Bobby and the Midnites

Bobby and the Midnites

Company type	Rock band
Industry	Music
Founded	1980
Founder	Bob Weir
Headquarters	Huntington Beach, California
Area served	United States
Key people	Bob Weir, Billy Cobham, Bobby Cochran, Brent Mydland, Matthew Kelly, Alphonso Johnson, Dave Garland, Kenny Gradney
Products	Studio albums, live performances, concert video

Bobby and the Midnites was a rock ensemble spearheaded by Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, functioning as his principal side project throughout the early 1980s. The group produced two studio albums and earned a stronger reputation through their live shows. Their lineup included seasoned jazz musicians such as Billy Cobham and, for a short period, Alphonso Johnson, merging rock with elements of jazz-rock fusion.

History of the Band

In 1978, Bob Weir fronted the Bob Weir Band, featuring guitarist and vocalist Bobby Cochran (who is the nephew of Eddie Cochran) alongside keyboardist and singer Brent Mydland, who would later become a member of the Grateful Dead. Another participant, Matthew Kelly, had previously collaborated with Weir in Kingfish. Kelly’s contributions included guitar, harmonica, and congas. Bass duties were initially handled by Tim Bogert, known from Vanilla Fudge and Beck, Bogert & Appice, while drummer Billy Cobham—an acclaimed jazz/fusion musician associated with Miles Davis and the Mahavishnu Orchestra—completed the rhythm section.

Their inaugural performance occurred on June 30, 1980, at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach, California. Following several concerts, Alphonso Johnson took over bass responsibilities from Bogert. Johnson brought his background from Weather Report and previous work with Cobham in the CBS All-Stars. This formation recorded the self-titled debut album of Bobby and the Midnites.

After Mydland and Kelly left, the band resumed live appearances in 1982, with Dave Garland joining on keyboards, vocals, and saxophone. Starting January 1982, they toured extensively during periods when the Grateful Dead was inactive. A concert video capturing this lineup was issued on VHS in 1991.

On November 27, 1982, Bobby and the Midnites performed at the Jamaica World Music Festival in Montego Bay alongside artists such as the Grateful Dead, the Clash, and Aretha Franklin. Their setlist featured "Man Smart, Woman Smarter," "Heaven Help The Fool," "Thunder and Lighting," and "Book of Rules." An extended drum solo by Billy Cobham led into "Josephine."

In March 1983, bassist Kenny Gradney from Little Feat replaced Johnson. The group continued touring and released a second studio album in 1984. Their last show took place at the Rio in Valley Stream, New York, on September 30, 1984.

Afterward, Bob Weir returned to Kingfish for select performances in 1984 and 1986 and also performed solo acoustic concerts during 1985.

Albums

• Bobby and the Midnites (1981)
• Where the Beat Meets the Street (1984)

Single

• "Too Many Losers" / "Haze" (1981)

Concert video

• Bobby and the Midnites (1991)

Personnel

The following lineups represent Bobby and the Midnites’ live performance rosters:

June 30, 1980 – January 31, 1981	Bob Weir – guitar, vocals Bobby Cochran – guitar, vocals Matthew Kelly – guitar, harmonica, congas Brent Mydland – keyboards, vocals Tim Bogert – bass Billy Cobham – drums
January 12, 1982 – March 10, 1983	Bob Weir – guitar, vocals Bobby Cochran – guitar, vocals Dave Garland – keyboards, tenor saxophone, vocals Alphonso Johnson – bass Billy Cobham – drums
March 22, 1983 – September 30, 1984	Bob Weir – guitar, vocals Bobby Cochran – guitar, vocals Dave Garland – keyboards, tenor saxophone, vocals Kenny Gradney – bass Billy Cobham – drums