Thousands packed Civic Center Plaza on Saturday for a public memorial celebrating Bob Weir, the Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist and founding member who died earlier this month at 78.
At a Glance
- Memorial ran 12:45-2:30 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza
- Procession marched three blocks down Market Street
- Weir had beaten cancer diagnosed in July but later died of lung issues
- Why it matters: City pays tribute to native son who reshaped American music
The tribute began with a 12:30 p.m. procession between 7th and 9th streets on Market before the formal ceremony inside the plaza. Organizers asked mourners to enter through Fulton Plaza and urged public transit or rideshare because parking would be scarce.
Weir’s official website said the guitarist had been diagnosed with cancer in July, overcame it, but ultimately succumbed to “underlying lung issues.”
Born in San Francisco, Weir helped form the Grateful Dead and stayed on the road for decades, blending blues, folk and psychedelia into a signature sound that influenced generations of jam bands. His steady rhythmic guitar and songs like “Sugar Magnolia” and “Playing in the Band” became staples of the Dead’s catalog and its devoted following.
Saturday’s crowd included longtime Deadheads, neighborhood families and tourists who arrived early to secure spots near the main stage. Speakers celebrated Weir not only as a musician but as a “life adventurer” whose curiosity and openness mirrored the city’s spirit.
City officials closed several surrounding blocks to vehicles for the afternoon, and Muni added extra service on nearby lines to handle the surge of attendees. Vendors sold vintage concert posters and tie-dye shirts along the perimeter while volunteers handed out water under sunny skies.
The memorial ended with a communal sing-along of “Touch of Grey,” the Dead’s 1987 hit that became an anthem of resilience. As the final chorus faded, many in the crowd raised single fingers in the classic Dead salute, a quiet goodbye to a native son who never stopped exploring new musical territory.
Robert K. Lawson reported from San Francisco. News Of Philadelphia contributed to this report.
