Bob Weir interview for MTV VMA's pre-show (Sept 7, 1995)

Bob Weir interviewed by Kurt Loder for the 1995 MTV VMA's pre-show, one month after Jerry Garcia's death.

[@judithgips2959]

"death is so final I can't argue with it." I love the way Bob Weir's mind works.

[@Wayzor_]

I played guitar with Jerry this morning - as I do every day. He's very much alive.

[@CrimsonJam]

lol

[@marcosluna7792]

“It’s not like he’s gone” such a great ending line

[@nataliezementbeisser1492]

Yeah his music will always stay.

[@waynej2608]

Bob hit just the right notes, here.

[@JohnDoe-gk7ok]

Like a steamed locomotive, running down the tracks

[@vonalxao1]

I was in Istanbul when I heard he died. My brother was visiting from the states. He lived in San Francisco at the time. I was a huge music guy, played guitar and bass in multiple bands at the time. I heard it on European mtv, and told my brother. I was never a fan but knew about them. I told him, and he just looked at me and said, no! Are you sure? I said I was. And he busted out crying. Bad, ugly cry. I discovered them in earnest way later. Now, aged 43, I get it. I really really get it.

[@seamushareshvara1808]

Hard to believe that was over 25 years ago. I'm just glad I got to see the few shows I did. If I ever get to catch a ride in a TARDIS I know where/when I'm going to!!! (Gonna start with May 2, 1970 at the Harpur College show...)

[@totonfa8741]

Thanks for the feels man

[@rubytuesday5684]

Bravo Bob. Youre so perceptive and exactly on point with this disscussion. I can hear him also . Sometimes I hear the new songs that he is writing from time to time ....

[@katfishzomby]

man.. fresh out of high school my friend and i couldn't afford the chicago show.. 'we'll go this fall' .. so it goes.

[@bigbossman7991]

God I love that man......

[@tstass1321]

mischief and love.... words to live by

[@tdhayes1]

Jerry is STILL WITH ME!

[@mrflippy77]

Bob is a strong dude mentally, damn. The powers of lsd

[@darndude5088]

@Fred Jamison I think you are something

[@JustOneOpinion]

Yeah he was then. The decline started here...now he is just so damaged and not well it's sad. Jerry's death destroyed him in every way

[@dudedude8931]

@@JustOneOpinion Is he? In what ways may I ask.. For his age I think he seems spry and well. I find it odd that people who dont know the guy at all other than through interviews etc, speak about him as though they have face to face contact with him every day. Very interesting.

[@JustOneOpinion]

@@dudedude8931 I am speaking from actual experience. Not interviews dear. Why assume? I have one on one witnessed this. It's really sad too because I am or was a huge fan for decades. Never meet your idols....they will almost always dissapoint

[@JustOneOpinion]

@@dudedude8931 he is able to pull it together at times and that's great but I have witnessed too much of the real deal to believe that anymore. It's really sad. I wish he would hang the hat up, get sober, take care of his shoulder and spend his last year's letting his wife take center stage. He owes us fans nothing

[@tylerkelly5135]

I don’t understand the hate for bob. He was a very nice and thoughtful man. My father meet him at a bar in Charlotte, NC. That was apart the story of how my dad became a dead head

[@Frank_Reynolds__.]

I don't think there was actual hate for Bob. People are tribal and since Bob was the other writer in the band people naturally picked camps. I for one liked Bob songs and sets better than Jerry's. Loved JGB but I was always a bigger fan of Bob's songs, especially live. Jerry's ballads are great for a sit down show but at a dead show I wanted to party!

[@Umberto2]

No one has done more to keep this scene going than Bob Weir

[@janeseamore1370]

I totally dislike the guy. Thanks

[@tylerkelly5135]

@@janeseamore1370 Any reasoning or do you just hate him

[@arlenmargolin1650]

I'm looking at Bobby realizing how young he was when Jerry died it just puts things into a whole different perspective again

[@davidleewrath6919]

And he's outlived Jerry by 20 years. That screws you up a bit.

[@nedrobinson7490]

@@davidleewrath6919 almost 30 now

[@davidleewrath6919]

@@nedrobinson7490 I meant age-wise. Jerry was 53 when he passed and Bob's almost 75.

