Bob Weir, Co-Founder of Grateful Dead, Dies at 78 After Battle with Cancer, Family Says
Music legend Bob Weir, co-founder of the iconic rock band the Grateful Dead, has passed away at the age of 78 after a courageous battle with cancer. His family shared the news on his Instagram page, stating that he "transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones" and succumbed to lung problems.
Weir's life-long passion for music spanned over six decades, during which he took to the road as a guitarist, vocalist, storyteller, and founding member of the Grateful Dead. His work not only filled rooms with music but also became warm sunlight that filled souls, building a community, language, and a feeling of family among fans.
The musician met Jerry Garcia in 1963 at 16 years old, and the two formed a music group that eventually settled on the Grateful Dead name in 1965. Weir co-wrote many of their most famous songs with friend John Perry Barlow, including "Sugar Magnolia," "Playing in the Band," and "One More Saturday Night." In addition to his work with the Grateful Dead, he released three solo albums.
After Garcia's death in 1995, Weir reunited with drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, and musician John Mayer to form Dead & Company, touring from 2015 to 2018. The group came together a few more times in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Fans of the Grateful Dead took to social media to mourn Weir's passing, with one writing, "Thank you Bobby. We will carry you and the music with us forever," while another added, "Thank you for the music." Watch What Happens Live!'s host and Grateful Dead fan Andy Cohen also shared his thoughts, saying, "Bobby will live through the music and the people who love it around the world forever. What a gift he is for us all."
Weir's legacy continues to endure through his music, which has left an indelible mark on American music. His family hopes that his dream of a three-hundred-year legacy will "live on through future generations of Dead Heads."
Music legend Bob Weir, co-founder of the iconic rock band the Grateful Dead, has passed away at the age of 78 after a courageous battle with cancer. His family shared the news on his Instagram page, stating that he "transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones" and succumbed to lung problems.
Weir's life-long passion for music spanned over six decades, during which he took to the road as a guitarist, vocalist, storyteller, and founding member of the Grateful Dead. His work not only filled rooms with music but also became warm sunlight that filled souls, building a community, language, and a feeling of family among fans.
The musician met Jerry Garcia in 1963 at 16 years old, and the two formed a music group that eventually settled on the Grateful Dead name in 1965. Weir co-wrote many of their most famous songs with friend John Perry Barlow, including "Sugar Magnolia," "Playing in the Band," and "One More Saturday Night." In addition to his work with the Grateful Dead, he released three solo albums.
After Garcia's death in 1995, Weir reunited with drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, and musician John Mayer to form Dead & Company, touring from 2015 to 2018. The group came together a few more times in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Fans of the Grateful Dead took to social media to mourn Weir's passing, with one writing, "Thank you Bobby. We will carry you and the music with us forever," while another added, "Thank you for the music." Watch What Happens Live!'s host and Grateful Dead fan Andy Cohen also shared his thoughts, saying, "Bobby will live through the music and the people who love it around the world forever. What a gift he is for us all."
Weir's legacy continues to endure through his music, which has left an indelible mark on American music. His family hopes that his dream of a three-hundred-year legacy will "live on through future generations of Dead Heads."
Bob Weir was like the heart and soul of the Grateful Dead you know? he brought so much love and energy to every performance it's crazy to think he's gone 
I grew up listening to their music with my parents and it'll always hold a special place in my heart 
his legacy lives on through all the amazing songs he co-wrote with Jerry and John P. Barlow "Sugar Magnolia" is like my favorite jam ever! 
rest in peace bob weir you may be gone but your music will never fade away 
he was so down to earth and had this way with words that made you feel like he was singing directly to your soul. i remember listening to his stories about the band's early days at jam bands and thinking those guys were just regular dudes who loved music as much as we did. it's crazy how one person can leave such a huge void in our lives but his music will always be there to take us back to those magical moments 
the way he co-wrote songs with john perry barlow is like something out of a dream, man... and the fact that dead & company kept going even after jerry garcia was gone shows how dedicated bob was to keeping the music alive. anyway, it's time to celebrate bob weir's life and legacy through the incredible music he left us 
his life-long passion for music just filled so many rooms with joy and love 
i mean who else could make you wanna dance and sing along with just one guitar strum? 
AND HE WAS SUCH A PART OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD'S LEGACY, man... those guys were like a family to each other 
it's crazy to think that he's no longer with us, but his music will always live on 
just heard the sad news about Bob Weir 
the guy had a huge impact on music and his legacy will definitely live on through the fans 
his music brought so much joy and comfort to so many lives, it's crazy to think he's gone 
and yeah, the music lives on... thats what it is all about, right?
just so sad to hear about Bob Weir 
. RIP Bob Weir 
just heard the news about bob weir... it's crazy how fast he went from being this young dude in 63 to losing the battle with cancer at 78. it's like, we're living in a different time now, you know? everyone's always talking about legacy and impact, but sometimes it feels like it's just not enough 
. weir was an icon, no doubt, but his music wasn't just some nostalgic throwback for people who grew up on it... it actually spoke to something real in people's souls 
his music is still so deep and meaningful, it's a shame he had to fight cancer but at least he got to spend his last days surrounded by loved ones 
. And now, seeing all these tributes and messages from fans around the world is just beautiful 
anyone know how much time he had cancer tho? his family says lung problems but no sources mentioned what stage or type cancer was... shouldn't we be talking about that instead of just his legacy 
also why didn't the news mention the other members of dead & company? weren't they part of this "family" too? 
... 78 is young for cancer 
... RIP Bobby 
his legacy lives on through the Grateful Dead's music, which has brought people together for decades