Phish leader Trey Anastasio is among the many musicians saluting the life of Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir, who died Saturday (Jan. 10) at the age of 78. Anastasio played on several occasions with Weir over the past 30-plus years, the most high-profile of which was at the Dead’s 50th anniversary Fare Thee Well concerts in Chicago in 2015, when he helped sub in for the late Jerry Garcia.
“I knew Bobby for many years, but it was in the lead-up to Fare Thee Well that we really became close,” Anastasio wrote on Instagram. “I went out to his beach house, and we spent three nights there alone, just the two of us: playing guitar, cooking scrambled eggs, listening to records, working out, talking and walking on the beach. We went out to dinner together, and he let me drive his new car.
“Bobby told me incredible stories about his life during those days at the beach house,” he continued. “He told me how he was still in high school when the first acid test happened. When it was over, the sun came out, and he had to do his math homework as he raced back to school on the train. He said after the second or third acid test, he looked down at his homework and said, ‘Nah.’ And that was it. The rest of his life was on the road, in the Grateful Dead and other bands.
“Mostly, he just loved playing, and I loved that about him. I don’t think he ever got caught up in the bigness. I don’t think it meant anything to him. There were times when I was talking to him when I thought he was the last actual hippie. I remember when Mexico got canceled due to COVID, and he texted me, saying, ‘Man, you should fly down here, and we’ll just play on the beach, no stage!’ That cracked me up. I almost did. Now I wish I had.”
Other Weir memories have come from the National’s Aaron Dessner, who helped organize a huge, multi-artist tribute to the Dead in 2016. “So deeply grateful for all the music and to have known him and crossed paths musically,” he said. “Truly one of a kind.”
“We lost a champion today,” said Primus’ Les Claypool. “Bob Weir, one of the nicest humans I’ve ever met in the music world. A legend on many levels.”
“Light up all the candles tonight. There is a great old soul passing by,” said Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson. “This guy was such a hero. The world is a sadder place without him in it. He spread a life time of magic around and always had that twinkle of good nature in his eyes. His good vibrations will never end. He gave such a gift to us all.”
“I can’t believe that Bobby’s gone,” said producer/musician Don Was, who hailed his seven-year run playing with Weir in the band Wolf Bros as “one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences of my life. Night after night, he taught us how to approach music with fearlessness and unbridled soul — pushing us beyond what we thought was musically possible. Every show was a transcendent adventure into the unknown. Every note he played and every word he sang was designed to bring comfort and joy to our audiences. The music he helped create over the last 60 years will continue to be felt for generations. As he sang in one of my favorite Dead songs, the music will never stop.”
