Rolling Stone Pays Tribute to Grateful Dead's Bob Weir

Special issue celebrates the life and career of the legendary guitarist

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Rolling Stone magazine has dedicated its March issue to honoring the life and legacy of Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir, who passed away on January 10th. The issue includes exclusive tributes from Weir's bandmates Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, as well as an interview with Dead & Company's John Mayer and intimate photos of Weir taken by his daughter, photographer Chloe Weir.

Why it matters

Bob Weir was a founding member of the Grateful Dead and played a crucial role in shaping the band's iconic sound and enduring legacy. This special tribute issue from Rolling Stone celebrates Weir's immense contributions to music and the lasting impact he had on his bandmates and fans.

The details

The Rolling Stone tribute issue features heartfelt reflections from Weir's Grateful Dead bandmates. Mickey Hart said that for Weir, the band represented "freedom" and a place where "everyone could be what they wanted to be." Bill Kreutzmann discussed how the surviving members of the Grateful Dead accepted the need to continue playing the band's music after the passing of Jerry Garcia in 1995. John Mayer, who performed with Weir in Dead & Company, spoke about the deep musical connection they shared on stage.

  • Bob Weir passed away on January 10, 2026.
  • The Rolling Stone tribute issue was published on February 18, 2026.

The players

Bob Weir

A founding member of the Grateful Dead and legendary guitarist who passed away in January 2026.

Mickey Hart

A member of the Grateful Dead and longtime bandmate of Bob Weir.

Bill Kreutzmann

A member of the Grateful Dead and longtime bandmate of Bob Weir.

John Mayer

A member of the band Dead & Company, which performed Grateful Dead songs with Bob Weir.

Chloe Weir

Bob Weir's daughter and a photographer who contributed intimate photos of her father to the Rolling Stone tribute issue.

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What they’re saying

“The Grateful Dead, for Bob, was freedom. It was a place for him to be Bob — his home.”

— Mickey Hart, Grateful Dead Bandmate (Rolling Stone)

“Bob wasn't one to talk a lot, but this was the way for all of us to fly. We all gave each other space, and at the same time, we all were supporting each other, and the music just started to flow. We all believed in the magic.”

— Mickey Hart, Grateful Dead Bandmate (Rolling Stone)

“It took me a few years to figure that out, but I think it took Bob about five minutes — he played a show in New Hampshire the very night Jerry died. That was also his way of processing it.”

— Bill Kreutzmann, Grateful Dead Bandmate (Rolling Stone)

“We were aligned. Bobby and I both had the same clock — where he knew what I was going to do, and he knew I'd give it back and go, 'All yours.'”

— John Mayer, Dead & Company Bandmate (Rolling Stone)

The takeaway

Bob Weir's enduring legacy as a founding member of the Grateful Dead is celebrated in this special tribute issue from Rolling Stone, which highlights the deep bonds he shared with his bandmates and the profound impact he had on the band's iconic sound and lasting influence on music.