I found myself sitting elbow to elbow with Phil during one of the most important moments in his life; his son’s first public musical performance at Terrapin. After the show I approached him to tell him that I came from a broken home and that the Dead had probably saved my life. His eyes welled up with tears as I told him my story, and he talked to me for probably 15 minutes, offering advice and musical insights. In fact, he told me that night that accessing musical telepathy requires listening with your entire being, and the bit from Mingus, except he worded it differently. “You got get out in front of it.” He didn’t explain as he did in this interview. I had to think about it for a while. One of the best moments of my life. Rare that you meet your heroes and they exceed your expectations.
Loved Phil. His contributions to the Dead are immeasurable. He opened minds and brought in sounds and melodies that were exploratory, expansive, exhilarating; sometimes curious and strange. He was fearless. Because of the Dead, I got into all kinds of great music- avant garde Jazz, world, classical, country. He made me fearless too. Thank you Phil ❤️
Love that fucking artist right there... That man-- in his golden years-- looks so fucking cool; exactly what a musician with the level of skill developed through the years spent creating the completely unique voice he got from those Alembic's in both the GD and PLF, combined with the utter sophistication and sense of wisdom that he exudes, would look like at 84. Love you Phil, so grateful to have been witness to many of your performances despite my age.
As a fan from the beginning of both The Grateful Dead and later, Hot Rize, having seen both bands many times, this was very enjoyable and a real surprise. Nick handled it well; Phil opened up a bit and was well spoken. I had the pleasure and honor of speaking with Phil and Bobby Peterson for a while at the San Raphael "office" in the late 70's. I was able to show him some of my artwork and hang out for a wonderful time with my heroes. He was gracious, kind and very intelligent; a great guy. Thanks so much Nick for the opportunity to be with both of you; it's a thrill.
Great interview/conversation, Nick! Thank you! Phil was my all-time favorite electric bass player. I am 80, and the Grateful Dead was one of my favorite bands. It is not for nothing the Deadheads followed them. They had a magical way of unlocking the Infinite for anybody who wanted to hear. Thanks again!
There were moments when then took you with them out on the hunt for the muse over the hills and far away but they always got you home .God bless you Phill buckle up and fly straight x
I did acid with Phil, Jerry,Billy and Bear pigpen and Ramrod at my first show in 1971 when I asked Jerry if I could sit behind the amps and he said yes. Bear was dropping liquid acid on the back of people’s hands and I stuck my hand out and he put four big drops on the back of my hand and I licked it off. Bear even hooked me up with his local dealer, and I began selling his acid. I still miss Jerry and now Phil died . Over the years I have been in touch with Bob. I would always go to rat dog shows and find his bus and whited till they would leave the bus and stay hello and shake his hand and sometimes he he would take me in and let me sit behind the amps. I met my wife at a show so thank you Jerry and Phil and everyone that enabled the Dead to do their thing and everyone thank you very much ❤️⚡️🎸⚡️
A great musician who also wrote a fascinating book about his musical life with the Dead. Dead-Head since 1971 when I first saw them at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester NY at the ripe old age of 16.
Love Phil. I can remember my first experience listening to music on the radio in the 60s and being almost confused by it. To hear something so concrete, but not be able to touch it. I imagined it being like a moving boquet of textures that flowed like a river. My parents encouraged me to listen to music but purchasing instruments or taking lessons was always out of reach. In my 20s I was given a drumset and played for many years in many very bad to average bands. I raised two boys and bought them many many instruments and they both are great musicians! I now play bass at 58 yo and Phil is one of my favorite bass players.
Phil is not only my favorite bassists, but my favorite musician. The first time I heard the studio version of Sugar Magnolia, I was blown away by his style. Been a huge fan ever since.
"I think I may be recording things for the afterlife." What a beautiful way of looking at when the music is playing itself any you're listening while playing. I love that!
Thanks for this Nick! Having just 'telepathed' with Phil after his passing, I am intrigued with his comments about 'witnessing' and 'making notes for the afterlife'. Obviously he was thinking about his upcoming transition by 2023, if not earlier. Other commentators here may find this an outrageous claim, but I am a lifelong psychic/ medium and have interacted with a number of musicians that way.
