SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Phil Lesh, founding member and bassist for the iconic Bay Area rock band the Grateful Dead, died peacefully Friday morning surrounded by family, according to a statement posted to his official social media accounts. He was 84.
“Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, passed peacefully this morning,” the statement reads. “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 statement did not cite a specific cause of death. Lesh had previously survived bouts of prostate cancer, bladder cancer and a 1998 liver transplant necessitated by the debilitating effects of a hepatitis C infection and years of heavy drinking.
Grateful Dead fans and fellow band members recognized Lesh as a critical member whose thundering lines on the six-string electric bass provided a brilliant counterpoint to lead guitarist Jerry Garcia’s soaring solos.
In February, the Grateful Dead broke the record for most Top 40 albums to chart on the Billboard 200 after the debut of their archival release “Dave’s Picks, Volume 49: Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford U., Palo Alto, CA (4/27/85 & 4/28/85).”
The legendary rockers disbanded following the death of frontman Jerry Garcia in 1995. Following the disbandment of the Grateful Dead, Lesh performed in Phil Lesh and Friends before reuniting with Grateful Dead bandmate Bob Weir in the band Furthur.
In 2012, Lesh opened Terrapin Crossroads, a popular music venue and restaurant in San Rafael. The local musical mecca provided free music every night, where the Grammys noted that “you never know who you will find jamming there, including Phil himself.” The venue closed permanently at the end of 2021 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lesh began his long musical odyssey as a classically trained violinist, starting with lessons in third grade. He took up the trumpet at 14, eventually earning the second chair in the Oakland Symphony Orchestra while still in his teens.
“Phil brought immense joy to everyone around him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love,” the statement shared.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.