Today, January 10th, 2026, Bob Weir passed away. He was diagnosed with cancer in July 2025 and beat it, sadly he "succumbed to underlying lung issues," according to a statement on his website.

Bob Weir, an iconic guitarist, singer, and songwriter whose music helped define the counter-cultural sound of the 1960s and shaped decades of American rock, has died at the age of 78. His family announced his passing on January 10, 2026, saying that he transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after beating cancer but ultimately succumbing to underlying lung issues.

Weir's influence on modern music stretched across more than six decades and countless live performances. Born in San Francisco in 1947, he picked up the guitar at a young age and, while a teenager, became one of the principal architects of a band that would go on to become legendary.

Founding the Grateful Dead

In the early 1960s, Weir met fellow guitarist Jerry Garcia in a Palo Alto music store — a meeting that would spark one of the most important musical partnerships in rock history. Along with bassist Phil Lesh, drummer Bill Kreutzmann, and keyboardist Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, the group formed Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, which evolved into the Warlocks and, by 1965, became the Grateful Dead.

The band's lineup later included additional members such as Mickey Hart (who joined in 1967), keyboardists Keith and Donna Jean Godchaux, Brent Mydland, and Vince Welnick over its 30-year run — each contributing to the rich tapestry of the Dead's sound.

The Grateful Dead became known for their adventurous, improvisational concerts that blurred the lines between rock, folk, blues, and psychedelia. Weir's rhythm guitar and vocal work were central to the band's identity, and he co-wrote and sang lead on classics like “Sugar Magnolia,” “The Other One,” “Playing in the Band,” "Eyes of the World," "The Wheel", "Looks Like Rain," "One More Saturday Night," "Cassidy," and “Mexicali Blues.”

After the Grateful Dead — Bobby Expanded the Legacy

After Jerry Garcia's death in 1995 and the band's subsequent retirement of the Grateful Dead name, Weir continued performing and expanding his musical horizons:

RatDog: Weir formed RatDog in the mid-1990s, mixing Dead songs with blues, jazz, and rock covers in an expansive jam format. 

Furthur: In 2009, Weir and fellow Dead bassist Phil Lesh co-founded Furthur, named after Ken Kesey's famed bus. The band drew deeply from the Grateful Dead's repertoire while also exploring original material.

Dead & Company: Later collaborations with former Dead drummers Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann — alongside musicians like John Mayer — revived the spirit of the Dead for new generations, culminating in multi-year tours and festival performances.

Fare Thee Well Tour in 2015 Was Special

While not explicitly cited by Bob as his top show, the “Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead” concerts in 2015 — a set of hugely celebrated performances featuring Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, with special guests. 

“Fare Thee Well” was a special series of concerts in 2015 designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead and to bring the surviving original members back together for what was promoted as their last performances together. The shows were held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on June 27–28 and then at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 3–5, locations that bookended the band's history.

The core of the group, often called the “Core Four”, consisted of:
1. Bob Weir — guitar and vocals
2. Phil Lesh — bass and vocals
3. Mickey Hart — drums and percussion
4. Bill Kreutzmann — drums and percussion 

To help fill out the band and carry forward the improvisational spirit of the Dead, they invited three longtime musical partners:

Bruce Hornsby — piano and vocals, a musician who had previously played with the Dead in the early '90s.

Jeff Chimenti — keyboards and vocals, a longtime collaborator with Bob Weir in bands like RatDog, Furthur and Dead & Company.

Trey Anastasio (from Phish) — guitar and vocals. Trey stepped into the role normally filled by Jerry Garcia, bringing his own improvisational style that resonated deeply with fans and helped weave together classic Grateful Dead material in a fresh way. 
Trey's presence was especially significant because — like the Grateful Dead — Phish is one of the most beloved jam bands of their generation. Phish's improvisational ethos and Trey's guitar style helped bridge generations of fans and gave both longtime Deadheads and newer audiences something truly memorable to hear. Many listeners felt his contributions captured the spirit and exploratory approach that defined the Dead's live shows, even if he naturally brought his own voice and tendencies to the music.

Together, this lineup crafted sets that blended deep Dead catalog material with the spontaneous energy that made the band legendary.

In the wake of Fare Thee Well, Bob Weir joined Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann to form Dead & Company with guitarist John Mayer in late 2015. The band became a powerful continuation of the Grateful Dead’s songbook and improvisational spirit, carrying the music forward for nearly a decade. Mayer emerged as one of the most significant modern interpreters of the Dead’s catalog, widely respected for his musical sensitivity, deep study of the material, and genuine reverence for the band’s history.

Fare Thee Well was far more than a reunion tour — it marked the final time the surviving original members of the Grateful Dead would perform together onstage. Both a celebration and a goodbye, the concerts stood as a historic moment, drawing massive crowds, selling out almost instantly, and reaffirming the enduring power of the band’s music across generations of fans.

Bob Weir & Wolf Bros and Solo Work

In 2018, Weir formed Bob Weir & Wolf Bros, a more intimate ensemble with bassist Jay Lane and producer/musician Don Was, later expanded to include a string and brass ensemble known as The Wolfpack. This group toured widely and reinterpreted Dead classics alongside songs from Weir's solo catalog.

Weir also released a number of solo albums that showcased his eclectic tastes and songwriting range. His 1978 album Heaven Help the Fool and later works like Blue Mountain (2016) demonstrated his ability to blend rock, country, and folk influences. Blue Mountain became his highest-charting solo album, reaching No. 14 on the Billboard 200.

A Lasting Influence


Throughout his life, Bob Weir's passion for music and performance never waned. He played thousands of shows, helped cultivate a dedicated global fan community known as “Deadheads,” and was recognized with honors such as induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and numerous lifetime achievement awards.

His family noted that his artistry “reshaped American music” and built a sense of community cherished by generations of fans.

Bob Weir is survived by his wife, Natascha, and their two daughters. His legacy — in the form of music, culture, and an enduring spirit of exploration — will continue to inspire.

Losing Bobby hits hard — especially if you've seen him play, whether it was with the Grateful Dead, with Phil Lesh, Dead and Company with John Mayer (they have the same birthday too) or on his own. There was always something grounding and communal about his shows, like you were part of a long, living thread that stretched back decades.

Seeing Bob Weir live wasn't just about the songs — it was about the continuity. Even solo, or pared down, he carried the entire Grateful Dead universe with him: the rhythm guitar that never played it straight, the weathered voice that somehow made the lyrics feel truer with age, and that quiet authority that came from having lived inside the music for so long.

Bobby's legacy is enormous and deeply personal at the same time — every show meant something slightly different to everyone who was there. That's rare. And it sticks with you.

Discover Sunday Morning Interviews with Bob Weir

Bob Weir and John Mayer on Dead & Company

Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann

RIP Bobby 🌹, thank you for all of the wonderful memories, concerts and beautiful lyrics.