The Grateful Lifeless bassist Phil Lesh died on Friday, October 25, on the age of 84.
Lesh’s crew confirmed his loss of life through his official Instagram web page, sharing that the musician “handed peacefully this morning.”
“He was surrounded by his household and full of affection,” the assertion learn. “Phil introduced immense pleasure to everybody round him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love. We request that you just respect the Lesh household’s privateness presently.”
Lesh was born and raised in Berkeley, California, the place he ultimately went to school on the College of California, Berkeley to check music and composition. After graduating, Lesh teamed up with Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan and Invoice Kreutzmann to kind the Warlocks band in 1965.
The band, which was a part of the hippie motion, modified their identify to The Grateful Lifeless that December and launched their self-titled first album in March 1967. The group went on to launch 13 studio albums and 10 dwell albums from 1967 to 1995 after they disbanded. (The Grateful Lifeless stopped working collectively after lead singer Garcia’s loss of life that summer time on the age of 53.)
Lesh continued his profession by performing as Phil Lesh and Pals, which was made up of a rotating group of musicians. In 2012, Lesh opened Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, California, which is a restaurant and venue, the place his sons, Grahame and Brian, whom he shares with spouse Jill, are the home band.
Lesh reunited with the 4 surviving members of The Grateful Lifeless in 2015 to rejoice their fiftieth anniversary with the “Fare Thee Nicely” exhibits in Chicago.
The bassist had a collection of well being points through the years, together with present process a liver transplant in 1998 after contracting hepatitis C years prior. He later survived prostate most cancers and in 2015 he introduced he was identified with bladder most cancers.
Following his loss of life, there was an outpouring of affection from “Deadheads,” who’re followers of the rock band in addition to celebrities on social media.
The Empire State Constructing introduced via X on Friday that will probably be lit up this night in tie-dye to honor “the life and legacy” of Lesh.
Journalist Ron Lieber known as Lesh, “A joker, a prankster, a thunder-bomb thrower, a rainmaker, a field builder, a headscarf wearer, a rocker of tie-dyes, a weaver of chains, damaged and unbroken,” through Instagram. “Already on the 4 winds and possibly safely house at that. His reminiscence is a blessing.”
Musician Mikaela Davis commented on Lesh’s loss of life announcement, writing within the feedback, “Thanks for the whole lot Phil. Sending like to all ♥️.”