Grateful Dead Guitarist and Co-Founder Bob Weir Dies at 78

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Bob Weir, the pioneering rhythm guitarist and co-founding member of the legendary rock band the Grateful Dead, has died. He was 78.

According to an official statement posted to his website, Weir passed away peacefully while surrounded by loved ones. The statement clarified that while he had “beat cancer last summer,” he ultimately succumbed to underlying lung issues. His family has requested privacy during this time.

Weir’s death marks the end of an era for one of the most enduring and influential musical families in American history. He was a central architect of the Grateful Dead’s unique sound, serving not only as a vital rhythm guitarist who wove complex harmonies behind Jerry Garcia’s leads but also as a distinctive vocalist and songwriter. He penned and sang some of the band’s most beloved songs, including “Sugar Magnolia,” “Truckin’,” “Cassidy,” and “Estimated Prophet.”

Born Robert Hall Weir in San Francisco in 1947, he was just 17 years old when he, along with Jerry Garcia, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, Phil Lesh, and Bill Kreutzmann, formed the Warlocks in 1965, which soon became the Grateful Dead. For the next three decades, Weir was a constant presence as the band evolved from Bay Area psychedelic pioneers to a cultural phenomenon with a devoted, touring fanbase known as “Deadheads.”

Following Garcia’s death in 1995 and the disbandment of the Grateful Dead, Weir remained a tirelessly active musician. He was a key member of the bands The Other Ones, The Dead, and most recently, Dead & Company—a supergroup with John Mayer that filled stadiums for tours between 2015 and 2023, introducing the Grateful Dead’s music to a new generation. He was also a founding member of the groups Kingfish and RatDog.

Beyond his musicianship, Weir was celebrated for his dedication to the communal spirit of the Deadhead community and his unwavering commitment to live improvisation, ensuring that no two Grateful Dead concerts were ever the same.

Tributes from across the music world and from millions of fans have begun pouring in, honoring a musician whose work provided the soundtrack for a defining countercultural movement and whose artistic journey spanned nearly 60 years. Bob Weir is survived by his wife and children.