[@jasonjeffords5922]

Man, how on God's green earth can Bobby be a weak link in this band!? Fully half of their most legendary original songs he wrote! Sugar mag, the other one, music, stranger, looks like rain, playin', damn near all of the Ace album! I can go on and on. The grateful dead is not for everyone but even Jerry has said in innumerable interviews how creative and quirky and original Bobby can be. If you don't like him, hey no problem. But you could not have had the Dead as we 've known them without Bobby.

[@nedrobinson7490]

Also the music unique rhythm guitar player ever. Fully agreed. I Don’t think people, or at least people who’s opinion I take seriously, have that take anymore. But, it was a thing for a long time, you’re right. Just because some people don’t agree doesn’t make it incorrect.

[@OGRE_HATES_NERDS]

did someone say they dont like bob? where did this tirade come from??

[@hlf_coder6272]

I went to the Highgate VT show that summer and Jerry was looking pretty rough. He appeared to have aged 10 years since the last time I had seen them the previous October. You could just feel the end in the air. Bobby rocked it that show though. Great El Paso & Black Throated Wind

[@DS-lh1dh]

I was there also.. Was my 1st and unfortunately last show with Jerry.. I heard people taking by me in the crowd that saying the same things that Jerry probably won't make it much longer.. I truly wasn't aware of the struggles he'd had for a while.. But it was extremely magical.. The space and drums were haunting.. But the music will always live on with us.. Was an almost spiritual time that day just took everything in and will never forget the vibe 🙏✌️❤️

[@keithallen1607]

went over and viewed the stiff

[@nedrobinson7490]

Incredible. Never trust a prankster 😉

[@bigbossman7991]

Niiiiiice!!!!!!!!!

[@namcat53]

Each person alive will be exposed to death at some point in some way and must be allowed to process it in their own way. There are no rules. Having solid touchstones of some kind helps with that. One thing for sure is that life is meant to be lived to the fullest every day if at all possible and helping each other do that is what we're all here for. Be kind.

[@adirondacktrekking1972]

He’s here ✌️❤️🙏🎶🐢💨🙊

[@tylerthompson1842]

Jerry didn’t take care of himself as well as he should’ve throughout his life, but I think if the Dead were willing to hang it up for awhile he would’ve had the time to get the help he needed. I just wish he had the sense to go to a Doctor before the rehab center. With a few test they would’ve seen he needed immediate heart surgery and he would’ve lived to enjoy a few years of retirement.

[@janeseamore1370]

He did see a doctor- many times and had medical exhaustion and weir still made him go on tour even with his heart beating out of his chest. They all saw it. His heart beating out of his chest. Weir is incredibly greedy and empathy devoid

[@waynej2608]

@@janeseamore1370 Wtf! So Weir is largely responsible for Jerry's death? What nonsense. I love Jerry, but he was a grown man and if he needed the rest, he should've just done it. The Dead's whole thing was not doing things just because someone tells you to. Make your own trip.

[@janeseamore1370]

Wayne he had severe apnea. He was exhausted. It killed him. Weir is a fucking prick

[@GregAllenF1]

@@janeseamore1370 Why don’t you stop wasting time and just tell us what personal issue you have with Weir. Like so many others, I have spent the better part of my life studying the Dead. Your claims about Weir make no sense without more context. I’m guessing you have a personal story with him that didn’t go how you wanted, because short of that, you are way off base.

[@richardrykard3246]

@@janeseamore1370 I read Weir banged Donna.

[@nickifyffe5333]

I love bob, he’s so beautiful and so smart.

[@elmoblatch9787]

He's actually not that smart. I love the guy, but he is one dimensional truth be told.

[@photoslum]

@@elmoblatch9787 How so?

[@BrianSherrill]

lol, Bob Weir is smart?

[@janeseamore1370]

Bob weir is normal intelligence and empathy devoid. He’s a bully

[@photoslum]

@@elmoblatch9787 Can you describe how he is one dimensional?

[@yondickle3264]

You live your whole life preparing for death. They prepared together

[@neiljohnson9686]

Bob Weir interviewed on MTV..... ahh better days.

[@madefortheradio-officialco5996]

Do you have the full pre show?

[@truepeacenik]

Accepting of events, perfectionist, philosophically viewing the world...yep, a psychonaut adoptee, brother.

[@matthewatwood2581]

Ya know what I'm shayin'?🗣

[@elmoblatch9787]

Grateful Dead did not cut across politics. The politics were uniform.

[@truepeacenik]

Incorrect. I’ve known some pretty conservative and even (weirdly) hateful heads. It always surprises me when some person is ranting off and their words are despicable, but then it’s all “Jerry in 77.” It’s possible they looked down on the heads so much that it was just about the time inside. I hope they are still organ donors.

