Jamming With Bob Weir

Bob Weir

In the spring of 1998 I was on vacation in Mexico with my wife, staying at a nondescript hotel, just kicking back with some pina coladas and good books. I had to go up to the front desk to get another room key when I recognized a familiar face: it was Bob Weir, guitarist and co-founder of the iconic rock group The Grateful Dead. I remembered the group was on Arista Records in the late '80s, when I was writing songs for many of Arista's artists. I introduced myself to him and mentioned a few probable common acquaintances. He said: "Why don't you and your wife have dinner with my wife and me?" After a great dinner, I asked Bob if he wanted to jam. I thought that playing Truckin' with Bob Weir would be a very cool thing to tell my Dead-loving friends. He told me that he had brought two guitars with him–his personal guitar as well as Jerry Garcia's favorite guitar–and that he'd meet me in my room. Ten minutes later, he walked in with the two beautiful vintage guitars. As my wife read in bed, Bob and I went out on the deck and we started playing some blues, which actually did lead to Truckin'. Then, he played me one of his new songs. I realized that guys like Weir just love music and simply want to play it with people anytime, anyplace. He was a terrific guy.