Bob Weir cancels all remaining tour dates (Furthur, RatDog)

-----------------Important News----------------

08/10/2014


Circumstances have necessitated that all scheduled tour dates for Bob Weir & RatDog are being cancelled. This applies to all dates on the summer tour starting on Thursday, August 14 in Boston through September 14 in Nashville and also includes the Jamaica event in January of 2015. Refunds are available at place of purchase. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.
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As of publication this continues to be the only information coming out of any of the Dead camps (Furthur, RatDog and Phil Lesh 'n Friends) about Bob Weir's abrupt cancellation of all his summer tourdates and indeed all dates scheduled through to January 2015.  Bob has seemed to dwindle in his performance strength over the past year, dating notably to what was attributed as a dosing incident in April.  Bobby also missed a show at the Palms in Vegas with his solo band RatDog (although the band played on, likely one of their better shows in a while).    Whether Weir has long term health problems or is seeking a measure of privacy for whatever reason he has certainly earned that.

Furthur w. Trey Anastasio perform Workingman's Dead (SBD mp3)

 

(l to r) Bob Weir, Trey Anastasio, Fake Jerry, Phil Lesh

Furthur 9/7/13 Lockn Festival, Arrington VA

Set 1: Uncle John's Band*, High Time*, Dire Wolf*, New Speedway Boogie*, Cumberland Blues*, Black Peter*, Easy Wind*, Casey Jones*^, Bertha^, Truckin^, Other One^, Viola Lee Blues^, Scarlet^ > Fire^

* from full album "Workingman's Dead"
^ with Trey Anastasio
all highlighted links to mp3's

Bob Weir Collapses Onstage during Unbroken Chain (Furthur, Capitol Theater, 4/25/2013)

Bob Weir longstanding rhythm guitarist and rhythm vocalist for the Grateful Dead collapsed on stage with the post-Grateful Dead ensemble Furthur (with bandmate Phil Lesh and various members of top-tier Dead cover bands) at their engagement Thursday night at the Capitol Theatre. 

While playing one of the rarest and most coveted songs in the Grateful Dead repertoire, also a rare strong vehicle for Phil Lesh's distinct singing voice, the band seems not to mind whatsoever while Bob Weir stumbles, then falls (about 0:56).  Uncannily the band just tallies forth while various stage manager and roadie types scoop him up and have a quick chat then shockingly put out a chair for him where he manages (perhaps not shockingly given his collective history for playing beyond what any reasonable person would call 'impaired') to reinsert himself (relatively speaking) into the improvisation (around 2:03). The thing about it is if you were just to listen to the recording itself without the footage you wouldn't really think anything untoward had happened- the version sounds solid if not a touch inspired.

This incident along with what was billed as an inadvertent dosing incident at the Nokia Theatre (7/28/2010) have raised questions about Weir's health, whether alcoholism (which Lesh has battled successfuly in the years since his Hep C diagnosis), or a combination of drug addictions has contributed to his ill health.  Relix magazine is reporting that:

Weir had been experiencing issues throughout the night and during “Unbroken Chain” a chair had been provided for him. Then after a brief break the show resumed, with Lesh indicating that Weir had injured his shoulder in a workout. It is believed that the guitarist took a muscle relaxant which ultimately inhibited his performance. Following his departure the group closed out the run with a pass from “Stella Blue” into “China Cat Sunflower” and then “I Know You Rider” before a "Built To Last” encore.

What's telling about both episodes is how the band seemed perhaps unfazed is not the right word but they seemed to have a contingency in place - suggesting the behaviour had become not unordinary.  Also in both instances known Psychonaut Phil Lesh - who has after all consumed Herculean amounts of LSD and was once described by Warner Brothers records as impossible to control- suggested prescription drugs were to blame.  At the Nokia it was a 'prescription drug reaction on an empty stomach' at the Capitol it was 'shoulder injury and a muscle relaxant'.  Historically the Dead as an organization, who has made a giant money spinning enterprise out of hundreds of thousands of individuals drug experiences, have spun their own (often drug and alcohol induced) health problems to their liking; when Garcia slipped into a diabetic coma in '86, it was chalked up to exhaustion and undiagnosed diabetes- not alcohol, opium or a stroke. Spin control is understandable but treacherous and more than just a little bit Machiavellian from a band that once thought nothing of dosing unwitting record executives to say nothing of a thwarted plan to paint the walls of a hall with liquid LSD in advance of a Republican convention.

Bob Weir

Bob Weir Wife

John Barlow, Bob Weir, Natascha Muenter

One of the most searched phrases that seems to land people on this site is 'Bob Weir wife'.  People seem to really want to know who Bobbie's taking his cutoffs off for these days.  Bob Weir maried Natascha Muenter in Mill Valley California July 15th 1999.  The ceremony was officiated by a Tibetan monk who spoke 'the discipline of marriage'.  Bob's best man John Barlow decried: "I never thought I'd see this day!"