[@JXY2019]

I know several very conservative dead heads. Conservative but open minded in a way that’s more common than you would think

[@nedrobinson7490]

@@truepeacenik yep. Assholes are everywhere.

[@TheGravygun]

Bob Weir 46 in 95

[@TheIndustrialRetrospective]

Do you have the full preshow?

[@debbiestacy216]

I thought it was so disrespectful of Bobby to refer to Jerry Garcia's body as a Stiff. I wonder if Bob would refer to his Mother, his wife or any other family member that may have passed away as a Stiff. Without Jerry Garcia there would have not been a band or a rhythm guitar player by the name of "Bob Weir".

[@davidleewrath6919]

In order to get the machine going, you gotta repair the engine. Jerry could've easily said "Time for me to stop. You wanna keep going? Fine. I quit. Fuck this Messianic shit!" knowing full well most of the audience wouldn't go to shows without him, but he didn't. Being non-confrontational didn't do any good.

[@nedrobinson7490]

Real talk. And I love and admire and make puja in my living room to Jerry as much as the next guy, but that’s the brutal, unvarnished truth right there. Astute man you are, sir 😉 it is what it is 🤷‍♂️ I guess it doesn’t matter anyway 🙏🕉

[@JustOneOpinion]

Wish I never met them all in real life....reading the comments reminds me of how I felt for 20 years until I actually knew them....now disappointment, sadness and empathy

[@evan8373]

Unpleasant experiences?

[@JustOneOpinion]

@@evan8373 yes. Other than phil, JPB and RH (the poets who made them successful and whose coattails they ride) i would not want to even share a meal with them. Bobby, billy and mickey are three of the classless men I have ever met in my life. They have not listened to the music....

[@JustOneOpinion]

@@evan8373 masogonist, disrespectful to their current wives, one is a known spousal and child abuser, lots of violent rages and abuse of their roadies, who's the size of Texas, liars....every bad quality you can imagine. Those 3 men....the ones in dead and company....are truly deplorable. Really sad that they are complete opposite of what their music says

[@JustOneOpinion]

@@gnyc7284 not at all near 68 or even within 20.... and stop making excuses for toxic men

[@nedrobinson7490]

Weird flex but Ok, go off

[@Frank_Reynolds__.]

I have what was gonna be the album and there certainly isn't enough there to release. Would be interesting tho if they went into the studio as dead and Co and re-recorded it.

[@cj76961]

He said viewed the stiff...wow

[@matthewatwood2581]

What, too soon?

[@sadboi7537]

Bob’s classic humor at play. “Just like a Swiss watch!”

[@BrianSherrill]

@Noble Failures you left out "play the guitar" - he can't do that either. he's useless

[@Sawdust5764]

What material for what album were they working on in 1995?

[@markusrose9667]

They had about ten songs they had been playing live since 1992. They had made an effort to record the material in late 1994 but not much happened then. Live versions of the songs were finally released about 20 years later.

[@Sawdust5764]

Ohhh.... Like "lazy river road" and "days between"? Duh, how did I not think of them lol

[@zekecortez1404]

@@Sawdust5764 They were compiled for the “Ready or Not” album that dropped last year.

[@Sawdust5764]

What? I never heard of that album happening, I'll have to look into that. I remember when that "So Many Roads" box set came out with those songs on it

[@charlie.something]

corrina, childhood's end, samba in the rain. i'm sure it would have sold hundreds.

[@jimvk1]

head to the maxx, regulars cannot relate

[@firstname7330]

August 9, 1995 - The day music died for all white people.

[@janeseamore1370]

Garcia band was mostly black though. It’s cool it was. Jerry was a cool Person

[@carloskidde4776]

I found out jerry passed while stationed at camp schwab, okinawa

[@libertarianjesus8312]

Viewed the stiff

[@b2theran]

I played it back and went did he say viewed the stiff as they went to see jerry dead wtf

[@libertarianjesus8312]

@@b2theran 1:15

[@meredithbarbieri7695]

Bobby is very direct

[@brandonross5213]

Jerry type humor

[@reliantarms1178]

I agree that viewed the stiff is very harsh

[@Boozetowne]

Did I understand this spaced out bird brain refer to His Friend and bandmate of over thirty years, as a "stiff"?

[@BrianSherrill]

my thoughts exactly. What a crappy thing to say. I've never liked Bob Weir.

