Phil Lesh dead at 84: Grateful Dead bassist and founding member passes away as tributes paid
Grateful Dead icon Phil Lesh has died at the age of 84.
The bassist and founder of the rock band “passed away peacefully” on Friday, October 25, a statement on his Instagram page confirmed.
The statement read: “Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, passed away peacefully this morning.
‘He was surrounded by his family and full of love. Phil brought immense joy to everyone around him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love.
“We ask that you respect the privacy of the Lesh family at this time.”
His cause of death is currently unknown. He previously battled bladder cancer in 2015.
Grateful Dead icon Phil Lesh has died at the age of 84 – photo 2019
The rock band’s bassist and founder ‘passed away peacefully’ on Friday, October 25 – a statement on his Instagram page confirmed
Lesh (second from left) is pictured with Grateful Dead members Mickey Hart, Jerry Garcia, Brent Mydland, Bill Kreutzmann and Bob Weir
Lesh is best known for co-founding the rock band in 1965, which became one of the most influential bands in the world.
Starting as a folk-infused quintet in 1960s psychedelic-era San Francisco, the Grateful Dead steadily transformed into a cultural phenomenon and one of the most successful touring acts of all time.
Fueled by the carnival atmosphere of the traveling Deadhead fanbase and an ethos that encouraged tape trading and emphasized live performances over studio output, The Dead have spanned multiple generations and remain wildly popular. Lead guitarist and founding member Jerry Garcia died in 1995, but the band continues to tour almost non-stop in multiple incarnations.
“There’s a lot of ingredients in there,” said drummer Mickey Hart, when asked about the music’s longevity. ‘The fans say the shows feel like home. It gives them that sense of connection and community and joy and love for life and music.”