Phil Lesh, a founding member and bassist of the Grateful Dead, has passed away at the age of 84.
A statement on his official Instagram account confirmed that Lesh “passed peacefully” on Friday morning, surrounded by his family.
“Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, passed peacefully this morning,” the statement said. “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 request that you respect the Lesh family’s privacy at this time.”
Lesh gained recognition for his extensive musicianship both within and beyond the American rock group, the Grateful Dead.
In 1965, he was recruited by his friend Jerry Garcia to play bass for The Warlocks. The group soon changed its name to the Grateful Dead, with Lesh on bass and Garcia on guitar.
Known for their blend of rock, jazz, and folk, the Grateful Dead became one of the most influential bands in American history, earning a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Lesh was highly regarded by fans and fellow musicians, including Bob Dylan, who praised him in his 2022 book, The Philosophy of Modern Song: “Lesh is one of the most skilled bassists you’ll ever hear in subtlety and invention.”
Fans have flooded social media with tributes to the iconic musician. One Twitter user said, “RIP Phil Lesh, the cerebral, avant-garde, post-Beat genius who took the Dead’s sound far beyond psych-blues and folk into weird empyrean realms of free jazz & classical. He could play the bass like a heartbeat or a tidal wave, searching for new but timeless sounds eternally.”
Another user commented, “Listen to any Dead recording, and another world unlocks when you listen to what Phil Lesh is doing. Mount Rushmore bassist. All-time great musician. Righteous dude who championed young talent till the very end. Thank you for the music, Phil. RIP.”
“RIP Phil Lesh. I’ve been a Deadhead my whole adult life,” another fan shared. “I don’t have the words right now to explain how much the music and community that this man helped create has meant to me, but I surely am grateful for it. Ride on Phil.”
After the Grateful Dead disbanded following three decades, Lesh went on to form his own jazz band, Phil and Friends.
He is survived by his wife, Jill, and their two sons, Grahame and Brian.