Bob Weir was larger than life, a legend from before my time, who had a massive impact on my life and the life of many others. Hearing about his death made me “take a step back” and really consider my own mortality and how at some point, this is all going to end.
I never met Bobby, but I felt a kinship with him that I think a lot of other people also experienced. Whether that comes from listening to countless hours of Grateful Dead recordings, or better yet, going to shows where Bobby took the stage. He was a friend, a spiritual leader and an icon whose legacy will probably outlive us all.
This is a crazy world, and one special gift that Bob Weir gave us was the music and the philosophies on life that it contains. For me, listening to the Grateful Dead makes life less troublesome. The friends I know who feel the same are connected on a level that goes beneath the surface. Bob Weir has a lot to do with why that happened.
Bobby was the ringleader of the shenanigans. He taught us to enjoy the journey and have a little bit of fun along the way. This is one of those times where you really hope there’s an afterlife, because then you get to picture Bobby, Phil, and Jerry sitting around a table together once again. Rest in peace.
I wanted to share a few of my favorite Bob Weir musical moments. This is just what I can recall off the top of my head.
Dark Star -> El Paso 8/27/72
This is one of the most famous Grateful Dead concert moments of all time, and for good reason. After the band gets through an awesome “Dark Star,” and Jerry gets ready to blast off into “Morning Dew,” Bobby decides he has other plans, and forces the band to go into “El Paso.”
It’s funny because the “Morning Dew” would have obviously been awesome. But the result is a video that got my non dead loving friend, @davidj-edwards, to start telling people about the band. I know I’m not the first person to show this prank to a friend and have them love the hell out of it.
Jack Straw – 10/20/84
I might have shared this version of Jack Straw in the past, but god damn is it good. I did some reading on this show and discovered that Bobby was pissed this night because the people wouldnt listen when he asked them all to take a step back. You can definitely hear the frustration in his voice, listening to this. Give it some time as the beginning is a bit rough but it gets better by the end.
Dark Hollow – 9/26/80
I don’t think this is the exact one from the Reckoning Album but it’s definitely from the same tour. “Dark Hollow” is such a great song to hear Bobby sing. Reckoning and these acoustic tours in general are some of my favorite dead shows. This is 9/26/80, according to the Youtube description. The one from Reckoning is 10/07/80. All of it worth listening
Good Lovin’ – 3/9/81
This is kind of a sleeper but I love it. Good Lovin’ live at Madison Square Garden. Bobby does “Turn On Your Lovelight” near the end, and gives a tribute to Pigpen. I’ve had it saved ever since the first time I saw it.
Looks Like Rain 6/9/76
Bobby gets real loud at the end of this one and emotive. It’s great. 76 is a year that doesnt get talked about much. It’s got some of the chillest dead recordings, if not a little sloppier than 77, but still quite good.
Bob Weir & Wolf Bros – “Eyes of the World” (Chinese New Year 2021)
Latter day Eyes of the World. One of my favorite Grateful Dead songs. There is another version that I listen to a lot, which goes into What’s Goin’ On. But there isn’t a video. See below as the last in this post. RIP Bobby. Love you buddy.
