Bob Weir, the legendary guitarist, singer, and co-founding member of the Grateful Dead, died at the age of 78, as announced by his family. Weir passed away peacefully on Saturday, Jan. 10, surrounded by loved ones after a battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis followed by lung cancer.
Weir had been diagnosed with cancer in July 2025 but continued to perform as his health allowed, including a series of concerts last summer marking the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary. His final performances took place in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, where the band’s long trip had first begun.
A Life in Music
Born Robert Hall Parber in San Francisco in 1947 and raised in nearby Atherton, Weir picked up the guitar as a teenager. In 1964, he met Jerry Garcia in Palo Alto, and the two soon formed a band with bassist Phil Lesh, organist Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, and drummer Bill Kreutzmann. Originally called the Warlocks, the group later became known as the Grateful Dead and quickly became central to the burgeoning San Francisco counterculture.
Weir’s rhythmic guitar work and vocal style became a defining part of the Dead’s sound. He contributed as lead vocalist and songwriter on songs like “Sugar Magnolia,” “One More Saturday Night,” “Mexicali Blues,” and “Truckin.”
Over the Grateful Dead’s three-decade recording and touring career, Weir’s inventive playing made him a beloved figure among fans known as Deadheads. Weir also pursued solo projects and collaborations throughout his life, earning accolades such as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2007) and recognition from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1994).
Weir’s death leaves drummer Bill Kreutzmann as the only surviving original member of the Grateful Dead.