Founding member of the Grateful Dead, Bobby Weir, died at age of 78.
"It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir," Weir's family said in a statement. "He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could. Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues. Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music. His work did more than fill rooms with music; it was warm sunlight that filled the soul, building a community, a language, and a feeling of family that generations of fans carry with them. Every chord he played, every word he sang was an integral part of the stories he wove. There was an invitation: to feel, to question, to wander, and to belong."
Weir formed the Dead in 1965, shaping the sound of the counterculture of the 60’s and continuing on as one of the most successful jam bands in history. Over six decades the Dead played, inspiring generations of artists and fans that still thrive to this day. With the Dead, Weir received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and won both the Les Paul Spirit Award and the Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. The band holds the record for the most Billboard Top 40 albums of all time, and has drawn more concertgoers than any other act in the history of music. In 2020, achieved their 66th Top 40 album, making them unmatched in Billboard history.
Weir also created the band Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros, with Don Was and Jay Lane, and The Wolfpack, a six-piece string and brass ensemble. As a rhythm guitarist, Weir is still one of the most influential of his generation and his musical impact has resonated worldwide for generations.
R.I.P. Bobby