AM/ST
26. 10. 2024, 13.08
Updated: 26 October 2024, 13.10
Bassist and founding member of the legendary American rock group Grateful Dead Phil Lesh died at the age of 85, foreign press agencies report. After surviving cancer and liver problems from hepatitis C, he passed away surrounded by family.
The news of Lesh’s death was announced on Instagram on Friday, where it was written that “Lesh, bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, passed away peacefully this morning surrounded by his family”.
“Phil brought immense joy to everyone around him, he leaves behind a legacy of music and love,” it was written on Instagram.
According to the German news agency dpa, Lesh was best known for the song Unbroken Chain, which talks about the band’s connection with the audience. He also sang the sad song Box Of Rain, which he wrote when his father was dying. In 2006, he revealed that he had prostate cancer, and in 1998, after contracting hepatitis C, he underwent a liver transplant.
Lesh founded the Grateful Dead together with Jerry Garcia, By Bob Weir, Ron McKernan in Billom Kreutzmann. The group disbanded when its leader Garcia, aged 53, died in 1995 in a drug addiction treatment clinic. Also, there are already deceased members of the group Brent Mydlandwho died of a drug overdose in 1990, McKernan, who died of liver disease in 1973, and Keith Godchaux; the latter died in a car accident in 1980, after he had already left the group.
After the breakup of the Grateful Dead, Lesh rarely joined the other members in concert, with the only exceptions being a tour in 2009 and a series of concerts celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary in 2015. However, he continued to be active in music, touring with an ever-changing lineup of musicians, who were called Phil Lesh and Friends.
Source: svet24.si
