For much of their illustrious career, Bob Weir was known to his fellow Grateful Dead band members as 'the Kid', a moniker aptly bestowed upon him given his youth and inexperience at the time of the band's formation. At 16 years old, Weir joined what would eventually become one of the most iconic bands of all time, alongside Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, and Ron McKernan. The contrast between Weir's youthful appearance and that of some of his bandmates couldn't be more stark - while Garcia was often portrayed as an iconoclast, Lesh exuded a sense of authority, and McKernan had a menacing aura about him.
Weir's relationship with Garcia, five years his senior, was particularly close. The pair formed a bond akin to that of brotherly love, which extended beyond their shared musical interests. In 1968, Weir was nearly dismissed from the band due to his playing skills being deemed unsatisfactory by Lesh and Garcia. Fortunately for all involved, this didn't materialise as it did in the article, however this incident highlights how integral Weir's role was in Grateful Dead's music.
As a vital component of the Grateful Dead's sound, Weir brought an essential rhythm guitar style that was instrumental to their ability to improvise on stage. His playing style was unique and interwoven with that of his bandmates, drawing heavily from jazz pianist McCoy Tyner and exhibiting alternate chords, harmonic pairings, and bursts of contrapuntal lead lines. Additionally, Weir's huge hands enabled him to play complex chords that others found challenging.
Beyond his musical prowess, Bob Weir was emerging as a formidable songwriter during the early 1970s, with notable contributions to albums such as 'Anthem of the Sun' and 'Wake of the Flood'. His songwriting spanned genres ranging from country-infused Americana to hard-driving rock'n'roll. Notable tracks like 'Playing in the Band', 'Sugar Magnolia', and 'One More Saturday Night' showcased Weir's skill in creating memorable, sing-along melodies.
Despite forming a band of his own, Wolf Bros, which reimagined both the Grateful Dead's sound and Weir's solo oeuvre in stripped-back and grandiose styles, it was clear that Bob Weir had always been deeply invested in preserving the legacy of the Grateful Dead. In collaboration with the National, he curated 'Day of the Dead', a sprawling tribute box set highlighting the band's profound impact on later-day alt-rock.
The passing of Jerry Garcia in 1995 sent shockwaves throughout the surviving members of the Grateful Dead, including Bob Weir. The latter struggled to cope with his loss but eventually rebounded. One measure of Weir's resilience was his participation in forming 'Dead & Company', featuring fellow survivors Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart. This group continued to tour with remarkable success, breaking box office records.
Following the 2023 tour of Dead & Company, Bob Weir gave a poignant farewell performance at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. It featured hits like 'Knocking on Heaven's Door' and 'Touch of Grey', songs that served as a poignant testament to Weir's enduring commitment to his musical vision. As the Grateful Dead celebrated its 60th anniversary, Weir reflected on his own journey, once stating he'd had a vision for 'Dead & Company' continuing well into the future - in fact, performing live long after his passing and that of other original members.
Weir's relationship with Garcia, five years his senior, was particularly close. The pair formed a bond akin to that of brotherly love, which extended beyond their shared musical interests. In 1968, Weir was nearly dismissed from the band due to his playing skills being deemed unsatisfactory by Lesh and Garcia. Fortunately for all involved, this didn't materialise as it did in the article, however this incident highlights how integral Weir's role was in Grateful Dead's music.
As a vital component of the Grateful Dead's sound, Weir brought an essential rhythm guitar style that was instrumental to their ability to improvise on stage. His playing style was unique and interwoven with that of his bandmates, drawing heavily from jazz pianist McCoy Tyner and exhibiting alternate chords, harmonic pairings, and bursts of contrapuntal lead lines. Additionally, Weir's huge hands enabled him to play complex chords that others found challenging.
Beyond his musical prowess, Bob Weir was emerging as a formidable songwriter during the early 1970s, with notable contributions to albums such as 'Anthem of the Sun' and 'Wake of the Flood'. His songwriting spanned genres ranging from country-infused Americana to hard-driving rock'n'roll. Notable tracks like 'Playing in the Band', 'Sugar Magnolia', and 'One More Saturday Night' showcased Weir's skill in creating memorable, sing-along melodies.
