Dead & Company honor the late Bill Walton at the Sphere show

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Dead & Company honored the late Bill Walton, “the greatest Deadhead in the world,” during their performance at the Las Vegas Sphere on Thursday night.

Walton, an NBA Hall of Fame inductee and sportscaster, died of cancer earlier this week at the age of 71.

While the Grateful Dead offshoot band performed the song Fire on the mountainSeveral photos of Walton were shown on the video boards in the entertainment arena.

The photos included Walton attending various Dead concerts, snapshots with band members, and a tie-dye number “32” – the number he wore during his college and NBA years.

After Walton’s death, the band remembered their friend on social media.

“Farewell, farewell, we love you more than words can express,” Dead & Company said in an Instagram post, saying Walton was the greatest Deadhead of all time and “an irreplaceable force and soul in our family.”

Bill was an irreplaceable force and soul in our family. Father Time, Rhythm Devil, the greatest Deadhead of all time. Over 1000 shows and he couldn’t get enough of it. He loved that band and we loved him.

We will miss our beloved friend @BillWalton very much. Rest in peace and may the four winds carry you home safely.”