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Grateful Dead founding member, Phil Lesh passes away at 84

He leaves behind a legacy of music and love

Phil Lesh (R) and Jerry Garcia in June 1976 (Ed Perlstein, Getty)

This morning according to a statement on Phil Lesh’s official Instagram he passed away peacefully today (October 25th). Phil Lesh was a founding member of The Grateful dead and was their bassist. No cause of death has been announced.

FILE - This undated file photo shows members of the Grateful Dead band, from left to right, Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh, Jerry Garcia, Brent Mydland, Bill Kreutzmann, and Bob Weir. The 47th Kennedy Center class will be honored with an evening of tributes, testimonials and performances on Dec. 8 at Washington's John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. (AP Photo/File) (AP2006)

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The statement said, “Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, passed peacefully this morning. 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. We request that you respect the Lesh family’s privacy at this time.”

FILE - The Grateful Dead, from left, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir and Mickey Hart perform during a reunion concert in East Troy, Wis. on Aug. 3, 2002. Lesh, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at age 84. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File) (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Lesh will be missed by many. After the passing of his father, Lesh worked with the band’s lyricist, Robert Hunter to write Box of Rain.

In his memoir Searching for the Sound, he wrote “He presented me with some of the most moving and heartfelt lyrics I’ve ever had the good fortune to sing. To this day, I’m asked to sing and dedicate the song to those who are recovering, sick, dying, or have already passed on.”


About the Author
Laura Wartel headshot

Laura is Local 4's Special Event Producer and author of the Go Guide. She has expertise in experiential, corporate and immersive event production, and loves supporting Detroit's vibrant art and culture scene.

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