Phil Lesh, the founding member and bassist of The Grateful Dead, has died. He was 84 years old.
Lesh's death was announced on his official Instagram page:
"Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, passed peacefully this morning," the statement read. "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."
Lesh played bass for the band from 1965 until its breakup in 1995. Following the band's separation, he continued to play and tour with his own project, Phil Lesha and Friends. Then, in 2009, he went on a five-year tour called Furthur with his former Dead bandmate Bob Weir.
He is survived by his wife, Jill, and their two sons, Grahame and Brian.
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