Bob Weir’s strange on stage out-of-body experience: “It was 20 years later”

During Dead & Company’s tour, Bob Weir said he had an out-of-body experience while performing, seeing himself and his fellow musicians as they might appear 20 years later. The vision gave him a sense that the Grateful Dead’s music could continue beyond the musicians’ lifetimes.

Weir described seeing John Mayer, bassist Oteil Burbridge and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti aged, while younger players had replaced the original drummers and then Weir himself. The band continued playing smoothly in his vision. He said the experience made him imagine the songs being discussed in music schools centuries from now and gave him a different perspective on his work.