Phil Lesh, the iconic bassist and a founding member of the legendary rock band The Grateful Dead, has passed away at the age of 84. The announcement was made by his family on Lesh’s official Instagram account.
Lesh was born in Berkeley, California, in 1940. Initially captivated by classical music, he began his musical journey playing the violin as a child before transitioning to the trumpet during his high school years and while attending the College of San Mateo. In the early 1960s, he met banjo player Jerry Garcia, who invited him to join his band, The Warlocks, as bassist — despite Lesh having no prior experience with the instrument. Lesh accepted the challenge, and in 1965, The Grateful Dead was formed, with Lesh gradually establishing himself within the improvisational band.
Grateful Dead biographer Dennis McNally described Lesh in his book “A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead,” highlighting him as a driving creative force within the band. He was known for advocating an adventurous and intense approach to their music.
Throughout the band’s long and transformative career, Lesh also lent his voice to some of their signature tracks, such as “Box of Rain,” which he co-wrote with lyricist Robert Hunter, and “Unbroken Chain” from the 1974 album “From the Mars Hotel.”
Following Garcia’s passing in 1995, Lesh continued to perform with former bandmates Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, as well as keyboardist Bruce Hornsby, under the name The Other Ones, later evolving into The Dead. He also created music with his own ensemble, Phil Lesh and Friends, and managed a music venue called Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, California, where he often played alongside his sons, Grahame and Brian. While Terrapin Crossroads closed in 2021, the Lesh family remained active in supporting live music in Northern California, recently hosting a festival called Sunday Daydreams, which Lesh headlined in the summer.
In a June interview with The Marin Independent Journal, Lesh reflected on the significance of music to him, expressing that performing has become as vital to him as food and drink. He noted that while the physical demands of performing had grown with age, his experiences and wisdom had deepened, enhancing his musical expression.