Andy Cohen‘s Bravo late-night show, “Watch What Happens Live,” paid tribute to Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir hours after his death. The legendary guitarist died on Jan. 10 at age 78, a post on his official Instagram announced.
Soon after the sad news was made public, a throwback video from Weir’s 2016 appearance on WWHL was posted. In the clip, Weir and fellow guest John Mayer play a rendition of the Dead classic “Friend of the Devil” for Cohen after he asks them to “indulge” him with a performance. Cohen is a longtime fan of the Grateful Dead and the spinoff band Dead & Co.
“Fare thee Well, Bob Weir,” came the caption to the WWHL clip.
Fans Reacted to the Throwback Video of Bob Weir on WWHL
Fans had a big reaction to the decade-old video of Weir as he performed the Dead’s 1970 “American Beauty” song alongside Mayer on “Watch What Happens Live.” Many noted that Cohen appeared to be in heaven as he watched his idol perform.
“Andy’s smile…. I can only imagine that feeling sitting 5 feet away.. 🥲😥,” one fan commented.
“Andy looks so happy ❤️,” another wrote.
“I love seeing Andy’s joy,” a third agreed.
“Saturday Night Live” alum Cheri Oteri wrote that the mini concert was “a real treat.”
“And the music lives on. Rest in love Bobby! Thank you,” another fan chimed in.
Andy Cohen Has Been Following the Grateful Dead for 40 Years
GettyFans have seen videos over the years of Cohen dancing at Dead & Co shows.
In a 2015 essay for Entertainment Weekly, Cohen revealed that he became a “Deadhead” as a teen after “an intense late-childhood Diana Ross fixation.” “As a teenager in St. Louis, I’d drive in my ’72 Buick Skylark convertible to wherever they were playing and dance like I didn’t have a care in the world,” he recalled. Cohen added that his “unlikely” friendship with Mayer was fueled by their mutual love for the Dead.
In 2015, Mayer became part of the spinoff band Dead and Company, which was formed with former Grateful Dead members Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann, as well as Jeff Chimenti and Oteil Burbridge.
After Weir’s death, Cohen posted to Instagram, where he revealed that the first Dead show he attended was in 1986 in Alpine Valley, Wisconsin. He added that he felt “blessed” to meet Weir years later when the legendary band reappeared as Dead & Co.
Cohen also commented on the post announcing Weir’s death. “Bobby will live through the music and the people who love it around the world forever. What a gift he is for us all. We love you Weir family,” the WWHL host wrote.
