Photo: Chloe Weir
Following the loss of Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist Bobby Weir, friends, collaborators and members of the jam scene have weighed in on his immeasurable impact. Scroll down to view tributes from Duane Betts, members of The Disco Biscuits and Dark Star Orchestra.
…
Duane Betts:
The history of the Allman Brothers Band and Grateful Dead has left us with some amazing stories and music that will never die. I was lucky enough to cross paths with Bob throughout the years. When we put together the “In Memory of Dickey Betts” concert I asked some folks who were old friends of my dad’s and couldn’t be there to send in video messages to play during intermission.
Bobby was kind enough to send this to me – and so now we are wishing him a bon voyage into the next realm. Fck’n A @bobweir we are going to miss you, but we will see you in the songs.
Aron Magner:
Ive had the honor of sharing the stage several times with Bobby, but the true honor has been the culture, music, and group improvisational concepts he has left behind. I got on the bus as a precocious teenager with music in veins. Ive never lost that passion, admiration and fandom. In fact it has only grown as I’ve witnessed how it can all STILL evolve. RIP Bobby. You’ve positively affected our lives more than you can possibly know.
Jon Barber:
My first dead show was age 12 at giants stadium. I’m a touch of grey dead head for sure. We went in early and bought field passes off a bored security guard for 5$ and went down to the rail. When the dead came on there was Bobby, crooning loud on feel like a stranger. Those words, they filled the stadium, pained with reality and growled with sound of life. Those were the magic words that guided me into this enchanted world. I tried to pretend it came to an end but it never did.
Years later I had this relationship with Bob where we would magically meet on side of stage under the lights while other people were on stage huffing thru some major pentatonic changes. Bob always said hello and seemed to enjoy a good chat. One time I went against the advice of others. They said, never talk to Bob side stage. But that wasn’t my relationship with him, I ONLY spoke to Bob on the side of stage and he always welcomed me when I said hello.
One time at Hartford Amphitheater, the biscuits were opening for Bob and Phil and there was a drum solo and I walked over to Bob with my smoke. Bob was charming as ever. We talked about Connecticut dead heads and the vibes and then we just stood together and watched the drum solo. I turned to Bob and said “hey you wanna hear a joke?” I didnt have a joke, but I figured I could whip up something funny if need be. I expected him to say he it wasn’t the right time. Of course, he said “yea, tell me one.” Surprised I spit out, “what did the bartender say to the guy dancing on the bar?” Bob turned to me and asked me to share my smoke with him. I handed it to him, he took a drag and said “not sure, what’d he say we?” I tried to think of something but all I could muster was “the bartender said ‘get off the bar guy ‘ur wearing short shorts!”
Bob laughed that kinda big dog chuckle, the big smile, he handed me my smoke, said “that’s kinda funny” and then was ushered back onto stage in front 50 thousand adoring fans cheering him.
True story. Bob was the best, played the coolest chords out of anybody, had the best personality and had one of the greatest lives you can imagine. See you on the other side – side stage big dawg 🙂
Marc Brownstien:
It truly would have been enough to just have been alive at the same time as these guys.
But yet somehow, someway, the universe brought us together. I wasn’t particularly close with the guys in the Dead. I didn’t really ever try to get close to them. I just enjoyed being a fan. But yet the universe kept bringing me back into their orbit. Phil and friends tour in 2001. We got to hang a bunch. We did Dinner in Marin and a hung at his house. Lots of kicking it around the shows.
Headcount in 2004. This is when I first met and started working with Bobby. 20 years later, looking through my photos and memories we ended up at the same benefits, same parties, some of the same shows. We opened for Ratdog twice on the Phil tour, sure, but it was always getting to say hi at these events that meant so much. Just a moment to thank Bob for being the biggest advocate, donor, and all around superstar for our organization.
2014 I ended up on stage with Ratdog at the Brooklyn Bowl. One of the weirdest moments of my life and I learned some huge lessons about sitting in. Namely, always listen to the LAST version of a song that an artist played. It doesn’t help to learn a ripping 1978 shakedown when they play shakedown almost as a ballad. I’ll take that lesson to the end of my career. But it was still one of the all time musical highlights of my life. Sometimes I randomly wish I could go back in time and do the sit in again knowing everything I know now.
That’s because I didn’t really know how to play the dead’s music until the next year, when suddenly we found ourselves on stage with Billy and Mickey in front of 30k people at gathering of the Vibes. And again at Red Rocks. I’ve been yelled at by Mickey for rushing. Also for not really understanding the beginning of the other ones that well! But he also sat down with me and talked about the work were doing with HeadCount and showed so much kindness and respect. That Mickey, he a complex one. And Billy, the sweetest kindest soul of them all. I remember a day in denver that I sat with Billy for lunch and then we hung at the table for so long, just telling stories, that suddenly it was time for dinner. So we ate dinner.
This pictures was from the bridge benefit at TRI studios. Bob played a hauntingly beautiful set of music with the National. I was standing there about to announce the band, and here I am, waiting for the crowd to quiet down and there is Bob, giving his most iconic of all time moves, shushing the crowd for me. I am grateful for a lot of things in my life, and amongst the top top things of all of them is that I’ve had the opportunity to meet, work with, perform with and attempt to make real change in the world alongside the most iconic Rhythm guitarist of our generation.
Jeff Mattson:
Bob was a major influence on my guitar playing and music along side Jerry of course. But Bob’s style was in such contrast and complimentary to Jerry’s, it taught me a whole different approach-invaluable lessons. He wrote such wonderful songs, too. Songs that I’ve played thousands of times and never tire of. He was always kind and generous when I had the opportunity to play with Bob-experiences I’ll treasure forever. The first time we played together at the old Sweetwater in Mill Valley, I distinctly remember singing the Jack Straw harmonies with Bob and Donna Jean and thinking life couldn’t get any cooler than this! I’m sure going to miss Bob and I will continue to do all I can to see his music and all the Dead’s music lives on.
Rob Barraco:
Bob was one of a kind. A gentle soul who played with conviction and always had a kind word. He profoundly changed my life right from the start. This photo is from Red Rocks 2003
John Kadlecik:
[See link below]
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
No Comments comments associated with this post