After Jerry passed there was much a do about what would happen with The Dead. I mean, how do you replace a guy like Jerry and how do you carry on doing shows when such a legendary member of your group is no longer with you? Well, Bob and the gang figured it out and they did it well. I think Jerry would have been proud of the many iterations of “The Dead” (et al) that carried that torch long and strong after Jerry’s passing.

Sadly, Bob Weir has left us over the weekend moving on to the greener pastures in the heavens. It’s really unbelievable that he made it all the way to age 78, playing and touring non-stop since he was a scrawny young chap living on Haight St. Often the comparisons between Bob and Jerry were just silly but there was no mistaking Bob’s contributions to The Grateful Dead. He will long be remembered as a driving force–both as a writer and vocalist–behind their music. And of course, his signature twangy, avant-garde guitar riffs will always linger behind the backdrop of Jerry and the rest of the band.

There really is too much to say. Where I wasn’t necessarily a “Bob” fan (I was more in the Jerry camp) I fully appreciated his approach and his creativity. The Grateful Dead just wouldn’t have been the same without his input. Of all my show memories, I think I will always hold dear that Sunday afternoon in Phoenix where the band came out playing “El Paso” (one of Bob’s favorites) and the crowd erupted into a full marshmellow war, so frenetic that it looked like it was snowing for a brief moment in time. Thank you Bob for all your hard work making those shows memorable. You will be missed, brother. RIP!