Thousands of individuals gathered at San Francisco’s Civic Center on Saturday to honor the memory of Bob Weir, the iconic guitarist and co-founder of the Grateful Dead who passed away at 78 years old last week. Joan Baez and John Mayer, both musicians, addressed the crowd on a makeshift stage following a Tibetan prayer by four Buddhist monks. Attendees brought long-stemmed red roses, placed them at an altar adorned with photos and candles, and wrote messages of love and gratitude on colored paper.
Many fans expressed wishes for Weir to reunite with fellow Grateful Dead founding members, singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia and bass guitarist Phil Lesh, who had previously passed away. Weir, who joined the band at the age of 17 in 1965, was known for his contributions to Dead classics like “Sugar Magnolia” and “Mexicali Blues.” The band’s diverse musical style, blending blues, jazz, country, folk, and psychedelia in long improvisational performances, attracted a dedicated following of Deadheads over the years.
The event drew fans of all ages and backgrounds, from long-time Deadheads with dreadlocks and tie-dye attire to younger attendees and families passing on their love for live music and the tight-knit Deadhead community to future generations. Weir’s unexpected passing, attributed to underlying lung issues despite his previous battle with cancer, was announced on his Instagram account. His daughter, Monet Weir, emphasized his belief in the unifying power of American music and echoed his sentiment that “the show must go on.”
Weir’s legacy lives on through his music, with the band’s enduring impact transcending his passing. The event served as a heartfelt tribute to a musical legend who left an indelible mark on the world of music and touched the hearts of countless fans.