The Grateful Dead Bassist

Phil Lesh

Listen while you read

 Casey Jones   

As it has been for as long as I can remember, many great bass players in many great bands receive little or no credit for their contribution to what has become music recognized the world over. Phil Lesh, along with bassist like, Rich Knapp of Walter Trout and the Radicals, Bobby Sheehan of Blues Travelers and countless other bass players around the world, seem to always be left out when it comes to their music and their contribution to music they help create. I am on a crusade to straighten that out.

Phil Lesh met up with Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and Ron “Pigpen” McKernan in Palo Alto California in 1965. Garcia ,Weir and McKernan had a band named the Warlocks and they invited Lesh to play bass with them.  The name of the band changed and with Lesh on bass, Garcia and Weir on Guitar, McKernan on key board and Bill Kreutzmann on drums they became the founding members of Grateful Dead.

They, the Grateful Dead, released their first album “Grateful Dead” in March of 1967.

Phil Lesh contributed to all Grateful Dead recordings.  After Garcia's 1995 death ended the Dead as a touring entity, Lesh reunited with bandmates Bob Weir and Mickey Hart in the Other Ones.

Phil and Friends was born in 1998. Lesh hit the road in 1999 as headliner, issuing his solo debut "Love Will See You Through" in the autumn.

Phil continues touring with the Dead, which has just finished up 22 show tour. (see video below)