Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh dies, aged 84

Saturday, October 26, 2024

On Friday, American musician and songwriter Phil Lesh died surrounded by loved ones. The former bassist and vocalist of rock band Grateful Dead was 84. His family announced his death via Instagram, with no cause given.

Lesh played bass guitar and sang with American psychedelic rock band the Grateful Dead for decades, and also wrote some of their songs, including the hit “Box of Rain“, about the death of his father. He also had a long solo career, including his own Phil Lesh and Friends, various groups with fellow Dead alumni, and playing live with his children until months before his death.

Born Phillip Chapman Lesh on March 15, 1940, in Berkeley, California, Lesh began his music education at age 8 on violin and branches out to trumpet in his high school marching band. Lesh played in several bands and had a number of stints in college and met Jerry Garcia while performing at a nightclub. Garcia encouraged him to try bass guitar in order to join a nascent line-up of the Grateful Dead. Lesh’s approach included jazz influences from his educational background. Lesh also provided vocals and songwriting to several songs.

The Dead broke up in 1995, following Garcia’s death. Lesh continued to collaborate with several former Grateful Dead members in various line-ups, including The Other Ones, Further, and The Dead. He remained a staple of the San Francisco Bay Area music scene, regularly returning to his own Phil Lesh and Friends to tour, owning the live music venue Terrapin Crossroads from 2012 to 2021, and establishing the Sunday Daydreams festival in 2023.

Lesh is survived by his widow Jill and their sons Brian and Grahame.

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