Phil Lesh, the bassist and founding member of the Grateful Dead, has passed away at the age of 84.

 Phil Lesh, the bassist and co-founder of the legendary rock band Grateful Dead, has passed away at the age of 84. The news was shared on Lesh’s verified Instagram account, which stated that he died “peacefully” on Friday morning, surrounded by his family and filled with love. The post emphasized his joy-bringing nature and his lasting legacy of music and love, while requesting privacy for the Lesh family during this time.

CNN has contacted a representative for Grateful Dead, but no cause of death has been reported yet. The Associated Press noted that Lesh had previously battled prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and underwent a liver transplant in 1998 due to hepatitis C and years of heavy drinking.

Born in Berkeley, California, Lesh co-founded the Grateful Dead in 1965 alongside Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, and Bill Kreutzmann. His musical journey began with training on the violin and trumpet, eventually earning the position of second chair in the Oakland Symphony Orchestra as a teenager.

In 1965, while working as a mail truck driver and sound engineer, Lesh was invited by Garcia to join what was then a nascent rock band called The Warlocks. After getting acquainted with the bass, he and Garcia developed a collaborative style where they would frequently alternate leading melodies, a hallmark of the band’s identity known for its extended and improvised performances.

Lesh remarked in a 2009 interview, “It’s always fluid; we just pretty much figure it out on the fly. You can’t set those things in stone in the rehearsal room.” Although celebrated for his unique bass playing, Lesh also composed several beloved songs for the band, including “Pride of Cucamonga,” “Unbroken Chain,” and “Box of Rain.”

In 2002, Lesh, alongside Weir, discussed the experience of performing live. He explained, “It’s when the pipeline is open... music is about bringing eternity to time.” The Grateful Dead's dynamic performances paved the way for other iconic groups like Phish.

Reflecting on the band's devoted fanbase in 2002, Lesh shared, “It’s the community that really generates this music, and we are just there on the receiving end to tap into the pipeline and feed it back to them, maybe at a higher level.”

Following the Grateful Dead's disbandment in 1995 after Garcia's death, Lesh largely stepped back from onstage reunions with the surviving members. However, he participated in the 2009 Grateful Dead tour and again in 2015 for the “Fare Thee Well” concerts celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary. He continued to perform frequently with a rotating ensemble of musicians known as Phil Lesh and Friends.

The Grateful Dead will be honored at a benefit gala in January ahead of the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, having received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2007. In a 2006 conversation with CNN, Lesh beautifully articulated the experience of performing with his bandmates, stating, “It’s paradise... we are the music... we are acting as transformers... it’s just something that happens when the stars are aligned properly.”