{"id":138514,"date":"2026-01-18T04:48:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T04:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/138514\/"},"modified":"2026-01-18T04:48:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T04:48:14","slug":"san-francisco-celebrates-the-life-of-bobby-weir-at-civic-center-plaza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/138514\/","title":{"rendered":"San Francisco celebrates the life of Bobby Weir at Civic Center Plaza"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\"Grateful\t\t\t\t\t\"Grateful\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThousands showed up at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco to pay tribute to Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir on Jan. 17, 2026. Matt Pang\/STAFF.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"GratefulThousands showed up at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco to pay tribute to Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir on Jan. 17, 2026. Matt Pang\/STAFF.<\/p>\n

SAN FRANCISCO \u2014 An estimated 25,000 Grateful Dead and music fans came out to Civic Center Plaza on Saturday to pay tribute to the band\u2019s cofounder Bob Weir.<\/p>\n

Weir died on Jan. 10<\/a> at 78 from complications of cancer.<\/p>\n

The homecoming was a welcome sight for any Deadhead. The sun shined on the plaza, which was adorned with green ivy and dark red roses, and street light poles displaying colorful banners. Attendees filled\u00a0an altar filled with photos, candles and teddy bears. At City Hall hung a flag with the band\u2019s iconic Steal Your Face logo. Attendees were joined by a star-studded field of musicians and athletes\u2014in person and on video.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s done so much for our city; it\u2019s a chance to give back to him and his family,\u201d San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said as he addressed the plaza.<\/p>\n

Other speakers included Rep. Nancy Pelosi, fellow singer-songwriter Joan Baez, Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, musician John Mayer and Weir\u2019s family. In video montages, there were Bay Area and music representatives\u00a0like the 49ers\u2019 George Kittle and Nick Bosa, pianist Bruce Hornsby, Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux, Primus\u2019 Les Claypool and Larry LaLonde, and artists Wynona Judd, Jack Johnson, Sammy Hagar, Dave Matthews, Trey Anastasio, Ramblin\u2019 Jack, Warren Haynes, Willie Nelson and the Dead\u2019s Billy Kreutzmann.<\/p>\n

\"Joan<\/a>Joan Baez speaks during a celebration of life for late Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was part of a group that created a beloved community for people who needed it at that point,\u201d Baez said. \u201cIt was really loving and caring, family, sharing and really astounding.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bill Graham Civic Center provided an appropriate backdrop to the event\u2019s stage. Graham was the promoter for the Grateful Dead and the band performed there numerous times in the 1980s. Weir\u2019s last show with his band RatDog took place there in 2008.<\/p>\n

The memorial began with a three-block procession down Market Street, which was parked with even more attendees, en route to the plaza. There, volunteers handed out long-stemmed roses\u2014significant to the iconography of the band\u2014to early arrivers. Attendees then had an opportunity to write messages to Weir and his family at stations. One common theme was \u201cnever fade away,\u201d which appeared in Weir\u2019s lyricism as a theme of\u00a0lasting love and commitment.<\/p>\n

Next, four\u00a0Buddhist monks led a Tibetan prayer chant.<\/p>\n

Pelosi spoke about Weir receiving Kennedy Center Honors alongside Kreutzmann and Hart in 2024 from former President Joe Biden. Mayer, a member of Dead & Company\u2014with whom Weir played his final shows last summer during a three-night stand at Golden Gate Park that celebrated the Grateful\u2019s Dead\u2019s 60-year-history\u2014credited the guitarist for welcoming him into a musical community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you maestro. You changed my life. I will love you forever,\u201d Mayer said.<\/p>\n

\"John<\/a>John Mayer performs at a celebration of life for late Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

Hart reminisced about his last shows with Weir.<\/p>\n

\u201cI looked to the right at my old friend. And for a moment, I saw him transform. Gone was the bushy gray beard, the whiskers, the wisdom and the age,\u201d Hart said. \u201cInstead, like the grains of time turning on themselves. I saw a young Bob again. There he was.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans came from near and far.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really should be there,\u201d 64-year-old Calaveras Country resident Tim Boyles said. \u201cBob\u2019s been in my life for 46 years.\u201d Boyles added that he attended his first Dead show in 1980, at the Warfield. Beforehand, he recalled, he offered his unfinished drink to a friendly stranger outside, who turned out to be Bill Kreutzmann\u2014a fact Boyles didn\u2019t realize until later seeing him onstage.<\/p>\n

