Photo via @TheBrokenRecordPod on IG

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Bob Weir sat down with famed producer Rick Rubin for the Broken Record podcast to discuss the Grateful Dead, Dead & Company and more.

Over the 50-plus minute episdoe, Weir noted his affinity for dreams, and how he’s often found inspiration through unconscious visits by late friend/bandmate Jerry Garcia.

“That just confirmed my notion that I held for the longest time that a song is a lifeform and it comes and visits us,” Weir says. “It comes through certain people for whatever reason. Those characters in those songs, they tell their stories and they just want to be heard”

Weir also discusses the formation of the Rhythm Devils section – Mickey Hart and Bill Kretzmann – saying, “the rhythms were so complicated that [having two drummers] expanded our awareness of what you can do with a rhythm.”

Although Weir was also willing to admit, “I’m not sure I was never altogether sold on the two drummer business because it started to take it more in the direction of playing than the song for me.”

Also worth noting is how Weir juxtaposes the band’s success of “Touch of Grey” with the downfall of late keyboardist Brent Mydland.

“The predictable thing happened,” Weir explains. “It took one of us out. It took Brent [Mydland] out. Too much too soon… The too much too soon phenomenon hit Brent because he hadn’t been through that whole developmental phase.”

Listen below: