Watch John Mayer Pay Tribute to Bob Weir With Ripple Cover

Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir died earlier this month at age 78, and his public memorial took place last night (January 17) at San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza. Among the many musicians and former bandmates to appear was John Mayer, who played with Weir in his post-Grateful Dead project Dead & Company. In addition to giving a long, thoughtful speech honoring the late musician, Mayer also performed a solo cover of the Grateful Dead’s 1970 song “Ripple.” Watch a replay of that moment below.

Although Mayer shared a statement immediately following Weir’s death, his eulogy at yesterday’s memorial service was much longer, beginning with an anecdote about Mayer and Weir being born on the same day. “In the 30 years that preceded me, Bob had become a countercultural icon,” said Mayer. “I was a child of the 1980s. I come from a world of structural thinking, the concept, the theorizing, the reassessing, the perfecting. Bob learned early on that spirit, heart, soul, curiosity, and fearlessness was the path to glory. We both found success with each of our templates, and then we found each other… We were unlikely partners, and that was part of our magic.”

He continued: “Over the course of a decade, we came to trust each other. 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. I guess maybe what I was really doing was showing him he could rely on me. 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.” Hear his full speech in the video down below.

Weir played rhythm guitar and handled lead vocals for the Grateful Dead’s 30-year run. He also played in several bands, including Kingfish, the Bob Weir Band, Bobby and the Midnites, Scaring the Children, RatDog, and Furthur. Dozens of artists have paid tribute to the late icon, including Bob Dylan, Trey Anastasio, Bruce Hornsby, Nancy Wilson, Billy Corgan, and many others.

Read the Afterword essay “Bob Weir’s Cosmic Touch.”