Bob Weir and David Gans in April 1986 (Photo: Ken Friedman)
Journalist David Gans, the creator and host of the nationally syndicated Grateful Dead Hour and co-host of Tales from the Golden Road on SiriusXM has been teaching a Course in the Stanford Continuing Studies program for a couple years now. His class for the fall 2026 semester is titled Saint of Circumstance: The Music of Bob Weir.
Registration is now open for MUS 205, which will take place on Tuesday, from 5:30—7:20 pm PT. The online course will begin on September 29 and extend through November 3. Guest speakers will include: Blair Jackson, Jesse Jarnow, Gary Lambert, Nate LaPointe and Don Was.
The course description reads: "At 17, Bob Weir dropped out of high school to join a band. He began as its least accomplished musician; within a decade, he had become one of its central 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. This course traces that transformation, from the Dead’s early years in the 1960s through Weir’s creative surge in the 1970s, when his songs pushed them into new harmonic and structural territory and his stage presence defined their live shows. After the band's final chapter in 1995, Weir continued to reinvent his work through new collaborations, including performances with symphony orchestras, and remained a vital creative presence until his death in January 2026. 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 preliminary syllabus is available here.
