{"id":409761,"date":"2026-01-13T08:09:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T08:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/409761\/"},"modified":"2026-01-13T08:09:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T08:09:17","slug":"the-last-actual-hippie-musicians-pay-tribute-to-grateful-deads-bob-weir-grateful-dead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/409761\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018The last actual hippie\u2019: musicians pay tribute to Grateful Dead\u2019s Bob Weir | Grateful Dead"},"content":{"rendered":"

The death<\/a> of Bob Weir<\/a>, the Grateful Dead<\/a> co-founder, rhythm guitarist, vocalist and writer of much of the legendary psychedelic rock band\u2019s songs, drew a chorus of tributes from fellow musicians and fans who described him as a \u201cmusical guru\u201d and \u201cthe last actual hippie\u201d.<\/p>\n

Weir recently survived cancer but died from \u201cunderlying lung issues\u201d, according to a statement<\/a> posted on Saturday on Instagram.<\/p>\n

The Grateful Dead, a mainstay of the 1960s and 70s countercultural scene, engendered a passionate following of fans known as Deadheads<\/a>, who often followed the band on its tours and attended hundreds of shows. One of them, Andy Cohen, the prominent TV personality and producer, described Weir as \u201cimpossibly beautiful and wildly fiery, intense and passionate\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody forgets their first Dead show and mine was in 1986 in Alpine Valley, Wisconsin. Bob was just a speck on the stage from where I was, but man was his voice fierce and smooth,\u201d Cohen wrote<\/a> on Instagram. \u201cBob checked out but his music is going to live gloriously forever, and so will he. One of the absolute coolest and best to ever do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trey Anastasio, guitarist of the jam band Phish<\/a>, which inherited many of the Dead\u2019s fans after the death of its lead guitarist, Jerry Garcia, in 1995, said of Weir: \u201cThere were times when I was talking to him when I thought he was the last actual hippie.<\/p>\n

\u201cBobby was completely allergic to compliments in the most endearing way,\u201d Anastasio added<\/a> on social media. \u201cI\u2019d say, \u2018Man, that guitar riff you were doing on that song sounded really killer\u2019 and he\u2019d respond, \u2018Well, I\u2019m sure I\u2019ll fuck it up next time.\u2019 I loved that about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anastasio was among the musicians to open for \u2013 and sit in<\/a> with \u2013 Dead & Company, a band featuring Weir and the guitarist John Mayer, during their final shows<\/a> last August in San Francisco.<\/p>\n

The country music artist Margo Price shared images of her and Weir performing and mentioned<\/a> how he was unpretentious and a \u201cmusical guru\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe always had a twinkle in his eye. Like a barefoot philosopher or the Lorax, he was mystical,\u201d Price wrote on social media, referring to the Dr Seuss character.<\/p>\n

Bob Weir poses in a hotel room in West Hollywood, California, in 1976. Photograph: Mark Sullivan<\/p>\n

Billy Strings<\/a>, the bluegrass musician who has become wildly popular in recent years, was also among the openers and played multiple<\/a> shows<\/a> with Weir.<\/p>\n

Strings posted<\/a>: \u201cI\u2019ll always cherish the memories I have of Bob .. of hanging out in his hotel room and him showing me his record collection and mobile recording rig. Sitting there listening to kind of blue in silence. Soaking in the frequencies. Of him busting into \u2018when I paint my masterpiece\u2019 at my wedding.. and in an instant he turned the place into a joyous musical celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n

The singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers<\/a>, who also played<\/a> with Dead & Co<\/a>, wrote that Weir \u201cshowed me<\/a> so much kindness so early in my career and welcomed me into a spirit of making music that has everything to do with community and connection and soul\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so grateful for the musical contributions of this beautiful human and for the path he blazed of creativity and curiosity,\u201d Rogers added.<\/p>\n

The country and folk artist Brandi Carlile<\/a> thanked Weir for helping her career.<\/p>\n

\u201cTonight I\u2019m thinking about all our friends in music young and old and how @bobweir had time for all of us\u2026 he came to our shows, helped us write songs and got so many of us out on stage to jam and just stand in his light,\u201d Carlile wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The legendary musicians Bob Dylan<\/a> and Ron Carter<\/a>, who both<\/a> played<\/a> with Weir, also acknowledged Weir, with Dylan posting an image of himself playing alongside Weir on stage.<\/p>\n

Weir\u2019s death comes a little more than a year after the Dead\u2019s bassist, Phil Lesh<\/a>, died. The only surviving original members are now the drummer, Bill Kreutzmann, and the percussionist, Mickey Hart.<\/p>\n