Phil Lesh, co-founder and bassist of the Grateful Dead, has died at the age of 84

Phil Lesh, one of the founders of the rock band Grateful Dead, has died. He was 84 years old.

“Phil Lesh, bassist and founder of the Grateful Dead, passed away peacefully this morning,” it said shared on the late musician’s Instagram Friday read.

“He was surrounded by family and full of love.”

The post, which included a photo of Lesh playing bass on stage, honored him for bringing “tremendous joy to everyone around him and leaving a legacy of music and love.”

The tribute included the following words: “We ask that you respect the privacy of the Lesh family at this time.”

An official cause of death has not been released at this time, and his representative did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

However, in 2015, Lesh shared that this was the case bladder cancer was diagnosed.

He said via a Facebook post at the time, he felt “very fortunate” because his pathology reports showed that his tumors were “non-aggressive” and that there was no indication that the cancer had spread.

The “Terrapin Station” rocker said he sought treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, for two weeks and would eventually undergo surgery to remove the tumors.

Since news of Lesh’s death was announced, several friends and fans have posted tributes online.

One person commented on Instagram: “Thank you, Phil. Say hello to Jerry for me ,” referring to the late Grateful Dead lead guitarist and vocalist Jerry Garcia, who died of a heart attack in 1995

Journalist Ron Lieber added: “The prankster, the prankster, the lightning bomb thrower, the rainmaker, the box builder, the headband wearer, the tie-dye rocker, the weaver of chains, broken and unbroken, already on the four winds and probably safely home. His memory is a blessing.”

Lesh formed the Grateful Dead in 1965 with Garcia, vocalist and guitarist Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, and keyboardist and harmonica player Bob Weir and drummer Bill Kreutzmann.

The group was known for incorporating elements of rock, blues, jazz, folk, psychedelia and other genres into their music. Their devoted fandom is known as “Deadheads”.

After Garcia’s death, other versions of the band were formed, including Dead & Company, which they just played their last concert in July 2023

However, Lesh was not part of this band and instead toured with Phil Lesh and Friends along with a rotating group of musicians from 1998 to 2000. He also played with the Phil Lesh Quartet from 2000 to 2003.

In 1994, Lesh and other members of the Grateful Dead were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.