Phil Lesh, the founding bassist of the Grateful Dead, peacefully passed away this morning at the age of 84. Renowned as an innovator, he was a prominent figure and advocate for the jam community. “He was surrounded by his family and full of love,” according to an official statement. “Phil brought immense joy to everyone around him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love. We request that you respect the Lesh family’s privacy at this time.”
A classically trained trumpeter, Lesh transitioned to bass at the request of the late Jerry Garcia after joining a nascent Bay Area band known as the Warlocks. Having met Garcia a couple of times, they quickly connected. The Warlocks soon rebranded as the Grateful Dead and became the house band for Ken Kesey’s iconic Acid Tests.
The band became a staple at these psychedelic events, forming connections with key figures like their manager, Rock Scully, and Owsley Stanley, an LSD producer who supported the Dead during their formative years. Known as “Bear,” Stanley eventually became the band’s sound engineer, a role he shared with Lesh, reflecting their mutual passion for music.
The Grateful Dead released their debut album in March 1967, but they became equally famous in the Bay Area for their lengthy concerts. While Lesh did not often take the lead as a writer or singer, he co-wrote the opening and closing tracks on the 1970 album American Beauty, “Box of Rain” and “Truckin’,” and sang lead vocals on “Box of Rain.” Reflecting on “Truckin’,” Lesh once remarked, “We took our experiences on the road and made it poetry… the last chorus defines the band itself.”
Backed by countless “Deadheads” across the U.S. and around the world, the Grateful Dead toured tirelessly. After the band disbanded in 1995 following the passing of lead guitarist Jerry Garcia, Lesh continued to create music, performing with fellow member Bob Weir. He formed groups such as Phil Lesh and Friends, which included a rotating cast of notable musicians.
In 1998, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann began performing together as The Other Ones, later rebranding as The Dead, bringing Grateful Dead music to fans while also delving into new material.
Lesh participated in a 2009 Grateful Dead tour and again in 2015 for a series of “Fare Thee Well” concerts, which celebrated the band’s 50th anniversary and marked what Lesh described as his final performances with the group.
He did continue to perform regularly with Phil Lesh and Friends. In later years, he often held these shows at Terrapin Crossroads, a restaurant and nightclub he opened near his Northern California home in 2012. The venue was named after the Grateful Dead’s Terrapin Station.
Lesh is survived by his wife, Jill, and his sons, Brian and Grahame.