Despite forming a band of his own, Wolf Bros, which reimagined both the Grateful Dead's sound and Weir's solo oeuvre in stripped-back and grandiose styles, it was clear that Bob Weir had always been deeply invested in preserving the legacy of the Grateful Dead. In collaboration with the National, he curated 'Day of the Dead', a sprawling tribute box set highlighting the band's profound impact on later-day alt-rock.
The passing of Jerry Garcia in 1995 sent shockwaves throughout the surviving members of the Grateful Dead, including Bob Weir. The latter struggled to cope with his loss but eventually rebounded. One measure of Weir's resilience was his participation in forming 'Dead & Company', featuring fellow survivors Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart. This group continued to tour with remarkable success, breaking box office records.
Following the 2023 tour of Dead & Company, Bob Weir gave a poignant farewell performance at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. It featured hits like 'Knocking on Heaven's Door' and 'Touch of Grey', songs that served as a poignant testament to Weir's enduring commitment to his musical vision. As the Grateful Dead celebrated its 60th anniversary, Weir reflected on his own journey, once stating he'd had a vision for 'Dead & Company' continuing well into the future - in fact, performing live long after his passing and that of other original members.
. I mean, going from being this young kid to forming one of the most iconic bands ever, that's some next level stuff 
. And you know what's even crazier? The bond he shared with Jerry Garcia was more than just musical - it was like they were brothers 
. That incident where Weir almost got kicked out of the band is wild, but lucky for all us Deadheads, he stayed on board 
. His playing style and songwriting skills are still giving us life today, and it's amazing to see how he's continued to evolve as an artist, even when forming his own band Wolf Bros 
. It's like he's been carrying the torch for the Grateful Dead's legacy all these years... no wonder he was so emotional during that farewell performance 
The way Bob Weir's story is woven with Jerry Garcia's, it's like they were two sides of the same coin 
Plus, have you seen his hands? 
Like, who else could play complex chords like that on a guitar 
and that vision of his for dead & company's future is honestly giving me goosebumps - like, it's gonna keep going even when he's gone? what a legacy 
and can we talk about how underrated he was as a songwriter? 'Sugar Magnolia' is like one of my all-time fave Grateful Dead tracks 
what I love most about Weir's legacy though is that he never forgot where he came from and always stayed true to the Grateful Dead spirit 
it's so inspiring to see him still carrying on their musical vision even years after Jerry passed away 
i love how his relationship with jerry garcia was like a brotherly bond - so special 
!!! IT'S AMAZING TO THINK ABOUT HOW FAR HE'S COME SINCE JOINING THE GRATEFUL DEAD AS A YOUNG WHIPPERSNAPPER IN 1968. I MEAN, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT GUY WAS ALMOST KICKED OUT OF THE BAND DUE TO HIS PLAYING SKILLS NOT BEING GOOD ENOUGH?!? 
The contrast between Weir's youthful vibe and his bandmates' more mature styles is just wild 
#RhythmGuitarRock
With tracks like 'Playing in the Band' & 'Sugar Magnolia', he showed us that country-infused Americana could totally rock out 
#SongwritingGoals 
Through his own band, Wolf Bros, and with Dead & Company, we get to experience the music we love in new & exciting ways 
it's all these emotions and memories flooding back... how he was almost kicked out due to his playing skills not being up to par, but luckily got another chance 
... he was literally thrown into this iconic band as a teenager, and somehow, he just fits in 
... his bond with Jerry Garcia is so special, it's like they were meant to be brothers 
... but what really stands out is how Weir evolved as a musician - from that youthful energy to becoming a skilled songwriter 
He's been carrying on the Grateful Dead legacy for so long, and it's mind-blowing to think about how his music has impacted people like me who discovered them way back in the day 
.
... like how cool is it that he's still carrying on Grateful Dead music after all these years? 
And his songwriting skills are insane - I love how he's experimented with different genres over the years. Like, from country to rock'n'roll... it's amazing! 
. It's like he's been able to distill the essence of their sound into his own unique vision, and that's something to be admired