Phil Lesh dies aged 84: Grateful Dead bassist and founding member passes away as tributes paid

Grateful Dead icon Phil Lesh has died aged 84.

The bassist and founding member of nan stone set 'passed peacefully' connected Friday, October 25 - a connection connected his Instagram page confirmed.

The connection read:  'Phil Lesh, bassist and founding personnel of The Grateful Dead, passed peacefully this morning. 

'He was surrounded by his family and afloat of love. Phil brought immense joyousness to everyone astir him and leaves down a bequest of euphony and love. 

'We petition that you respect nan Lesh family’s privateness astatine this time.'

His origin of decease is presently unknown. He antecedently battled crab twice, prostate crab successful 2006 and bladder cancer successful 2015. 

Lesh is champion known for co-founding nan stone set successful 1965 - it went connected to go 1 of nan world's astir influential bands. 

The original line-up was Lesh, Bob Weir, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Bill Kreutzmann, and Jerry Garcia.

Starting retired arsenic a folk-infused quintet successful psychedelic-era 1960s San Francisco, nan Grateful Dead steadily shape-shifted into a taste arena and 1 of nan astir successful touring acts of each time.

Fueled by nan carnival ambiance of its walking Deadhead fanbase and an ethos that encouraged tape-trading and emphasized unrecorded capacity complete workplace output, nan Dead person spanned aggregate generations and stay wildly popular. 

Lead guitarist and founding personnel Jerry Garcia died successful 1995, but nan set continued almost nonstop touring successful aggregate incarnations.

'There´s a batch of ingredients that spell into it,' drummer Mickey Hart said, erstwhile asked astir nan music´s longevity. 'The fans opportunity that nan shows consciousness for illustration home. It gives them that emotion of connectiveness and organization and joyousness and emotion for life and nan music.' 

Currently calling themselves Dead and Company pinch guitarist John Mayer taking Garcia´s place, nan set precocious had a residency astatine The Sphere successful Las Vegas.

After nan set disbanded successful 1995, Lesh founded broadside task Phil Lesh and Friends - which played songs from Grateful Dead and original songs from his group.

He besides ran his ain euphony venue called Terrapin Crossroads.

In 1999 and 2000, he co-headlined 2 tours pinch Bob Dylan.

In October 2006, Lesh revealed he had been diagnosed pinch prostate crab - nan aforesaid illness which killed his father.

In December 2006 he stated he had undergone room and nan crab was removed.  

In 2009 he went backmost connected circuit pinch Grateful Dead. 

From 2009-2014 he performed pinch Weir successful Furthur.

In his last years he performed pinch nan Lesh family set - alongside Cory, Heidi and Joseph Lesh.