The guests of honor were Weir\u2019s wife, Natascha, and daughters, Monet and Chloe, who spoke about their dad introvert personality, his strong work ethic, and his penchant for woodshedding.<\/p>\n

Natascha Weir led attendees in a moment of silence, her husband\u2019s signature deep bow and a cathartic scream.<\/p>\n

\"NataschaNatascha Weir, Shala Monet Weir and Chloe Weir\u2014Bob Weir\u2019s wife and daughters, speak at a celebration of life for the late Grateful Dead cofounder at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

It was simple but but felt touching. She then looked up and said she saw a hawk flying ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, darling!\u201d she yelled.<\/p>\n

The celebration of Weir\u2019s life ended with a performance of popular Grateful Dead folk ballad \u201cRipple,\u201d which Mayer led while playing an acoustic guitar. \u201cLet there be song to fill the air,\u201d he sang, joined by many in attendance.<\/p>\n

Later on Saturday, Grahame Lesh, the son of late Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, led a tribute concert for Weir at the Warfield.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Grateful<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tThousands showed up at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco to pay tribute to Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Grateful<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tThousands showed up at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco to pay tribute to Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"John<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tSinger-guitarist John Mayer speaks at the celebration of life ceremony for Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tThousands showed up at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco to pay tribute to Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"San<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tThousands showed up at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco to pay tribute to Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Grateful<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tA volunteer hands out roses at the a celebration of life for Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Bob<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tA public memorial for late Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"John<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tJohn Mayer leads a performance at a celebration of life for late Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026. Also on stage are Joan Baez, Nancy Pelosi, Weir\u2019s family and other presenters.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Natascha<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tNatascha Weir, Shala Monet Weir and Chloe Weir\u2014Bob Weir\u2019s wife and daughters, speak at a celebration of life for the late Grateful Dead cofounder at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Mickey<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tMickey Hart speaks during a celebration of life for late Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Trey<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tTrey Anastasio speaks in a pre-recorded message during a celebration of life for late Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Representative<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tRep. Nancy Pelosi speaks during a celebration of life for late Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"49ers<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tSan Francisco 49ers\u2019 George Kittle speaks in a prerecorded message during a celebration of life for late Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"San<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tSan Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie speaks during a celebration of life for late Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Tibet<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tMonks lead a prayer chant during a celebration of life for late Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Bob<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tThousands showed up at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco to pay tribute to Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir on Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

About The Author<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Glenn Gumin<\/a><\/p>\n

Glenn Gumin spends his days on a college campus as a higher education administrator involved in academic affairs and student & financial services. After many years of piano lessons, he\u2019s now attempting to learn to play the guitar and ukulele to prepare for island life in retirement. He\u2019s a live music enthusiast who loves to reminisce about shows he attended as a Bay Area teenager and a Midwest college student. He\u2019s also a big supporter of college radio.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Glenn Gumin spends his days on a college campus as a higher education administrator involved in academic affairs and student & financial services. After many years of piano lessons, he’s now attempting to learn to play the guitar and ukulele to prepare for island life in retirement. He’s a live music enthusiast who loves to reminisce about shows he attended as a Bay Area teenager and a Midwest college student. He’s also a big supporter of college radio.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Matt Pang continues to surround himself in photography after his love of music introduced him to it. His fondest memories include watching replays of VH1 music video countdowns. He lives in San Jose and enjoys watching the Giants in his free time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Thousands showed up at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco to pay tribute to Grateful Dead cofounder Bob…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":138515,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[66342,38728,101,103,102,104,106,105,70233],"class_list":{"0":"post-138514","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-francisco","8":"tag-bob-weir","9":"tag-grateful-dead","10":"tag-san-francisco","11":"tag-san-francisco-headlines","12":"tag-san-francisco-news","13":"tag-sf","14":"tag-sf-headlines","15":"tag-sf-news","16":"tag-the-grateful-dead"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138514"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138514\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}