Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir celebrated by…
Thousands of people gathered Saturday at San Francisco’s Civic Center to have fun the life of Bob Weir, the legendary guitarist and founding member of the Grateful Dead who died last week at age 78.
Musicians Joan Baez and John Mayer spoke on a makeshift stage in entrance of the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium after 4 Buddhist monks opened the event with a prayer in Tibetan.
Fans carried long-stemmed pink roses, inserting some at an altar crammed with images and candles. They wrote notes on coloured paper, professing their love and thanking him for the journey.
A photograph of Bob Weir is displayed on a makeshift memorial at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco. AP
John Mayer performs during a public memorial for Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026. AP
Thousands of Grateful Dead followers gathered at a public memorial for guitarist Bob Weir on Jan. 17, 2026. AP
Several requested him to say hey to fellow singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia and bass guitarist Phil Lesh, also founding members who preceded him in death. Garcia died in 1995; Lesh died in 2024.
“I’m here to celebrate Bob Weir,” said Ruthie Garcia, who is no relation to Jerry, a fan since 1989. “Celebrating him and helping him go home.”
Saturday’s celebration introduced a lot of followers with long dreadlocks and sporting tie-dye clothes, some utilizing walkers.
Joan Baez speaks to a crowd of 1000’s of Grateful Dead followers after the death of Bob Weir. Getty Images
Grateful useless fan Sarah Black holds a rose during a public memorial for Bob Weir. AP
But there have been also younger {couples}, males in their 20s and a father who introduced his 6-year-old son in order to cross on to the next era a love of live music and the tight-knit Deadhead group.
The Bay Area native joined the Grateful Dead — initially the Warlocks — in 1965 in San Francisco at just 17 years previous.
He wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Dead classics including “Sugar Magnolia,” “One More Saturday Night” and “Mexicali Blues.”
He was usually thought-about less shaggy wanting than the other band members, although he adopted a long beard like Garcia’s later in life.
The Bay Area native joined the Grateful Dead — initially the Warlocks — in 1965 in San Francisco at just 17 years previous. AP
Saturday’s celebration introduced a lot of followers with long dreadlocks and sporting tie-dye clothes, some utilizing walkers. Getty Images
The Dead performed music that pulled in blues, jazz, nation, folks and psychedelia in long improvisational jams.
Their live shows attracted avid Deadheads who adopted them on tours.
The band performed on many years after Garcia’s death, morphing into Dead & Company with John Mayer.
Darla Sagos, who caught an early flight out of Seattle Saturday morning to make the public mourning, said she suspected one thing was up when there have been no new gigs announced after Dead & Company performed three nights in San Francisco last summer season. It was uncommon, as his calendar often confirmed where he could be taking part in next.
“We were hoping that everything was OK and that we were going to get more music from him,” she said. “But we will continue the music, with all of us and everyone that’s going to be playing it.”
Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart hugs daughter Reya Hart during the memorial for Bob Weir. AP
But there have been also younger {couples}, males in their 20s and a father who introduced his 6-year-old son in order to cross on to the next era a love of live music and the tight-knit Deadhead group. Getty Images
Bob Weir’s spouse Natascha Weir speaks alongside his daughters Chloe Weir and Monet Weir at the public memorial. Getty Images
Sagos and her husband, Adam Sagos, have a one-year-old grandson who will grow up understanding the music.
A press release on Weir’s Instagram account announced his passing Jan. 10. It said he beat cancer, but he succumbed to underlying lung points.
He is survived by his spouse and two daughters, who have been at Saturday’s event.
His death was sudden and surprising, said daughter Monet Weir, but he had always wished for the music and the legacy of the Dead to outlast him.
American music, he believed, may unite, she said.
“The show must go on,” Monet Weir said.
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