Phil Lesh, founding bassist for Grateful Dead and longtime bandleader for multiple other groups, died this morning. He was 84.
Tributes to Lesh are rolling in from every corner of the Internet.
On X, Red Rocks Amphitheatre remembers the bassist, calling him one of the friendliest artists to ever play the venue. The Dead headlined Red Rocks more than 20 times starting in 1978.
Rock critic Steven Hyden writes, “One of the all-time greatest bass players and just a true original in every possible way. Smuggled so much weirdness and originality into the heart of American culture.”
Sirius XM DJ Eric Alper says, “His pioneering spirit and deep, soulful playing shaped the Dead’s iconic sound and influenced generations. His legacy of creativity, community, and endless jams will live on.”
Tonight the Empire State Building will light up in tribute to Lesh and the Dead.
