Phil Lesh, the co-founder and bassist of Grateful Useless, has died. Based on a assertion on his official social media accounts, Lesh “handed peacefully” on Friday, October 25. “He was surrounded by his household and full of affection,” the assertion learn. “Phil introduced immense pleasure to everybody round him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love. We request that you simply respect the Lesh household’s privateness right now.” Lesh was 84.
Born in Berkeley, California, on March 15, 1940, Lesh began out as a violinist earlier than switching to trumpet whereas enrolled at Berkeley Excessive College. Having developed an curiosity in avant-garde classical music and free jazz, he went on to change into the primary trumpet chair on the College of California, the place he studied below Italian composer Luciano Berio. He was additionally a classmate of Steve Reich. After assembly Jerry Garcia at Berkeley’s KPFA radio station, Lesh turned the bassist for Garcia’s then-band, the Warlocks, in 1964 alongside guitarist Bob Weir, keyboardist Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, and drummer Invoice Kreutzmann.
By late 1965, the group rebranded because the Grateful Useless, quickly turning into a staple in San Francisco’s counterculture and psychedelic rock scene. They launched their first album, additionally named Grateful Useless, in March 1967. Between 1967 and 1990, Lesh performed on all 13 of the Useless’s studio releases and 10 official stay albums. He supplied concord vocals till vocal wire injury within the Seventies, later returning as a baritone. He additionally co-wrote a few of the band’s most iconic songs, together with the opening and shutting tracks on 1970’s American Magnificence, ‘Field of Rain’ and ‘Truckin’’.
Following Garcia’s dying in 1995, Lesh led his personal band, Phil Lesh and Pals, and continued to carry out with varied Grateful Useless offshoots such because the Different Ones and the Useless. In 2009, Lesh and Weir fashioned the band Furthur. In 2012, he opened a preferred venue referred to as Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, California, the place he typically carried out together with his sons Grahame and Brian till its closure in 2021. Although he took half within the Useless’s Fare Thee Properly live shows in 2015, Lesh was not a member of Useless & Firm, the offshoot band began by Weir, Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart.
“I must say that music and performing are as important as foods and drinks to me, however much more in order I become older,” Lesh instructed The Marin Unbiased Journal earlier this 12 months. “Whereas it could possibly typically be extra of a problem bodily than it was after I was a younger whippersnapper, I’ve discovered that age brings knowledge, and with that comes musical expertise and data that I didn’t have after I was youthful.”
Lesh battled a number of well being challenges over his life, together with a liver transplant in 1998. He underwent surgical procedure for prostate most cancers in 2016 and later bladder most cancers in 2015 earlier than needing again surgical procedure in 2019. Simply two days earlier than Lesh’s dying, MusiCares named the Grateful Useless its 2025 Individuals of the 12 months.
Surviving Grateful Useless members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Invoice Kreutzmann have penned a prolonged tribute to Lesh, which you’ll be able to learn under.
Right this moment we misplaced a brother. Our hearts and love exit to Jill Lesh, Brian and Grahame. Phil Lesh was irreplaceable. In a single notice from the Phil Zone, you can hear and really feel the world being born. His bass flowed like a river would stream. It went the place the muse took it. He was an… pic.twitter.com/3u5lOomXxi
— Grateful Useless (@GratefulDead) October 26, 2024
— Mickey Hart (@mickeyhart) October 26, 2024
Phil Lesh was my brother. Not by blood however nonetheless by household. I’ve heard so a lot of you inform me that the Grateful Useless modified your life. Yeah, properly… Phil Lesh modified mine.
Thanks Phil. I’ll miss you, darn it. pic.twitter.com/jza6HXU7Mk
— Invoice Kreutzmann (@BKreutzmann) October 26, 2024
