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Talking With The Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir

5/4/07, 5:13 pm EST

bob weir, grateful dead, rolling stoneFor our fortieth anniversary, the editors of Rolling Stone have interviewed twenty artists and leaders who helped shape our time. Over the next four weeks, every day, we’ll be debuting exclusive audio clips from the Q&As, giving you unparalleled access to some of the most important personalities in history.

Today we present the Bob Weir. Besides being a key member of the greatest nomadic band ever, Weir and Co. forever changed how live music was experienced, thanks to their ever-changing jams and their insanely fervent fan base. Sitting down with Rolling Stone’s David Fricke for our fortieth anniversary issue, Weir talks about the house at 710 Ashbury, protesting the Vietnam War and being friendly with Donald Trump and Ann Coulter. Listen to excerpts from that interview, and for the full Bob Weir profile, pick up your copy of our fortieth anniversary issue, on stands now.


  • Weir talks about why there aren’t as many artistic epicenters as there were in the 60s: “Back then, when you made a long-distance call, it cost some change. You picked and chose your occasions. Now, information exchanges happen so fast and furious — it’s as if there were no locations anymore. So it’s hard to get a sense of place anywhere….”

  • Weir argues that while San Francisco may be costlier, the ideology there hasn’t changed much: “I was at a coffee place the other day and it was in the afternoon, and someone got a microphone and started reading. I went back to work later, but I felt kind of jazzed for the rest of the afternoon. I think that does still happen in San Francisco, and I’m not sure it happens everywhere else…”

    • Check back next week for another installment of our twenty-part audio interviews, featuring some of the most iconic and influential pop culture figures of the last 40 years. Want a hint at Monday’s interviewee? What famed drummer told us this:

    “I haven’t been to a stadium gig in years, and I thank the Stones for that. I went to see them. Mick got us the tickets, and we had great seats, but we were watching the screens the whole time. I thought, “Well, I can watch this on TV.’ “

Rolling Stone

More Audio Interviews, 40th Anniversary


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Comments

MADDIE | 12/1/2007, 7:10 am EST

Road apples

CALLIE | 12/1/2007, 4:47 am EST

Talk through one’s hat

ISABELLA | 11/30/2007, 11:45 pm EST

Full of piss and vinegar

woodbutcher | 11/8/2007, 8:12 pm EST

How sad….a key player in one of the greatest American bands of all time reduced to stumping for gay marriage. Pathetic.

Shut up and sing, Bobby.

suebee09.yahoo.com | 9/25/2007, 8:12 pm EST

Thank You, Bob Weir and the Midghts for your kindess in a bar in Tempe. You allowed me to take 35mm with no flash, and it was first experience for me. Was scared to death but got the startch my petticoats to keep up cameras, old and new, then video. Your proof sheet you are welcome to. The slides are in Illiniois, and dessicated. Proofs and CD. never published. Uh let me know, if is should send them to your people or who. I live in india now, and don,t want the bandicoots, to eat all photos and documents. This is not a joke letter, as I like to get people’s photos back to them. Suzanne Murthy, born in denver with abhorrance to Florence and Pueblo

ernesto | 7/29/2007, 9:39 am EST

I read all of your comments but i daresay not many of you were in the Haight in the day.Too bad.Who thought we all would live this long?Any how as for free music—-they gave up plenty
and asked nothing in return.That’s most likely more than you(collectively) can say.Peace & piece my brothers and sisters.

DireWolf81 | 7/8/2007, 5:02 pm EST

If Bob Weir wasnt around what concerts would you be going to,we all no Phill isnt doing shit and Weir gave us most of the thrill & entertainment on the stage other than Jerrys guitar.I love all the members about the same but Wier is my main man.He puts every thing he has in his music and he gives me a place to go and live for a while.I do wish they would get back together tho and have a DEAD TOUR.

lanoka | 6/30/2007, 7:41 pm EST

why do people think that they are entitled to grateful dead music for free?

Brian | 6/28/2007, 12:30 pm EST

Bobby is a wonderful person who really works hard at playing and keeping the band tight. He will be shaving his beard on New Years 2008!!

cbonnet | 5/21/2007, 2:22 pm EST

Like the pic, as for being dead 20 years ago, listen to some fall ‘02 TOO shows…he still has it.(Whatever it is) Nobody plays like Weir.

Frank | 5/16/2007, 10:08 am EST

Bobbie did you forget what Jerry said, When were done with the music they can have it. shame on you , Is Donald giving you financial advice? There would be no Dead with out the dead Heads

4everGrateful | 5/15/2007, 11:24 am EST

I don’t care what he looks like, as long as he and Phil continue to make music in the memory and spirit of the Dead. Pigpen / Jerry / Brent, etc. I am sure are proud the music lives on….. because “the music never stopped”!!! Peace and positive vibes to all!

LOOK AT HIM! | 5/12/2007, 1:04 am EST

I’m sorry to tell you all this, but Bob Weir died 20 years ago.

Jayson Findling | 5/10/2007, 9:23 pm EST

Bob Weir is my hero

Jayson Findling | 5/10/2007, 9:22 pm EST

Bob is coming to Summerfest July 5th and I know I will be there because he is the greatest preformer that I have ever seen especially when he played with the Jerry and Phil, they were a tag team like none other.

re: weirded-out | 5/10/2007, 8:32 pm EST

Weirded-out! Chew on that pun and take it home with you! This guy should lock himself in a room, roll up in an old rug until he’s tight as a joint, and then listen to all his old albums back to back. And try to remember who he used to be. Memories are all he has left at this point. Good bye Bob.

John | 5/10/2007, 8:24 pm EST

Am I the only one who is weirded-out by that picture? Looks like he is from the 1800’s!

iKNOWiMright | 5/7/2007, 5:07 pm EST

“…and the kids they dance to shake their bones, with the politicians throwing stones, singing ashes, ashes, all fall down..”

Smiddy | 5/7/2007, 2:29 pm EST

Dead tour sometime? Anytime?

phil | 5/7/2007, 12:43 pm EST

bob weir was not behing phil and jerry, hell you didn’t see phil contribute nearly as much songwriting or vocals as bob did

jackson | 5/7/2007, 11:51 am EST

I wish Bob would bust out his cut-off jean nut huggers for the summer tour. That is Bob that I rember best.

diamond joe | 5/7/2007, 9:21 am EST

the faster we go the rounder we get bobby

stranger | 5/7/2007, 7:44 am EST

Ratdog rocks !! LOng live Bobby!!

ryan | 5/6/2007, 12:26 pm EST

bob weir is the man

dlt | 5/6/2007, 9:04 am EST

Ann Coulter

Must make alot of money
Writing books

Height N' Halle Berry... | 5/5/2007, 8:52 pm EST

Benny and Jerry Garcia couldn’t have had such a lasting impact on the ice-cream biz with out the help and nomadic ice-cream with the little dancing weir-bears!… Everyone knows Mountian Girl stoled Jerry’s cherry’s! If Bob Weir is dead? Who’s this dude… Monty Python?

Come on | 5/5/2007, 2:06 pm EST

I don’t think he was “behind” anyone

eenie | 5/5/2007, 12:03 pm EST

is that a photo of santa?

Hope | 5/5/2007, 11:56 am EST

Nice to hear Weir’s awareness of community and lack there of in many places today. We can thank our lucky stars that he stills tours as relentless as he does with Ratdog.

Jim Nichols | 5/5/2007, 8:45 am EST

Weir & Co.? He was part of the company, behind Jerry and Phil

mikeky | 5/4/2007, 8:47 pm EST

did bob weir eat bob weir’s dad?

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