09/10/2026
Stanford Continuing Studies will launch a new online course exploring the life and musical legacy of late Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir later this month. The latest in a series of Grateful Dead courses taught by author and host of The Grateful Dead Hour David Gans, Saint of Circumstance: The Music of Bob Weir is set to begin on September 29th.
The course will trace Weir’s artistic transformation from a 17-year-old high school dropout who started as the band’s “least accomplished musician” into one of its core creative forces.
“Often overshadowed by Jerry Garcia, Weir shaped the sound and evolution of the Grateful Dead through a highly original approach to rhythm guitar, using shifting chords, open space, and constant interplay with the band,” the course description reads.
The six-week curriculum follows that arc through the band’s 1995 conclusion and Weir’s post-Dead collaborations with various ensembles and symphonies.
“Participants will gain a deep appreciation for Weir’s restless creativity and artistry and the sound he wove into the fabric of American music.”
The class will meet online on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:20 p.m. PT for six weeks, running from September 29th through November 3rd. The sessions will combine close listening, guided discussions, and guest appearances.
Guest speakers will include Blair Jackson (Grateful Dead historian, author of Garcia: An American Life, and co-author of This Is All a Dream We Dreamed), Don Was (Grammy-winning producer, President of Blue Note Records, and Wolf Bros bassist), Jesse Jarnow (writer, DJ, author of Heads: A Biography of Psychedelic America, and co-producer of The Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast), Gary Lambert (founding editor of The Grateful Dead Almanac and co-host of SiriusXM’s Tales from the Golden Road), and Nate LaPointe (guitarist for the tribute band Cubensis).
Registration is open now through the Stanford Continuing Studies portal.
