After The Passing Of Grateful Dead Legend Bob Weir, Islanders Fondly Recall His 1998 Set On Nantucket

Bob Weir, one of the founding members of The Grateful Dead, passed away on Saturday at the age of 78.

Tributes to the legendary musician have been rolling in ever since, as fans across the world mourned the death of the singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist who was a pillar of one of America's greatest bands.

Between the Grateful Dead and his other bands, Weir is believed to have played more than 4,500 concerts during his lifetime. One of those shows happened to be on Nantucket in 1998.

It was three years after the death of Jerry Garcia, and Weir was booked to play Nectarfest, a two-day music festival on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard that featured a mix of national and local musicians. In addition to Weir, the concert featured Bo Diddley, David Crosby, and Arlo Guthrie.

On June 28, 1998, Weir took the stage at Tom Nevers field with bandmate Rob Wasserman, the bassist from his band Ratdog, which they co-founded, and played a memorable set that island residents fondly recalled over the past week as they celebrated the life and music of the Grateful Dead legend. 

Below are some of the memories and photos that current and former island residents shared about the show:

"I was responsible for transporting the musicians from the airport to the venue. There was a thunderstorm, and we were all made to spend time waiting in a school bus. Me, Bobby, David Crosby, Bruce Cockburn, Ellis Paul, and others. It was a great weekend," - Charlotte Spear

"It was great. Went awesome and a big crowd that was well behaved and everyone had a blast," recalled State Trooper Jack Moran. "Tom Hester was the other Trooper. He came over for the Nectarfest detail. He was one of my Trooper coaches and he was big Dead Head." 

"I was there and my friend let me backstage - got his autograph and got to shake his hand and say 'I love you Bobby'," - Fabrizia Lu Macchiavelli.

"'Looks Like Rain' while the clouds were rolling in from the water was otherworldly," - Frank Daily

"I stood right next to him and said, 'What’s up?' He gave me a nonchalant head nod," - Scott Capizzo.

"I was working at Juice Guys that summer and my job for the week was to staff the van that drove Bobby and folks around," - Susannah Buckley-Green

"I remember this day and how much I eagerly awaited Bob belting out he and Barlow's lyrical content of 'A Rich man in his summer home, singing just leave well enough alone!' 'Throwing Stones' hit hard then as it does now. RIP Bob, we love you more than words can tell!" - @jstammfly

"What a wonderful memory. Such great music. I still have my program! Rest in peace Bob," - Susan Berman

Weir's setlist that day was a mix of covers and Grateful Dead tunes that he wrote or co-wrote, including "Cassidy," "Eternity," and "Throwing Stones." He played the last three songs with Bo Diddley and Entrain.

Here's the full setlist:

• Walking Blues
• KC Moan
• Fever
• Eternity
• When I Paint My Masterpiece
• The Winners
• Friend of the Devil
• Looks Like Rain
• Cassidy > Bass solo
• Throwing Stones
• Minglewood Blues (With Bo Diddley & Entrain)
• Not Fade Away (With Bo Diddley & Entrain)
• Hey Bo Diddley ((With Bo Diddley & Entrain
  

As word of Weir's passing spread on Saturday, the Nantucket-based Grateful Dead cover band Doug & Co. was on stage at Cisco Brewers.

It "was an emotional night getting the news mid-seconnd set with Doug & Co. that Bob Weir had passed," lead singer Doug Cote posted on social media this week. "We closed with 'Ripple' and Jamie Howarth sang it beautifully! It was so beautiful to be in this moment with such love in the room with an amazing local community. Love is stronger than hate.. Bobby will live forever!