Bob Weir open to “possibility” of Grateful Dead reunion
Bob Weir has revealed that he is open to the idea of the remaining members of the Grateful Dead to reunite for a celebration of the band’s 60th anniversary.
The band had previously announced that they were planning for the four remaining members to mark the milestone with a reunion, although the death of founding member and bassist Phil Lesh in October 2024 meant that these plans were put on hold.
Now, Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart have decided that they will enter the studio to rehearse together in preparation for what could be a momentous first appearance together under the Grateful Dead name since Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Weir addressed the idea of reuniting without Lesh, stating that it seemed impossible to reform without a bass player. “I think you need somebody holding down the bottom. Phil had all kinds of ideas that were pretty much unique to him. I grew up with Phil holding down the bottom in his unique way.”
He continued in a more encouraging tone: “I wouldn’t put anybody in his place, so it would be a trio at this point. It’d be me and two drummers. I’d have to think about that. I haven’t thought about it — it’s just now occurring to me that it’s a possibility that we could do that, since you asked.… I guess we’ll just see what the three of us can pull together.”
In 2015, the trio formed Dead & Company, a tribute to the music of the Grateful Dead that also includes John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti. Jay Lane replaced the departing Kreutzmann on drums in 2023.
Several other incarnations of the Grateful Dead have existed since the original group disbanded 30 years ago, with The Other Ones, who later became known as The Dead, as well as the Rhythm Devils having also included various core members of the band.
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