Bobby Weir dead at 78: Grateful Dead co-founder shaped generations of American rock

Bobby Weir, a founding member of the Grateful Dead and one of the defining figures of psychedelic rock and the jam-band movement, died Jan. 10, his family announced. He was 78.

News of Weir’s death was shared in a statement posted to his Facebook page by his daughter, Chloe Weir, and later on the musician’s website. She said he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after battling cancer and later succumbing to lung complications.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir. He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could,” the post reads. “Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues.”

For more than six decades, Weir stood at the heart of one of America’s most influential bands, helping shape not only the Grateful Dead’s distinctive sound but also the modern concert industry itself. The group’s improvisational performances, relentless touring and fiercely loyal fan base — the Deadheads — transformed live music into a cultural movement.

Formed in Palo Alto in 1965, the Grateful Dead featured Weir alongside Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Ron “Pigpen” ...