Tribute to the late and much lamented Bob Weir, who left us a few days ago after fighting complications from lung cancer – he was 80.
Founding member and guiding light Bob Weir was one of the founding members of The Grateful Dead and further back, The Warlocks – with beginnings in Jug Band and laying one of the crucial foundations in the psychedelic era, he was often considered the heart and soul of the Dead.
Although the recorded output of both the Dead and Bob Weir via his side-projects, is jaw-dropping at best, taking a little time to look at what he was all about in other settings, gives some idea of how wide his influences were and how much of an impact he made on the Bay Area music scene in general.
This gig comes by way of WLIR-FM, who recorded Kingfish at The Calderone Theatre in Hempstead, Long Island on March 27, 1976. Accompanying Bob Weir are Robbie Hoddinott, guitar – Matt Kelly, harmonica and vocals – Dave Torbert on bass and Chris Herold on drums.
But to get an idea of what The Grateful Dead were like during their formative years and listening to a young Bob Weir in that context, I would point you in the direction of an earlier post I can, via The Shrine Expo Hall from 1967. It’s a favorite – because, not only was I at that concert but it was my first exposure to The Grateful Dead and my first encounter with Bob Weir.
Milestone moments and indelible memories. It was fun being a kid once, and the magic was worth infinitely more than the price of admission.
Good times – not to be forgotten.
