Free Republic

Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of iconic rock band Grateful Dead, has died. He was 84. The news was announced on Lesh’s verified Instagram on Friday, which said he died “peacefully” on Friday morning.

Phil Lesh, who was bassist for the rock band Grateful Dead, canceled two concerts after revealing he has bladder cancer. In a letter to fans posted Friday on the Facebook page for Terrapin Crossroads, his restaurant and concert venue in San Rafael, California, Lesh said he was diagnosed with bladder cancer earlier this month. He said he has spent the last few weeks at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, doing tests ahead of surgery to remove the tumors. Lesh, 75, said his prognosis is positive.

The undercover cops didn’t help the vibe, most of all for Moondog. They wore jeans and t-shirts and carried backpacks that made them look almost like everybody else, except not really. They wouldn’t talk to me as they scooped up the spoils of the copyright shakedown – pins and t-shirts – and Moondog, growing uglier by the second as he stood helplessly next to his camper, cursed out the Dead, mocked Bobby and Phil Lesh, then pledged to return next time with bags of heroin decorated with Jerry’s face. Ouch... Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart won’t...