In the wake of Bob Weir’s passing, the Empire State Building honoured the late Grateful Dead musician with a tie-dye lighting display.
Over the weekend (Saturday January 10), news emerged that the legendary rhythm guitarist had died after succumbing to “underlying lung issues” following a battle with cancer.
“He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could,” a statement on Weir’s official social media accounts read, triggering an outpouring of tributes from across the music world.
The historic Empire State Building also commemorated him with a special light tribute. “Tonight we will shine in tie-dye to honour the life and legacy of Bob Weir,” read a post from the New York City skyscraper’s official X/Twitter account on Sunday (January 11).
It was a display poignant for fans, who noted the building had paid homage to the Dead before – back in 2015 when a light show was synchronised with their ‘U.S. Blues’ encore at their ‘Fare Thee Well’ 50th Anniversary show at Soldier Field.
Tonight we will shine in tie-dye to honor the life and legacy of Bob Weir @GratefulDead pic.twitter.com/hWCMxUPXoj
— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) January 11, 2026
Other previous performances revisited by fans this week include the Dead & Company shows held August, in celebration of the Dead’s 60th anniversary.
Weir was diagnosed with cancer in July 2025, and, as reflected in the statement announcing his death, “began treatment only weeks before returning to his hometown stage for a three-night celebration of 60 years of music at Golden Gate Park”.
Those shows marked Weir’s final public performances – and you can check out what he played here.
Nodding to Weir’s wide-ranging influence on contemporary music, Mark Beaumont wrote for NME: “Weir’s impact on subsequent generations of American rock music was perhaps best evinced by a 2015 Dead tribute box set compiled by The National’s Bryce brothers, ‘Day Of The Dead’.
“The set featured contributions from a vast array of intergenerational acolytes including The Flaming Lips, Sharon Van Etten, Kurt Vile, Stephen Malkmus, The War On Drugs and Perfume Genius.
“Freak flags are flying at half mast across rock music tonight.”
