VOA News Africa Bassist Lesh, founding member of Grateful Dead, dies at 84 Design TechOctober 26, 2024020 views Bassist Lesh, founding member of Grateful Dead, dies at 84 FILE – Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead performs during a reunion concert in East Troy, Wis. Aug. 3, 2002. Lesh, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, died Oct. 25, 2024, at age 84.