Get the latest gossip

Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, has died at 84

Grateful Dead co-founding bassist Phil Lesh died in October 2024.

A classically trained trumpeter, Lesh switched to bass at the late Jerry Garcia's request after joining a fledgling Bay Area band called the Warlocks. "While it can sometimes be more of a challenge physically than it was when I was a young whippersnapper, I’ve found that age brings wisdom, and with that comes musical experience and knowledge that I didn’t have when I was younger." Lesh and fellow surviving original members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann and Bobby Weir were set to be honored at the organization's benefit gala during Grammy Week.

Get the Android app