“Paying Tribute to Phil Lesh” — Fans Celebrate Tie Dye Illumination at the Empire State Building

Phil Lesh, the legendary bassist and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, passed away on October 25, 2023, at the age of 84. In tribute to this iconic musician and the innovative psychedelic band he helped establish, the Empire State Building in New York City was illuminated in vibrant tie-dye colors on the evening of October 26, stunning fans who shared their admiration online.

The Empire State Building’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) posted a captivating video showcasing the building’s dazzling illumination, announcing, “Tonight from 9-10 PM we will shine in tie-dye to honor the life and legacy of Phil Lesh.”

Phil Lesh co-founded the Grateful Dead in Palo Alto in 1965 along with fellow musicians, though only Bob Weir and Bill Kreutzmann remain from the original lineup today. Notably, Rolling Stone recently recognized Lesh as the 11th greatest bassist in history, highlighting his profound influence on the band’s sound and likening his contributions to those of Jerry Garcia, the band’s legendary frontman who passed away in 1995. The magazine remarked:

“His philosophy of ‘playing bass and lead simultaneously,’ with notes weaving intricately around the melodies, became as characteristic of the Dead’s sound as Garcia’s guitar.”

In the wake of Lesh’s death, fans flocked to social media to express their heartfelt tributes and fond memories of the iconic performer.

“Love it! Honoring a legend in style,”one user shared.

Many others echoed these sentiments, sharing personal reflections. Among the touching comments were:

“The news of Phil Lesh’s passing hits harder than expected. When an artist has been a part of your life for 30 years, it’s truly a loss,” another user expressed on X.

“Rest in peace, Phil. See you down the road,” commented another follower.

“RIP Phil Lesh. An icon of the ’70s. The Grateful Dead remains one of my all-time favorite bands. Thank you for your contributions to rock,” wrote a fan.

Best known for blending genres like rock, folk, country, and jazz, the Grateful Dead’s influence remains timeless. Additional reactions included:

“Such a fitting tribute. He truly loved that city,” another netizen remarked.

“A beautiful homage. Our gratitude from all of us,” wrote another user.

“RIP Phil! Please give Jerry a big hug from all of us,” another fan said.

Phil Lesh had performed as recently as March at The Capitol Theatre, where he celebrated his 84th birthday with fellow musicians. Other heartfelt comments included:

“RIP Phil! It’s been a long time since you left us, but you were with us for a short while,” stated a user.

“My Deadhead heart is broken,” another mentioned.

“Farewell, farewell! We love you beyond what words can express,” a user stated.

Official statement on the passing of Phil Lesh

“Phil spread immense joy to all who were fortunate to know him and leaves a lasting legacy of music and love. We kindly ask for privacy for the Lesh family during this time.”

Born Phil Chapman Lesh on March 15, 1940, in Berkeley, California, he began his musical journey at a young age with the violin. Over time, he shifted from classical music to embracing “cool jazz” and big band sounds on the trumpet, as detailed on the band’s official website.

Before joining the Grateful Dead, Lesh had the honor of studying under Italian composer Luciano Berio.

Trey Anastasio, Phish’s lead guitarist, shared his admiration for Lesh in a recent Instagram post, stating:

“Phil was not just a revolutionary bass player; he reshaped my understanding of music as a teenager.”

Phil Lesh is survived by his wife, Jill, along with their two sons, Brian and Grahame.

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