A little late, but, still.
Bob Weir, the guitarist and songwriter who was a founding member of the popular and massively influential American rock band the Grateful Dead, has died. According to a statement from his family posted on his website and social media pages, Weir died from underlying lung issues after recently beating cancer. He was 78.
We’re getting old, folks. I remember when Jerry died when I was working at NAPA during my college days. The store manager, oddly, was a huge Deadhead and he had to take a week off. Endless numbers of bad orders must’ve occurred that week because I knew little about automotive repair and less about how to use the archaic parts system we used at the local Stockbridge store.
Still, I enjoyed the Dead although being a Parrothead was more my speed, but countless candles from Junkaman’s Daughter’s Brother were burned, along with incense, on nights we spun Terrapin Station on our apartment’s stereo speakers, to the dismay of our Pre-Vet neighbors.
We were Journalism majors, so there’s that.
Hopefully the Dead spinoff bands will find a suitable musician to sing Bob’s songs and continue the long strange trip it’s been. It took a little getting used to, but I’ve really enjoyed John Mayer singing for Jerry with the Dead & Company. I know, GDH!
When my son was in high school, he was a deadhead. Traveled to their concerts & sold ti-dye t shirts their to finance his trips. Also recorded their music on cassette tapes which they allowed.
Great music RIP
Gotdamn hippies! – RangerRuss
“If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.”
Great band, great vibe. Peace, love everybody.
He’d been slowing down in recent years, but it’s just so sad because now the end of the OG band is official.
Not so fast, my friend. Bill Kreutzmann was a founding member of The Warlocks (1964) and The Dead (1965). He’s still alive and drummin’. Mickey Hart joined The Dead in ’67, but most folks, including me, think of him as OG.
I know the band well, but Bill is in Hawaii and not playing with the guys anymore, and Mickey can’t carry the band.
My bad. I misunderstood. Thought you were saying that all the OG members are now dead.
Saw a really dang good Dead cover band on Saturday night.
RIP, gents.
JRAD? DSO? Grateful Shred? Do tell.
Not only does archive.org have nine zillion Dead shows (https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead), it also has a bunch of Ratdog shows (https://archive.org/details/Ratdog), Phil and Friends shows (https://archive.org/details/PhilLeshandFriends), and Jerry Garcia shows (https://archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Jerry+Garcia%22). Gold mine.
I just listened to the ‘95 Omni show that parents wouldn’t let me go to in high school, right before Jerry passed. Show stoppers galore – wish I could have been there, but I now understand their concerns. Did I just become my parents? Thank you for sharing!