weir.\u201d<\/p>\n Lastly, comedian\/actor Jeffrey Ross<\/a> said that Weir \u201ccould not have been cooler,\u201d elaborating<\/a>:<\/p>\n One night me, Bob Saget<\/a>, Gilbert Gottfried<\/a> and Louie Anderson<\/a> performed at a tribute to Joan Rivers at the Kennedy Center. Dead & Company happen to be in town and we all met up afterwards for a drink. I\u2019ll always be grateful to John Mayer for bringing us all together for this special not as random as it looks moment.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n You can see those reactions \u2013 and more \u2013 below:<\/p>\n Bob Weir was born in San Francisco, Calif. on October 16, 1947, and he co-founded the Grateful Dead in 1965.<\/p>\n As Loudwire<\/a> wrote upon reporting his passing, Weir helped the band become \u201cearly leaders of San Francisco’s fertile ’60s psychedelic rock\u201d who \u201cchallenged the accepted music industry paradigm by becoming better known for their expansive, always-changing live shows than for their recorded output.\u201d As one of a few members who stayed in the band from the beginning until the end (in 1995), he contributed to every<\/em> studio album and most \u2013 if not all \u2013 of their live releases.<\/p>\n Unsurprisingly, the group influenced countless other artists along the way (such as Phish, The Disco Biscuits<\/a>, The String Cheese Incident<\/a>, Dave Matthews Band<\/a>, Wilco<\/a> and The National<\/a>).<\/p>\n The news of Weir\u2019s death was made via a statement<\/a> shared by his family, who revealed that he was diagnosed with lung issues and cancer in July of 2025. Loudwire continued: \u201cDespite starting his treatment just weeks earlier, the guitarist played with the band’s most recent offshoot\u00a0Dead and Company<\/a>\u00a0in August at\u00a0a three-night series of shows<\/a>\u00a0celebrating the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary in their hometown of San Francisco.\u201d<\/p>\n Lastly, Loudwire clarified: \u201cWeir’s death leaves drummer Bill Kreutzmann as the only surviving founding member of the Grateful Dead. Bassist Phil Lesh\u00a0died in 2024<\/a>, singer and keyboardist Ron “Pigpen” McKernan\u00a0died in 1973<\/a>. (Longtime drummer Mickey Hart joined the group in 1967.)\u201d<\/p>\n Of course, everyone at Loudwire sends our condolences to Weir\u2019s family, friends and fans.<\/p>\n Keep scrolling to see 11 rock and metal bands who’ve simultaneously used multiple drummers!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Jordan Blum<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat Rockers Have Said About Bob Weir<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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What Fans Have Said About Bob Weir<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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More About Bob Weir\u2019s Life + Passing<\/strong><\/h3>\n
11 Rock + Metal Bands Who’ve Simultaneously Had Two or More Drummers<\/h2>\n