Friends,
Last week, I was in Northern Ireland exploring the Giant's Causeway. If you haven’t been, I highly recommend the adventure. It’s one of the most celestial places on the planet. If you're not familiar with the Causeway, it's where the cover for Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy was photographed, and several Game of Thrones episodes were filmed nearby. I had spotty cell service along the coast, which is usually fine by me on these types of expeditions. However, when I reconnected to the outside world, I learned that Phil Lesh, the legendary Grateful Dead bassist, had passed.
This one hit hard. It’s always difficult when an artist or a musician, that’s had an impact on your life and helped you find your tribe, passes. Phil was 84 years old and lived an extraordinary life. He traveled the world and played some of the biggest concerts in history. Concerts like the Altamont, the Monterey Pop Festival, Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, Woodstock, and even the Pyramids of Giza. However, it doesn’t make his passing any easier. Especially, because I had the opportunity to meet Phil and talk with him numerous times.
I’m a lifelong Grateful Dead fan. I was lucky enough to see Jerry Garcia live fifty times. However, I’m also a Gen-Xer. By the time I got to see the Grateful Dead live, the band was already playing stadiums. It wasn’t until I moved to San Rafael, California and lived five minutes from Terrapin Crossroads, Phil’s music complex, that I finally got to experience the magic of an intimate Grateful Dead experience.
Terrapin Crossroads was one of those places where, “if you know, you know.” It was an incredible venue situated on the San Rafael Creek in Marin County. There was a bar, a restaurant, an indoor concert venue, and an outdoor stage. Music flowed throughout all of these spaces. Rock stars of all musical genres would hangout. There was no need for security. It was super chill. My family and I were having dinner one night and Bob Weir showed up and played with Phil for free in the restaurant. That’s the kind of place Terrapin was. However, by far my fondest memory was when Phil read my daughter, Marley, Green Eggs and Ham and Where the Wild Things Are. Seriously. That really happened. Terrapin had “The Kidz Zone” where Phil would sit on a big, ornate chair and read stories to kids. I’m getting teary-eyed just writing this. One year, we even attended Phil and Terrapin’s Christmas Eve party. My last concert living in California was Phil and The Terrapin Family Band and when I moved to Colorado, my first concert was The Terrapin Family Band at Red Rocks.
Phil was the kindest rock star I ever met. He was generous with his time and always gracious—always happy to take a photo or shake hands with a fan. As a music nerd and a wannabe guitar player, I was so impressed with Phil’s desire to push musical boundaries. He played right up until his death. He also played with a wide range of musicians, both young and old, across various musical genres. The Terrapin Clubhouse YouTube channel recently featured the “Darkstarathon” and it was pretty fantastic. Phil was joined by the likes of Daniel Donato, Makaila Davis, Stanley Jordan, Holly Bowling, Dave Bruzza, and more. In true Phil fashion, he left us with world-class music. Here’s a little taste.
There has been an outpouring of tributes all week. One of the things I noticed was the sheer volume of love from other musicians. Phil was a musician’s musician. A true craftsman. It seems only fitting to end this tribute with a line from Phil’s most celebrated song, “Box of Rain.”
“Such a long, long time to be gone and a short time to be there.” Rest easy Phil Lesh and thank you…for everything.
#NFA
Deepest sympathies to you, Tom, and all who loved him.