Phil Lesh, the founding bassist of the Grateful Dead, has passed away at the age of 84.

**Phil Lesh, Bassist of Grateful Dead, Passes Away at 84**

Phil Lesh, the bassist and founding member of the legendary rock band Grateful Dead, has died at the age of 84. His passing was announced on his verified Instagram account, which stated he died "peacefully" on Friday morning, surrounded by family and filled with love. The message emphasized his ability to bring joy to those around him and requested privacy for the Lesh family during this time.

While the cause of death has not been disclosed, reports indicate that Lesh had previously battled prostate and bladder cancer, and underwent a liver transplant in 1998 due to hepatitis C and years of heavy drinking.

Born in Berkeley, California, Lesh co-founded Grateful Dead in 1965 alongside Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, and Bill Kreutzmann. Initially trained in violin and trumpet, he was second chair in the Oakland Symphony Orchestra as a teenager. Lesh was working as a sound engineer and driving a mail truck when Garcia invited him to join the fledgling band, then known as The Warlocks.

Lesh quickly adapted to the bass, often trading melodies with Garcia and helping to establish the band’s signature style of long, improvised performances. In a 2009 interview, he explained their fluid approach to music: “It’s always fluid; we pretty much figure it out on the fly.”

In addition to his renowned bass playing, Lesh composed some of the band’s beloved tracks, including “Pride of Cucamonga,” “Unbroken Chain,” and “Box of Rain.” He often spoke about the unique connection between the band and their fans, stating, “It’s the community that really generates this music.”

After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995 following Garcia’s death, Lesh mostly refrained from participating in reunion performances. However, he joined the band for the 2009 tour and the 2015 "Fare Thee Well" concerts, celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary. He also frequently performed with a rotating group of musicians he called Phil Lesh and Friends.

The Grateful Dead will be honored in January at a benefit gala ahead of the Grammy Awards. The band received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2007.

Reflecting on his experiences with the band, Lesh once described performing as “paradise,” where individual identities dissolve into a collective creativity. He is survived by his wife, Jill, and his sons, Brian and Grahame.

This story has been updated with additional information.