Bob Weir, Grateful Dead member, passes away at age 78; band performed in San Bernardino twice

Bob Weir, a prominent guitarist recognized as a founding member of the iconic band, the Grateful Dead, passed away at the age of 78, as declared by his family on Saturday.
Weir’s connection to the Grateful Dead extended back to even before the band’s establishment. In 1963, at the tender age of 16, he crossed paths with banjo player Jerry Garcia, leading to the formation of a jug band. This musical journey eventually evolved into the legendary Grateful Dead, a prominent psychedelic rock group that created its own distinctive subculture, maintaining its influence well into the 21st century.
Although the band officially concluded in 1995 following Garcia’s demise, the surviving members continued to perform in various configurations, such as Dead and Company, with their most recent performance occurring just last year.
The Grateful Dead graced the Inland Empire with their presence on two notable occasions, both tied to San Bernardino. One such instance was a remarkable concert at the Swing Auditorium on Feb. 26, 1977, a show cherished by Deadheads that was commemorated on CD within the Dave’s Picks series in 2019.
Additionally, the band made an appearance at the US Festival on Sept. 5, 1982, situated in Glen Helen, just outside the city limits of San Bernardino. The Sunday performance by the Dead kicked off the festival’s second day, commencing at the early hour of 9:30 a.m., much to the surprise and amusement of both band members and fans, who humorously dubbed the event as “Breakfast with the Dead.”
During their early morning set, the Grateful Dead delivered a memorable performance featuring hits like “Playing in the Band,” “Truckin’,” and “Sugar Magnolia,” among others, all of which were either written or co-written and sung by Weir. Their music continues to resonate, paying homage to Weir’s contributions to their sound.
In a separate saga, a recent visit to Ontario’s Toyota Arena uncovered an interior wall dedicated to the legendary 1974 California Jam festival. Initially obscured by a beer stand, the wall, now fully revealed, showcases a 2002 newspaper feature by yours truly chronicling the festival, along with a list of the bands that took the stage during the event.
Furthermore, shifts in the movie theater landscape have transpired, including the imminent closure of the Laemmle 5 theater in Claremont, due to a sale to the Regency chain. Additionally, Chino’s Cinemark 8, in operation for 34 years, transitioned to Maya Cinemas in December, sporting new laser projectors and cosmetic updates.
As a final note, a speaking engagement at the Chino Community Building on January 24 will see me sharing my work and books, as part of the annual gathering hosted by the Chino Valley Historical Society, open to all interested attendees. Please be advised that while I will be sharing anecdotes related to Chino and Chino Hills, my expertise regarding medical “antidotes” is limited to storytelling, not medical intervention.