12/03/2024
If we could boil the Grateful Dead down to any singular essence, it would be Freedom. Freedom to squiggle outside the boundaries of form. Freedom to make and embrace mistakes. Freedom from the Man, Freedom for the women, because that’s right… they’re smarter. Freedom to explore consciousness, and freedom to be your full, weird, wonderful self.
And no member of the Dead embodied these values more than bassist Phil Leah. A singular voice. A man who brought classical concepts into modern art, who shoved Coltrane’s vast complexities into rock’s tiny box, a man who relentlessly pursued empathy in the form of helping to save their fellow man with organ donation. To call Phil Lesh an inspiration is an understatement.
It’s so painful, yet so beautiful, to lose these singular artists; all we can do at the end of the day is strive to creatively fill our little holes as best we can.
RIP Phil. See you on the other side. Please hug Jerry for us! 💜⚡️💀
