The music world is reeling from the loss of Grateful Dead's legendary bassist Phil Lesh, who has passed away at 84. Surrounded by his nearest and dearest in his final moments, he was enveloped in love as he departed.
A heartfelt statement on Phil's official Instagram account confirmed the sad news on Friday (October 25): "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."
The announcement also included a plea for discretion during this difficult time: "We request that you respect the Lesh family's privacy at this time."
Lesh's influential sound with the Grateful Dead has left an indelible mark on rock history. His wife Jill and many others are mourning his passing.
Fans have been quick to express their sorrow, with one heartbroken admirer tweeting: "Crushed by the news that Phil Lesh has passed. One of the all-time greatest bass players and just a true original in every possible way. Smuggled so much weirdness and originality into the heart of American culture. But his tone is immortal. Nothing hits like a Phil bomb. RIP.", reports the Mirror.
One fan wrote: "RIP Phil Lesh, the cerebral, avant-garde, post-Beat genius who took the Dead's sound far beyond psych-blues and folk into weird empyrean realms of free jazz and classical. He could play the bass like a heartbeat or a tidal wave, searching for new but timeless sounds eternally."
The Grateful Dead was formed in 1965 by Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Ron McKernan, and Phil. Their debut album, released in 1967, didn't chart well, but they gained momentum in the 1970s.
Their album Blues For Ashes reached number 12 in the US in 1975. Their best-selling record, In The Dark, peaked at number 6 in the US and 57 in the UK in 1987.
The single Touch Of Grey was their biggest hit, reaching number 9 in the US and 17 in Canada in 1987.
English (US) ·