Getty Images Phil Lesh performing at a festival in July 2023 Phil Lesh, bassist and co-founder of the US rock group The Grateful Dead, has died aged 84. The musician’s official Instagram account said he “passed peacefully this morning”. He was surrounded by his family. The psychedelic band, which formed in California in 1965, split … The post Phil Lesh: Grateful Dead co-founder dies aged 84 appeared first on WorldNewsEra.

Phil Lesh: Grateful Dead co-founder dies aged 84

Getty Images Phil Lesh performing at a festival in July 2023 Phil Lesh, bassist and co-founder of the US rock group The Grateful Dead, has died aged 84. The musician’s official Instagram account said he “passed peacefully this morning”. He was surrounded by his family. The psychedelic band, which formed in California in 1965, split …

The post Phil Lesh: Grateful Dead co-founder dies aged 84 appeared first on WorldNewsEra.

Their loyal fans, known as “Deadheads”, would often follow the band from city to city across the US to hear them play.

The band always made it easy for its fans to record its concerts and distribute tapes to their peers around the world.

Although the cause of Lesh’s death is unknown, he had a series of health issues over the years.

In 2015, he announced he was being treated for bladder cancer in the US. Nine years before that he had surgery for prostate cancer and made a full recovery.

He also underwent a liver transplant in 1998, becoming a passionate advocate of organ donations.

Lesh was born in Berkeley, California, in 1940.

He started out as a violin player before switching to trumpet, and later to bass guitar.

Lesh is survived by his wife, Jill, and their two sons.