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Phil Lesh – bassist and co-founding member of the iconic rock band Grateful Dead –passed away on Friday just days after the legendary band received a touching honor.
Lesh’s death was confirmed on his official Instagram page, which reported that he died ‘peacefully’ on Friday morning at the age of 84.
‘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,’ the announcement on social media read. ‘We request that you respect the Lesh family’s privacy at this time.’
While no official cause of death has been released, the Associated Press is reporting that the Berkeley, California native had survived prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and a liver transplant in 1998 brought on by a hepatitis C infection and years of heavy drinking.
The sad news comes just days after the announcement that members of the Grateful Dead have been chosen as the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year.
The non-profit organization, which helps music professionals in need financial, personal or medical assistance, will recognize original members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Bobby Weir, and Lesh for their philanthropic efforts, as well as their impact on American music on their 60th anniversary.
The band will be honored at the 34th annual Persons Of The Year benefit gala at the Los Angeles Convention Center on January 31, which is two days before the 2025 Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Downtown LA.
The band, which rose from the counter-culture movement of the 1960s in the Saan Francisco area, has long been known for their eclectic style and sound, consisting of an array of musical genres, as well as their devoted fan base known as ‘Deadheads.’
‘Their legacy transcends music, having built a community of fans and collaborators that embody the spirit of connection and support, something that is deeply aligned with MusiCares’ mission,’ said Laura Segura, Executive Director of MusiCares.
Segura added, ‘The band’s passion for the arts and philanthropy, along with their enduring commitment to social causes, has made a lasting impact that goes beyond the stage. It is a privilege to celebrate their contributions to both music and humanity.’
The upcoming special night will also include posthumous tributes to the late Jerry Garcia, the principal songwriter, lead guitarist, and a vocalist for the Grateful Dead through the band’s run leading up to his death in August 1995 at the age of 53.
The late San Francisco native passed away from a heart attack while in his room at a rehabilitation facility, after enduring a long struggle with substance abuse, including heroin addiction.
The Grateful Dead would eventually disband afterwards and then launch a series of spin-off projects over the proceeding years and decades.
Known for their eclectic style, the band came to prominence during the counterculture of the mid-1960s and proceeded to create their own unique sound by fusing elements of rock, blues, jazz, folk, country, bluegrass, gospel, reggae, world music, psychedelia, and rock and roll.
They would become famous with the Deadheads for their improvisation during their live concerts, better known within the musicians’ language as jamming, earning them the distinction as being known as ‘the pioneering godfathers of the jam world.’
Based in the San Francisco Bay area, the original members featured Jerry Garcia (lead guitar and vocals), Bob Weir (rhythm guitar and vocals), Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan (keyboards,harmonica and vocals), Phil Lesch (bass and vocals), and Bill Kreutzmann (drums).
Their was a carousel of musicians that played with the band through the life of the band, including Mickey Hart (drummer joined in 1967) and Robert Hunter (non-performing lyricist joined in 1967), along with official members Tom Constanten (keyboards from 1968-1970), John Perry Barlow (non-performing lyricist from 1971 to 1995), Keith Godchaux (keyboards and occasional vocals from 1971 to 1979), Donna Godchaux (vocals from 1972 to 1979), Brent Mydland (keyboards and vocals from 1979 to 1990), and Vince Welnick (keyboards and vocals from 1990 to 1995).
The Grateful Dead, which were not considered a singles or hit song band, would be more recognized for their long jammy concerts and their recording career that consisted of 13 studio albums and nine contemporary live albums.
In 2007, the band was honored with the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing their unparalleled contributions to the music industry.
Beyond their musical achievements, band members Garcia, Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, and Weir made significant contributions to philanthropic causes such as environmental conservation, mental health, music education and social justice.
Some of the initiatives they’ve supported through the years included Garcia’s involvement with the Rex Foundation, Hart’s work in music therapy and brain health, Weir’s advocacy for addressing climate change and combating poverty, Kreutzmann’s ocean conservation efforts, and Lesh’s Unbroken Chain Foundation
Established in 1989 and incorporated in 1993 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the MusiCares Foundation was created for musicians to have a place to turn to in times of financial and personal troubles, along with medical issues.
Since 1989, MusiCares has distributed more than $48 million to artists in need.
