Bob Weir, the guitarist, vocalist, and founding force behind the Grateful Dead, has died peacefully at the age of 78, surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement shared on his official website and social media channels.
The announcement revealed that Weir had been diagnosed with cancer in July and underwent treatment with determination and resolve. While he successfully beat the disease, he later succumbed to complications related to underlying lung issues. His passing marks the end of a six-decade journey that reshaped live music, fan culture, and the idea that a band and its audience could grow old together.
For Bob Weir, the road never truly ended.
Even in recent years, his instinct was always to return to the stage. Just weeks after beginning cancer treatment, he appeared at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, reuniting with surviving members of the Grateful Dead for concerts celebrating the band’s 60th anniversary. It was a familiar statement from a musician who believed that music, once started, should keep moving.