Grateful Dead founding member Phil Lesh dies at 84

Phil Lesh, one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead, has died at the age of 84.

The bassist was a member of the rock band with Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzman and Ron “Pigpen” McKernan.

The Instagram account said on Friday: “Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, passed away peacefully this morning. His family was with him and full of love.

“Phil brought great joy to everyone around him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love. “We ask that you respect the Lesh family’s privacy at this time.”

He was best known for the song Unbroken Chain, which described the counterculture band’s connection with its audience.

Lesh also sang the sad song Box Of Rain, which he wrote when his father was dying.

He announced that he had prostate cancer in 2006 and had a liver transplant in 1998 following a hepatitis infection.

The Grateful Dead disbanded after frontman Jerry Garcia died in a drug rehabilitation clinic in 1995 at the age of 53.

Other members who have died include Brent Mydland from a drug overdose in 1990, McKernan from liver disease in 1973, and Keith Godchaux, who died in a car crash in 1980 after leaving the band.

Lesh has also toured with the band’s spin-off bands, including Other Ones, The Dead and Furthur, as well as his own band, Phil Lesh and Friends.

On Wednesday, music foundation MusiCares announced it would honor Lesh as its 2025 Person of the Year, along with other former members like Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart and Weir, for his philanthropic and campaigning work.

Kreutzmann said Lesh and other members will attend the 34th annual Persons of the Year benefit gala, where they plan to celebrate their 60th anniversary and pay tribute to Garcia.