Following the January 2026 death of Grateful Dead co-founder and guitarist Bob Weir at age 78, the music world has shared an outpouring of tributes highlighting his kindness, innovative style, and lasting influence. Artists who collaborated with Weir recounted personal stories from his final performances at the band's 60th anniversary shows in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park in August 2025.
The music community mourned Bob Weir, who died on January 11, 2026, after battling cancer and underlying lung issues, as confirmed by his family. A founding member of the Grateful Dead since 1964, Weir was renowned for his syncopated guitar rhythms and songwriting that shaped the band's psychedelic jam sound over six decades.
Trey Anastasio of Phish, who opened for Weir's final Golden Gate Park shows, shared intimate memories of their bond forged before the 2015 Fare Thee Well concerts. On Instagram, Anastasio wrote, "This one really hurts. I really loved him. He was a sweet, kind, gentle friend," recalling three nights at Weir's beach house filled with guitar sessions, cooking, and tales—including Weir skipping high school math after early acid tests. Anastasio humorously noted Weir's aversion to praise: after complimenting a riff, Weir replied, "Well, I’m sure I’ll fuck it up next time."
Sammy Hagar, who shared a birthday close to Weir's, reminisced about their pact to live to 100. They jammed on Led Zeppelin's "Rock & Roll" in Nashville in 2022 and Hagar's "Bad Motor Scooter" in Las Vegas in May 2025. "One of the last things I said to Bob was ‘Hey, I thought we had a deal,’" Hagar said, dubbing Weir an "elder, the wise old soul."
Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux called Weir "a guitar player unlike any other" and the band's rock star, present at every show for 60 years. Bruce Hornsby, a touring collaborator in the late 1980s and early 1990s, remembered him as "always a warm, jovial presence... ready with banter." Don Was, Weir's Wolf Bros bandmate since 2018, praised his fearless approach: "Night after night, he taught us how to approach music with fearlessness and unbridled soul."
Billy Strings, who joined Weir for "Wharf Rat" at the 2025 anniversary events, hailed him a "celestial skysage"; Nancy Wilson of Heart said, "The world is a sadder place without him in it"; and California Governor Gavin Newsom lauded Weir as "a true son of California... a king of psychedelic rock." As of January 12, 2026, surviving bandmates Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann had not commented publicly.
