“Bob took a risk with me. He put his entire reputation on the line by joining a band with me. He gave me a musical community, he gave me this community”John Mayer said in a powerful eulogy.
John Mayer delivered a moving rendition of “Ripple” and a heartfelt eulogy for the late Bob Weir at a public memorial for the Grateful Dead guitarist Saturday in San Francisco.
Taking the stage at the celebration at Civic Center Plaza in front of thousands of Dead Heads, Mayer opened his speech by noting that he and Weir, his friend and Dead & Company bandmate, were born on the same day (October 16) 30 years apart (1947 and 1977).
“He took a risk with me”
Mayer then spoke about becoming a part of Dead & Company, and how that gig blossomed into a friendship with the Weir family.
A final farewell in music
Mayer concluded his eulogy by saying: “There are many Grateful Dead lyrics that bring comfort in a time like this, but the line I think of most is from a Leon Russell song called “A Song for You.” I like to think that I can hear Bobby saying these words to us this afternoon: “But now I'm much better, so if my words don't come together, listen to the melody because my love is in there hiding.” And so we will all continue to listen together. »
Mayer was then joined on stage by Weir's friends, family, and band members — including the Dead's Mickey Hart, Dead & Company's Jeff Chimenti and Oteil Burbridge, and others — for the closing performance of the classicAmerican Beauty“Ripple”. A song rarely played live (by their standards) by the Grateful Dead, but a perfect farewell for the event.
