I was tossing a coin as to whether this belonged in the "other banjo-related topics," given how heavily the Grateful Dead were influenced by bluegrass. But Weir was a rocker.
Few bands have dabbled in so many influences and styles, or had greater impact on what came later. Lesh and Weir were the wings beneath Garcia's wings, and now they're all gone.
Thanks for the music, Mr. Weir. story here.
Edited by - eagleisland on 01/10/2026 16:54:30
While I have may not been a true “Dead Head”, I sure did like there music, and later on to see Garcia playing clawhammer banjo. May with God his soul rest. Brad
I knew Garcia from befoe the Dead. Not the others. We won’t see their like again.
R.I.P. Bob Weir.
I saw them twice, first in '67 at a free concert at Place Ville Marie in Montreal (photo), with the Airplane, then at the Festival Express in Toronto, '70. At the latter, they had the whole crowd up and swaying within the first four bars of music. (The crowd had been primed by a great set by the New Riders of the Purple Sage, with Jerry Garcia on pedal steel.) Even in '67, Bob's hair and glasses weren't something you'd likely see on the streets of Montreal, at least not in the daytime.
There was a point where there were discussions in the band about firing Bob, but saner thoughts prevailed.
It's interesting to see how many of the songs they played were originally Old Time.
Too much of everything is just enough …
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