“I\u2019ve never knew a person so in tune with the cosmos. Who was so mystical and smart and mysterious, alluring and radiant,” Strings writes of his friend and Grateful Dead guitarist following news of his death<\/p>\n
\n\tBilly Strings<\/a> paid tribute to Bob Weir<\/a> following news of the Grateful Dead guitarist\u2019s death<\/a> Saturday at the age of 78.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe are all completely devastated\u00a0 but I also can\u2019t help but feel like he is at total peace and more magical now than he ever was. I\u2019ve never knew a person so in tune with the cosmos. Who was so mystical and smart and mysterious, alluring and radiant,\u201d Strings wrote on social media.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cHe was a star wrangler .. a celestial skysage who traded fear for wonder. Now he is riding the northern lights and skipping barefoot between the constellations\u2026 We took a while to try to understand the news and then told some beautiful stories about our times with him.. but eventually we decided to pick ourselves up and got back to recording our music because that\u2019s what he would have wanted us to do. As he said \u2018There\u2019s work to be done.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tStrings collaborated with Weir onstage on a number of occasions over the past half-decade, including most recently \u2014 and finally \u2014 at the Dead 60 shows in San Francisco in August 2025, where Strings served as opening act before joining Dead & Company for \u201cWharf Rat.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI\u2019ll always cherish the memories I have of Bob .. of hanging out in his hotel room and him showing me his record collection and mobile recording rig. Sitting there listening to kind of blue in silence. Soaking in the frequencies. Of him busting into \u2018when I paint my masterpiece\u2019 at my wedding.. and in an instant he turned the place into a joyous musical celebration. It was the greatest gift anyone could have given us,\u201d Strings wrote.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cHe was always ready to \u2018Kick up a fuss\u2019 He always had boundless time and knowledge to share with everyone and was truly one of the kindest people I\u2019ve ever known. The world is a better place because of him. I\u2019m extremely grateful to have crossed paths with him in this life.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n