Dedicated Deadhead Andy Cohen Mourns Guitarist Bob Weir: ‘One of the Absolute Coolest’ 

Andy Cohen is remembering one of his favorite musicians. 

On Saturday, Grateful Dead guitarist and founding member Bob Weir died at age 78. The cause was underlying lung issues following a cancer diagnosis in July, according to an announcement from Weir’s family on his website. 

Andy Cohen pays tribute to ‘wildly fiery’ Bob Weir 

Weir’s death led to an outpouring of tributes for the influential musician. One of those opening up about Weir and his band’s impact was Cohen, a self-professed Deadhead. 

“Bob Weir wasn’t The Other One, he was That Guy,” the Bravo producer wrote on Instagram. “He was impossibly beautiful and wildly fiery, intense and passionate.”

Cohen went on to recall his first Grateful Dead show in 1986 in Alpine Valley, Wisconsin. 

“Bob was just a speck on the stage from where I was, but man was his voice fierce and smooth… it felt like rays of sunshine were coming out of his mouth,” the Watch What Happens Live host recalled. “And though I was all the way in the back I clocked his jean shorts and tan legs.”

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Cohen enthusiasm for the Dead didn’t abate as the years went on. 

“Eleven years ago when Dead and Co. hit the road, Deadheads worldwide were gifted our songbook performed live in stadiums again. It felt like Brigadoon. I feel SO BLESSED to have gotten to know Bob and the equally wondrous Weir family through my friendship with John,” Cohen continued, referring to his friendship with fellow Grateful Dead superfan John Mayer. 

“[Weir] came on WWHL a few times and when he talked about Jerry’s passing he referred to it as ‘checkin’ out,’” he wrote. “That felt so graceful a way to put it, and a testament to the fluidity of all us in this world. Bob checked out but his music is going to live gloriously forever, and so will he. One of the absolute coolest and best to ever do it.” 

During a Watch What Happens Live appearance alongside Anderson Cooper, Weir opened up about his grief over the loss of his Grateful Dead bandmate Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995 at age 53. 

“I stayed on the road for a very long time after Jerry checked out,” Weir said. “By the time I finally came home and my wounds were all licked, I was OK … I guess I processed the grief to a greater extent than not just by playing … I found him there. I could hear him in the back of my head.” 

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