The Grateful Dead bassist and co-founder Phil Lesh died Friday, October 25th, at the age of 84.

A post on Lesh’s official Instagram page said he passed peacefully Friday morning, 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 post continued. “We request that you respect the Lesh family’s privacy at this time.”

Lesh, who co-founded the Grateful Dead in the San Francisco Bay area with Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan and Bill Kreutzmann in 1965, is survived by his wife Jill and sons Brian and Grahame.

“Today we lost a brother. Our hearts and love go out to Jill Lesh, Brian and Grahame,” the band said in a statement posted on X.

“Phil Lesh was irreplaceable. In one note from the Phil Zone, you could hear and feel the world being born. His bass flowed like a river would flow. It went where the muse took it.”

“He was an explorer of inner and outer space who just happened to play bass,” they added. “He was a circumnavigator of formerly unknown musical worlds. And more.”

Lesh and the other members of the Grateful Dead were recently named the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year.

The Grateful Dead are one of the most influential bands in American history, renowned for their distinctive blend of rock, folk, jazz, and avant-garde music.

Source: RTT Music News