Just Bobby

Just Bobby

Story and Photos by Bob Minkin

Melkweg Amsterdam, Netherlands 10.16.81

One of the most fun Dead shows I got to experience was this one, at an intimate hash bar in Amsterdam during their fall ’81 Europe tour. They opened the show with a rare acoustic set before delivering another two electric sets. It was Bobby’s 34th birthday and he was welcomed on stage with a bouquet of flowers as the audience sang him “Happy Birthday.” This was a special show as the band broke out songs they’ve never played before such as Van Morrison’s "Gloria" and Fred Sledge Smith’s "Hully Gully." This was my first time in Europe. I followed the Dead’s tour through Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, France and Spain. My Eurail pass was well used!

As senior photographer for Relix magazine from the 1970s to 1990s, and later, chief package designer for Grateful Dead Productions, I’ve enjoyed unique access to the Grateful Dead world and insights into the music scene we love.

After my last book, Just Jerry, I wanted to show some love to Bobby and was kicking around ideas for a new project — Just Bobby seemed a natural follow up.

The first time I photographed Weir was at the Capitol Theatre on December 5, 1975 when he was fronting Kingfish. Fast forward to this past October and his 75th birthday shows at The Warfield — that’s over 45 years of Weir! Over that time I’ve grown close to Bobby, shot family portraits at his home, and many other intimate moments. Some of my favorites have been in the green room with him while he’s working out material before the show. I often feel like a fly on the wall capturing these precious scenes.

I pored through every photograph of Bobby I ever took to find the most special shots to include in this collection. Just Bobby has 192 pages full of Weir onstage and offstage with the Grateful Dead, Ratdog, Further, Wolf Brothers, Dead & Company and many other lineups. Additionally, there are essays and stories to accompany the photographs from people and musicians who were close to Bob or who were influenced by him. These indelible images capture peak moments from concerts at venues such as Red Rocks, Winterland, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, Capitol Theater, Shoreline, Oakland, and even Europe, along with Sweetwater Music Hall, Terrapin Crossroads and Bob's TRI Studios. I’ve included many previously unseen and unpublished images from my archives. — BOB MINKIN

Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 10.30.80

Grateful Dead

In the fall of 1980 the Dead began an eight-night run at Radio City Music Hall. The format was to be an opening acoustic set (the first in NYC since 1970!) followed by two full electric sets. The anticipation was high.

The effort to get tickets was impressive and required at least an overnight wait outside their box office on the chilly streets of NYC. Some friends camped out for three nights. I managed to procure ducats for four of the eight nights. I didn’t have any official access, just determination to get the shots. Luckily, the security guy up front was cool with me being up there taking photographs.

TRI Studios, San Rafael, CA, 8.3.12

Move Me Brightly

Bobby Weir and a rotating lineup of musicians that included Phil Lesh, Neal Casal, Jeff Chimenti, Donna Jean Godchaux and Joe Russo performed a fivehour concert called “Move Me Brightly: Celebrating Jerry Garcia’s 70th Birthday.” Tamalpais Research Institute (TRI) is a state of the art multimedia performance studio conceived by Bobby Weir. I was house photographer at TRI and it was a privilege to capture these events. I loved photographing at TRI because the studio was so intimate and the lighting was fantastic.

Sweetwater Music Hall, Mill Valley, CA, 2.10.20

Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros

Here’s Bobby with Don Was (bass) and Jay Lane (drums) at the best little rock 'n' roll club on the planet, Sweetwater Music Hall. Wolf Bros formed as a trio in 2020 and have since expanded into the “Wolfpack” with a horn section, Jeff Chimenti (keyboards) and Fairfax’s own Barry Sless (pedal steel.)

Dead Frost Amphitheater, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 5.2.87

Grateful Dead

A beautiful, breezy spring day with the Grateful Dead on Stanford University’s campus. I wasn’t yet living in the Bay Area so my wife and I made the pilgrimage from New York to catch the two shows that weekend at the Frost, and two shows the following weekend in Monterey.

Sweetwater Music Hall Mill Valley CA. 10.7.17

Bobby giving gratitude at a benefit for Music Heals International which supports music programs for children in Haiti.