Bob Weir, Grateful Dead Co-Founder and Guitarist, Dead at 78
Rolling Stone••general
Key Points:
- Bob Weir, co-founder, singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the Grateful Dead, has died at age 78 after battling cancer and underlying lung issues, according to a family statement.
- Weir was instrumental in shaping the Grateful Dead's unique sound with his distinctive guitar riffs and songwriting, contributing classics like “Playing in the Band” and “Cassidy.”
- Despite often being overshadowed by Jerry Garcia, Weir was a key creative force and performer throughout the band’s six-decade history, continuing to perform with various Dead-related projects after Garcia’s death in 1995.
- In recent years, Weir led the band Dead & Company and performed in his final shows during the Grateful Dead’s
