Instagram account.“Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of the Grateful Dead, passed peacefully this morning,” the statement shared Friday read. “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.” His cause of death is not known at this time.Lesh was instrumental in creating The Grateful Dead sound, collaborating with lead guitarist Jerry Garcia since the band’s inception under a different name, the Warlocks.
The Grateful Dead fell apart in 1995 owing to Garcia’s death. Lesh continued to keep the band alive, however, frequently performing with former band members.
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