Watch John Mayer Honor Late Bandmate Bob Weir During Emotional Public Memorial in San Francisco

Fans of the Grateful Dead and Dead & Company gathered in San Francisco on Saturday for a public memorial honoring the late Bob Weir. Among the highlights of the event was a moving eulogy delivered by John Mayer, Weir’s longtime friend and Dead & Company bandmate. Mayer also performed the beloved Grateful Dead song “Ripple,” leaving the crowd visibly moved.

The ceremony reflected both the impact of Weir’s music and the personal connections he built with bandmates, friends, and fans over decades.

Mayer Reflects on Their Partnership

“Over the course of a decade, we came to trust each other,” Mayer said during his speech. “He taught me, among many other things, to trust in the moment, and I’d like to think I taught him a little bit to rely on a plan, not as a substitute for the divine moments, but as a way to lure them in a little closer.”

Dead & Company formed in 2015, and at the time, some Grateful Dead fans were skeptical of Mayer’s fit due to his younger age and distinct guitar style. Mayer acknowledged that this dynamic required effort and trust on both sides.

“I guess maybe what I was really doing was showing him he could rely on me,” Mayer continued. “Bob took a chance on me. He staked his entire reputation on my joining a band with him. He gave me musical community, he gave me this community.”

Celebrating Weir’s Life and Music

In August 2025, Dead & Company marked the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary with a trio of concerts at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. At the time, few knew that Weir had been diagnosed with cancer the month before. His illness would not be made public until his death on January 10 of this year.

“I know right now it’s easy to feel as if time is speeding up and taking so much from us all,” Mayer said, “but I would remind you, as I have tried to remind myself this past week, of just how many nights we all lived so fully in each second, hanging on to every word of Bobby’s, following the music around twists and turns through forests and over majestic vistas, taking in the magnificent interviews and wondering how we all got so lucky to have been found by this music and invited into this dream together.”

Mayer’s performance of “Ripple” offered a moment of reflection for the audience, celebrating the music that defined both Weir’s life and the lives of his fans.

“Thank you, Maestro,” Mayer concluded. “You changed my life. I will love you forever. Thank you.”

The memorial in San Francisco served as both a farewell and a reminder of the lasting legacy of Bob Weir, highlighting his influence on generations of musicians and fans alike.