[@Boozetowne]

@@BrianSherrill He is somewhat articulate though, but I wonder if the spaced out routine is just an act.

[@TC-dw6wg]

Very bizarre thing to say. Makes you wonder about Weir. I noticed during the eighties Jerry kinda ignored Bobby on stage after he realized what a treasure he had in Brent......JMO.

[@janeseamore1370]

Weir is a bully and empathy devoid

[@BrianSherrill]

@@janeseamore1370 Yes, I completely agree with you. I can just sense it in him. So arrogant.. and a shitty musician on top of it. I've always thought he was the weakest link in the band.

[@alpur214]

Jerry looked so much older than 53 when he passed. I guess so much drug use and a terrible diet will do that to you.

[@bluesriot2]

plus that stroke/coma added years to his physiological age

[@richardrybinski2320]

ya think so? Did you want to be the person to tell Jerry Garcia "No" about anything? He would hate that. He didn't judge you nor should we judge him.

[@alpur214]

@@richardrybinski2320 Who said anything about telling him "No" to anything? I was just stating what I observed.

[@elmoblatch9787]

Jerry looked at least 68 years old when he died. It was his time.

[@nataliezementbeisser1492]

Jerry lived the life of 20 people

[@plagueonwheels5759]

Well Jerry requested to do less touring in order to focus on his health, but the band wanted more money to focus on their yachts. These things happen

[@davidleewrath6919]

In order to get the machine going, you gotta repair the engine. Jerry could've easily said "Time for me to stop. You wanna keep going? Fine. I quit. Fuck this Messianic shit!" but he didn't. A damn shame.

[@tommyob4762]

Where you get that info? Seemed jerry always wanted to play and had the JGB going as well

[@plagueonwheels5759]

@@tommyob4762 you get the difference between the pressures of headlining giant stadium rock tours and gigging occasionally with your buddies, right?

[@nedrobinson7490]

1) Jerry “wanted” to take a break, but he never actually put his foot down and insisted, like @David Lee Wrath said above. That part is on him at the end of the day. We all have to own our own needs in life and create boundaries, no matter how difficult and emotionally fraught it is. But, hey, that’s also just one way of doing life, and that wasn’t how Jerry wanted to do life. He had a sense of duty to others that, for him, took priority over caring for himself, for his own body. Because 2) they had over 50 employees at that time who received salary and health care and benefits, etc. through their employment by the band. And because of the overhead costs associated with having an operation that large, if they stopped touring even for 90 days, they wouldn’t have been able to cover their obligations to their people, and would have HAD to lay people off. Weir says as much @3:30-3:56. But laying folks off was a non-starter for Jerry. So, they kept touring and playing shows because “they had to”. By September, in that liminal “what’s gonna happen next” period, they were essentially doing after the fact what they could/should have done before Jerry passed, and now that he was “unavailable”, it basically forced their hand. The situation within GDP had been like that for like 2 years at that point, but they just kinda procrastinated and kicked the can down the road, and by August ‘95 it was at least a year overdue but no plans were in place to actually take a break. That’s not just hindsight 20/20 revisionist history; that predicament was clear to many people at the time, including Weir, as this video indicates. But, their inaction was its own action, and the procrastination caught up with them, and Jerry died while in treatment on what was supposed to be a brief 5 week vacation/“Jerry tries to kick dope again” break from touring. And now, almost 30 years later, here we all are… It is what it is; “I guess it doesn’t matter anyway”. 🙏🕉

[@eastindiaV]

Wow he looks so sad about Jerry faking his own death... so sad

[@janeseamore1370]

Jerry didn’t fake his death

[@jeremymoorer7033]

I have Jerry's ashes in a mojo bag around my neck.

[@janeseamore1370]

No you don’t

[@nyangel515]

How did you keep his roach too, or just his ashes?

[@NukesOfHazzard]

Bobby the jealous step child.

[@janeseamore1370]

This is remarkably cringe weir

[@Stonecrow25]

Why so?

[@nataliezementbeisser1492]

I find it interesting how well composed he is. I mean doing an interview 1 month after the death of Jerry? I couldn't do that. And I am just a fan. I would've cried for a year.

[@debbiestacy216]

I thought it was so disrespectful of Bobby to refer to Jerry Garcia's body as a Stiff. I wonder if Bob would refer to his Mother, Wife or any other family member that has passed as a Stiff. Without JERRY GARCIA there would have not been a band or a rhythm guitar player by the name of "Bob Weir ".