The surviving members of the Grateful Dead recently paid tribute to NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton, who passed away from cancer at the age of 71. The band’s offshoot Dead & Company released a statement on social media expressing their love and appreciation for Walton, who was a devoted Deadhead. They described him as an irreplaceable force in their family and someone who deeply loved the band.
Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann also shared heartfelt statements about their friend Bill Walton. Weir reminisced about the wonderful friendship and delightful moments they shared, while Hart referred to Walton as the best friend he ever had. Kreutzmann mentioned that he had incredible stories about Walton that he would only share after his passing. He described Walton as their number one fan and emphasized his genuine love for the Grateful Dead.
Walton used the band’s music as the soundtrack to his life and frequently expressed his gratitude to them for enriching his existence. Kreutzmann noted that Walton’s presence at the concerts will be deeply missed, and there will always be a void where he used to stand, experiencing the music with pure joy. He concluded his tribute by expressing his love for Bill Walton and wishing him a peaceful journey to the beyond.
In addition to sharing their thoughts on social media, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann also took time out of their busy schedules to personally pay their respects to Walton at his funeral service. They spoke fondly of their memories together and thanked God for bringing them together through music.
As they stood there mourning the loss of their dear friend, they knew that they would never forget all of the amazing moments they shared with him while listening to the Grateful Dead play live. And though it may be difficult to imagine life without him here on earth, they take comfort in knowing that he is now free from pain and suffering and is enjoying a beautiful eternity with God.
The surviving members of the Grateful Dead continue to inspire fans around the world with their music and passion for playing live shows. And though many people have come before them as pioneers in rock history, few can match up to this legendary band in terms of creativity, talent, or impact on popular culture.
With each new show or album release comes another opportunity for fans old