In the just released insider documentary The Other One: The Long Strange Trip of Bob Weir -  while glossing over difficult times in Bob's life and perfomances - the film talks at some length about Bobbie's life as the ladies man (and only suitable suitor) in the Grateful Dead.  The film briefly touches upon Bob's meeting Natascha at the tender age of 14 when she would hang around backstage at Grateful Dead concerts.  One segment refers to her being present but not participating in what sounded very much like a menage a trois.  All of this is related tastefully of course.

According to the GD Forum:

The ceremony, held near Weir's house in Mill Valley, was officiated by a Tibetan monk, who spoke of "the discipline of marriage." Bobby was in a formal kilt, and his best man was John Barlow, who remarked "I never thought I'd see this day!"
The wedding was a very small affair; Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, Steve Parish, and Ramrod were among the attendees. Natascha held Shala Monet in her arms during much of the ceremony. 

After the wedding, the party retired to Weir's house for a Vegan dinner. The reception was held at the Mill Valley Outdoor Art Club, with the newlyweds arriving in a horsedrawn carriage. The Dave Ellis Quartet provided the music (Dave Ellis on reeds, Jeff Chimenti on keyboards, Peter Barshay on bass, Deszon Claiborne on drums) for the reception. A jazzy version of "Terrapin Station" was rousingly received by the guests. Others in attendance included Wavy Gravy walking his fish, all the members of Ratdog, Bobby Cochran, Eileen and Cassidy Law, Cameron Sears, Peter Coyote, Deborah Koons, and Vince Welnick.

Move Me Brightly setlist (Jerry Garcia 70th Birthday, TRI Studios, 08/03/2012)

(l to r: Neal Casal, Donna Jean Godchaux, Bob Weir, Mike Gordon)

"I'm into performing cause there's a certain part of my life in which that's essential. I've lived a performer's life in a certain way so a certain amount of that is there.  I love what I'm doing." - Jerry Garcia

Move Me Brightly (Jerry Garcia 70th Birthday Celebration)

Tri Studios, San Rafael, CA

08/03/2012

The Wheel >
Cumberland Blues
Loser
Mississippi Half Step
Dire Wolf
Dupree’s Diamond Blues
Tennessee Jed
Ship Of Fools
They Love Each Other
Bird Song >
New Speedway Boogie
Loose Lucy
Friend of the Devil
Mission In The Rain
Ramble On Rose
Catfish John
Shakedown Street
Terrapin Station
He’s Gone >
Eyes Of The World
Scarlet Begonias
Don’t Let Go
Days Between >
Franklin’s Tower

Encore:
U.S. Blues >
Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad
Ripple

(*all song titles below are youtube links)



The Wheel > Cumberland Blues (Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Donna Jean Godchaux, Neal Casal, Jon Graboff, Jason Roberts, Joe Russo, Jeff Chimenti)

Loser (Casal, Russo, Weir, Mike Gordon, Chimenti, Godchaux, Jim Lauderdale, Roberts, Graboff, Adam McDougall)

Mississippi Half Step (Weir, Gordon, Jim Lauderdale, Godchaux, Graboff, Casal, Chimenti, Russo)

Dire Wolf (Weir, Harper Simon, Gordon, Russo, Godchaux, Graboff, Chimenti, Josh Kaufman, Sam Cohen)

Dupree’s Diamond Blues (Chimenti, Casal, Russo, Gordon, Cass McCombs, Sam Cohen, Josh Kaufman)

Tennessee Jed (Chimenti, Casal, Godchaux, Russo, Gordon, Weir, Roberts, Graboff)

Ship Of Fools (Chimenti, Casal, Godchaux, Russo, Gordon, Weir, Graboff)

They Love Each Other (Chimenti, Casal, Godchaux, Russo, Weir, Gordon, Jonathan Wilson, Graboff)

Bird Song (Chimenti, Casal, Godchaux, Russo, Weir, Gordon, Graboff) > New Speedway Boogie (Chimenti, McDougall, Casal, Godchaux, Russo, Weir, Gordon, Roberts, Graboff)

Loose Lucy (Weir Solo Acoustic)

Friend of the Devil (Lauderdale, Simon, McCombs)

Mission In The Rain (Chimenti, Casal, Godchaux, Russo, Gordon, Wilson)

Ramble On Rose (Chimenti, Casal, Russo, Weir, Gordon, Wilson)

Catfish John (McDougall, Chimenti, Casal, Russo, Godchaux, Gordon, Weir, Wilson, Graboff)

Shakedown Street (McDougall, Chimenti, Simon, Godchaux, Chris Tomson, Godchaux, Gordon, Weir, Kaufman, Cohen)

Terrapin Station (Chimenti, Godchaux, Russo, Gordon, McCombs, Weir, Kaufman, Cohen, Graboff)

He’s Gone (Chimenti, Russo, Godchaux, Weir, Gordon, Kaufman, Cohen, Graboff) > Eyes Of The World (McDougall, Chimenti, Simon, Godchaux, Russo, Weir, Gordon, Lauderdale, Kaufman, Cohen, Graboff)

Scarlet Begonias (Chimenti, Craig Finn, Tad Kubler, Russo, Godchaux, Weir, Gordon, Kaufman, Cohen, Graboff)

