2026 is unfortunately picking up right where 2025 left off, taking another musical legend from us. It’s near impossible to overstate Bob Weir’s impact as a founding member of the Grateful Dead and through an incredible array of collaborations and solo projects that followed.
No surprise, the outpouring of memories has been overwhelming. The key theme running through all of them: he played for the love of playing, a joy he shared with everyone he encountered on his life journey.
The favorite story I’ve seen so far comes courtesy of bassist Zachariah Hickman, who met Weir while touring with Josh Ritter. Hickman describes Weir showing up to join them for a show:
We rehearsed the beginnings of the songs multiple times – intros, first verse and chorus, etc. But as soon as we got to the solo sections? He would stop us immediately. “Save it for the show.” So all the improvising and endings were completely fresh and explorative.
Here’s a trio of Weir performances: The Grateful Dead performing “Truckin'” back in 1972 and “I Need a Miracle” in 1991 and then Weir and Wolf Brothers playing an NPR Tiny Desk mini-set back in 2020.
“Let there be songs to fill the air”.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.