11 hours agoSun 11 Jan 2026 at 1:12am

Bob Weir spent more than 60 years on the road as a musician. (AP: Amy Harris)

Bob Weir, guitarist, singer and founding member of the Grateful Dead, has died at age 78.

Weir's death was announced on Saturday in a statement on his Instagram page.

"It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir,"

the statement said.

"He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could. Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues."

Weir joined the Grateful Dead — originally the Warlocks — in 1965 in San Francisco at age 17.

Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh, Jerry Garcia, Brent Mydland, Bill Kreutzmann and Bob Weir were all members of the Grateful Dead. (AP: Supplied)

He spent the next 30 years playing on endless tours with the Grateful Dead alongside fellow singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995.

Weir wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Dead classics, including Sugar Magnolia, One More Saturday Night and Mexicali Blues.

In the decades since, he kept playing with other projects, including Dead and Company.

"For over sixty years, Bobby took to the road," the Instagram statement said.

"A guitarist, vocalist, storyteller, and founding member of the Grateful Dead. Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music."

Weir's death leaves drummer Bill Kreutzmann as the only surviving original member. Founding bassist Phil Lesh died in 2024.

Dead and Company played a series of concerts for the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary in July at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

AP