CALIFORNIA — According to Phil Lesh’s official Instagram, the bassist and founder of Grateful Dead has passed away peacefully this morning at 84.
“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. We request that you respect the Lesh family’s privacy at this time.”
The Dead Perform At The Izod Center EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - APRIL 28: Phil Lesh of The Dead performs at the Izod Center on April 28, 2009 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Cory Schwartz/Getty Images) (Cory Schwartz/Getty Images) Headcount & Dayglo Present Phil Lesh And Very Special Friends At The Apollo Theater NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 07: Phil Lesh performs onstage at Headcount & Dayglo Present Phil Lesh And Very Special Friends At The Apollo Theater at The Apollo Theater on September 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Marc Millman/Getty Images for Dayglo Presents) (Marc Millman/Getty Images for Dayglo Presents) Headcount & Dayglo Present Phil Lesh And Very Special Friends At The Apollo Theater NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 07: Phil Lesh and Grahame Lesh perform onstage at Headcount & Dayglo Present Phil Lesh And Very Special Friends At The Apollo Theater at The Apollo Theater on September 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Marc Millman/Getty Images for Dayglo Presents) (Marc Millman/Getty Images for Dayglo Presents) Vegoose Music Festival - Day Two LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 29: Music artist Phil Lesh performs at the Vegoose music festival at Sam Boyd Stadium's Star Nursery Field October 29, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Vegoose Music Festival - Day Two LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 29: Musicians Trey Anastasio (L) and Phil Lesh (R) perform together at the Vegoose music festival at Sam Boyd Stadium's Star Nursery Field October 29, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) The Dead Perform At Roseland Ballroom NEW YORK - MARCH 30: Musicians Phil Lesh and Bob Weir of the band The Dead perform at Roseland Ballroom on March 30, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images) (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images) The Dead Perform At The Greensboro Coliseum Complex GREENSBORO, NC - APRIL 12: Musicians Phil Lesh and Bob Weir perform during "An Evening With The Dead" on April 12, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images) (Sara D. Davis/Getty Images) The Dead Perform At The Greensboro Coliseum Complex GREENSBORO, NC - APRIL 12: Musician Phil Lesh performs during "An Evening With The Dead" on April 12, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images) (Sara D. Davis/Getty Images) The Dead Perform At Madison Square Garden NEW YORK - APRIL 25: Musician Phil Lesh of The Dead perform live at Madison Square Garden on April 25, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images) (Scott Wintrow/Getty Images) The Dead Perform At The Angel Orensanz Foundation NEW YORK - MARCH 30: Musician Phil Leshof the band The Dead performs at the Angel Orensanz Foundation on March 30, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images) (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images) 5th Annual Jammy Awards NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Former Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh performs with Ryan Adams during the 5th Annual Jammy Awards at Madison Square Garden Theater April 26, 2005 in New York. The awards honor improvisational musicians. (Photo by Daniel Pierce Wright/Getty Images) (Daniel Pierce Wright/Getty Images) The DEAD In Concert LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 09: Bassist Phil Lesh performs with The Dead on May 9, 2009 at The Forum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images) (Vince Bucci/Getty Images) Phil Lesh And Bob Weir Sign "Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978" At Best Buy NEW YORK - OCTOBER 14: Bob Weir (L) and Phil Lesh of Grateful Dead attend the signing of "Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978" at Best Buy on October 14, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) Phil Lesh And Bob Weir Sign "Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978" At Best Buy NEW YORK - OCTOBER 14: Bob Weir (L) and Phil Lesh of Grateful Dead attend the signing of "Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978" at Best Buy on October 14, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) Phil Lesh And Bob Weir Sign "Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978" At Best Buy NEW YORK - OCTOBER 14: Phil Lesh of Grateful Dead attends the signing of "Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978" at Best Buy on October 14, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) Phil Lesh And Bob Weir Sign "Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978" At Best Buy NEW YORK - OCTOBER 14: Bob Weir (L) and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead attend the signing of "Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978" at Best Buy on October 14, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) Los Angeles Times Festival of Books - Day Two LOS ANGELES - APRIL 24: Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead holds a copy of his book, "Searching for the Sound: My Life with the Grateful Dead" at the 10th annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at UCLA on April 24, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images) (Michael Buckner/Getty Images)