Don’t Let Go (Chimenti, Finn, Godchaux, Graboff, Russo, Weir, Gordon, Wilson, Simon)

Days Between (Chimenti, Casal, Russo, Weir, Gordon, Kaufman, Wilson, Cohen) > Franklin’s Tower (Chimenti, McDougall, Casal, Russo, Simon, Weir, Wilson, Godchaux, Gordon, Kaufman, Cohen, Graboff, Tomson, Lauderdale)

U.S. Blues (Chimenti, McDougall, Casal, Russo, Simon, Weir, Wilson, Godchaux, Gordon, Kaufman, Cohen, Graboff, Lauderdale, Finn)

Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad (Chimenti, McDougall, Casal, Russo, Simon, Weir, Wilson, Godchaux, Gordon, Kaufman, Cohen, Graboff, McCombs, Lauderdale, Finn)

Ripple (Chimenti, McDougall, Godchaux, Simon, Wilson, Tomson, Casal, Roberts, Kaufman, Weir, Gordon, Russo, Wilson, Lauderdale, Graboff)

Coventry Music: Bob Weir Stumbles and Falls

Thanks for the link. We the 'northernheads' (North of the 49th paralell) who have typically always crossed an international border to attend Dead shows were lucky enough to have Bobby and Phil play a very confident show at the Ottawa Bluesfest (July 7) after Bobby got held up at our customs over some bullshit protest beef in Oakland or something of which the record had been expunged. In any case he was fit as a fiddle and you could get right up to front rail very easily enough that you could see his pipes straining against his cutoff tee and read Obama 'O8 right of Phil's bass cabinet.

Everyone, I mean everyone Deadhead and non-Deadhead alike I've shown this too is sickened to their stomach within a few minutes. As a former (can you ever be a former) Deadhead screamed to me in indignation recently: 'It's someone's fucking grandfather man'.

Not cool. At all.

Bob Weir Dosed At Nokia?

Bob Weir collapses onstage at Capitol Theater Update: (04/25/13)

Bob Weir 'dosing' Update: (08/12/10)


After some thought I questioned the plausibility of this story after hearing offhand from Deadheads on a Canadian forum that Phil was joking the second night and that it was a 'prescription drug reaction on an empty stomach'.   For a moment I bought that party line myself (also on the basis that no respectable print outlets picked up the story, where for instance one piece of a hilarious acid crazed dude trying to put on his sandal at Coachella made CNN's American Morning at the time).  Then it occured to me 'how many prescription drug reactions on an empty has Lindsay Lohan had' - indeed isn't that the caveat for any drugged out aberrant behaviour in Hollywood?


After some furthur poking around there is some talk on www.philzone.com message boards that Phil's wife (hoooooootness) came down on the entire crew hard after the performance.

The relevant background to get here is that Phil Lesh is a recovering alchoholic and suffers from Hepatitis C and as such makes regular Organ Donor Rap's at his concerts encouraging fans about the importance of organ donation.   This says a few things- first of all the backstage area is likely fairly to highly controlled definitely with regards to alcohol despite the predelictions of the fanbase.  For instance in one of the finest incarnations of Phil Lesh & Friends (with longime Deadhead Ryan Adams) it was perceived in very bad form that Adams slugged off a fourty of whiskey onstage with his hero.  If as it seems Bobby was really dosed the  finger would have been pointed first at the crew (whose responsibility it is to secure the backstage), the venue security, and there are a host of liability issues extending as far as the venue itself I would think.   From a medical perspective although Bobby (and Phil) have gobbled enough acid to liberate a small African country please remember Bobby is 62 years old and a grandparent, it seems likely he was assessed by a private physician, likely given oranges and cigarettes in the chillout tent or at least some valium and alot of fluids.




Original Post:


There's been some speculation amongst Deadheads on various forums about whether longtime guitarist and vocalist Bob Weir was inadvertently (unwittingly) dosed during or before Furthur's performance the first night at the Nokia Theatre.  


Judge from this youtube clip of El Paso (which was in the parlance of Deadheads butchered, aborted and drew audible boos afterwards) where the band unnervingly circles around over and over again as Weir misses his vocal intro, if familiar with the song and improvisation one can audibly detect the group instrumentally gathering around Weir like a sick foal coaxing him along.





From the sounds of it he really was dosed - on paper the next night at the Nokia Theater's setlist is really confident including massive showpieces Dark Star and particularly the revered Unbroken Chain.  As his compatriot Phil Lesh said onstage the second night: "Never drink out of something you haven't poured yourself".

Furthur - Nokia Theatre, New York, NY, July 29, 2010


Set 1:


Dancin' in the Streets>
Celebration>
Alligator>
Tennessee Jed
Reuben & Cerise
Money For
Gasoline, Mississippi Half-Step> Let It Grow

Set 2:

So Many Roads

Seven Hills Of Gold> Dear Mr Fantasy> Jam> Dark Star(v1)> Unbroken Chain> The Other One> The Eleven> Death Don't Have No Mercy> Dark Star(v2)> Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad> We Bid You Goodnight