💛Yo Phil Babe! .... I had a notion during a glance at The Titan Sub ride, the carbon fiber 5 inch layering over the metal of sort mix upon cracking up the carbon fiber actual then takes on water and weight like putting on a thick sweater and submerging in water my training kicked in as I visioned the experience "Sink like a Stone, Float like a Feather", was realized as if it was the first and only time I had spent on that dive....... As the buoyancy release mechanism, failed from the added weight of wet sweater, as I imagine the Titan Sub and passengers were perhaps within that certain time space in concert suspended "Sink like a stone, float like a feather" the numbers of 18 & 22 was activated in degrees days hours dates absolute as I witnessed in mind I immediately saw a vid with just Morning Dew date 6/18/83 @ SPAC....I haven't played with the numbers, however I saw that the 18 and 22 were there and responsible!.... Like to hear others sights!.... Thinking of Dew's....."Can't walk you out in the morning dew my honey" nuclear new clear nu clear💛
Does anyone know what Phil’s belief was on the afterlife ? That’s really cool that he mentioned reading the Bible to his grandmother. Does he talk about his faith or beliefs in his book? Anyone? Thank you!
When Robert Hunter passed away Phil wrote a heartfelt message that included this, 'when my time comes I'll be looking for you (Hunter) and Jerry out there in the transitive nightfall of diamonds'. Sounds like he believed there was an afterlife.
What a pleasure to hear Phil interviewed by someone who knows music. The most interesting question for me would be, how did you go from being an avant-garde classical guy to being the deads bassist… How did your earlier musical career affect the way you played base with the dead?
massive respect of his approach plus a half century ago, his "tone" was one of power and beauty - sat apart from other players - partly due to wideband pickups and the Alembic approach to electronics and guitar tech. That tone imo has not been surpassed even to today - maybe not matched due to his marvelous playing.
"I tried not to play while the other guys were playing. In other words, I tried to stagger my entrances so that it created a rhythmic relationship between the kick drum and the bass..." Great self-definition of how he plays!
At age 81, recovering from recent back surgery, on Labor Day that year, on the stage of his Restaurant and music Venue, 'Terrapin Crossing' - Phil Lesh sat and read to children from two books recently released by friends, authors of those children's books. He graciously stood for a photograph with me before he climbed the stairs to the outdoor stage… there, surrounded by musicians not yet conceived when he first met Jerry Garcia and began his musical journey, the tall personification of the age of love, smiled and supported the beat of the music, as 60 year old twirlers danced at his feet, children played in the grass at the feet of their 30 something parents… exposed as several generations before had been exposed to the siren tones of this Peter Pan… Yes Yes Yes, who will deny it was "…a long strange trip" but one of shared joy and love. Rest in peace; I was a traveler who rode your wake, forever grateful for your being. Best wishes to all those who were close to your heart. and knew your love and support..So So Sorry you had to end...
Grateful Dead was going no where without Billy. He is the most important musician on stage. The most important phone call Jerry made was to Billy. Billy is drastically underrated, most under appreciated drummers in music. I have transcribed many of the so called great drummers and NOT ONE OF THEM DO WHAT BILLY DOES, NONE. He is unmatched. Billy is the greatest drumset player ever.
Yes, the original quintet Warlocks/GD sound was heavily reliant on the drumming of Billy. But as things progressed through the years, notably when they became the greatest improvisational rock and roll band of the time--after only 3-4 years together!--when Phil was on the band was on. He and Jerry's notes intertwining formed that "sandworm in heat" sound...the man was a god in the early years and up until the end. And he had even more career peaks from like 2001-2006 when it comes to his playing and mastering of his instrument.
Absolutely. Phil, Jerry and Bobby were the core of the band, and although every other member contributed to the whole, those three were the ones that were essential in creating their identity.
Lol, leaving Bob out of that equation is revisionist history. Not just his playing, but singing and songwriting. I love billy,but you could replace him way before bob lol, ya'll are just bob haters makin it obvious
@@matthewmaurysmith2486 Not really. Hardly a Bob "hater". I saw Bobby and the Midnites three times, and enjoyed them. At one point Bob and Pigpen were considered for being excused from the band. At that point he could have been replaced, but with the years that followed he contributed more as a songwriter and singer, thus cementing his spot. Billy, on the other hand, anchored that rhythm, especially after Micky's departure in '71. Billy is one of the most underrated drummers, but if you watch him as the solo drummer during those years it was apparent he'd have been right for accompanying anyone on the level of Miles Davis, or John Coltrane. The man could SWING. One of the greatest compliments I could pay Billy is he made it look easy, when in fact, it was anything but.
This is a good point. I love Bobby. Honestly i think he's almost a sideshow to Jerry, but the Dead wouldn't be the same without Bobby's best songs and his rhythm playing, not to mention killer harmonies. The rock star stuff was overkill. Maybe that was for the ladies and gay brethren. 😊
Thank you, Phil. I dreaded this day for awhile. I had hoped for just one more Phil show.
Me too😢 he was/is so incredible.
Same here. Grateful for all the sounds though. He was such an amazing conduit of spirit and sound.❤❤❤
Rest in Peace Phil. What a loss, what a life. Thank you. ❤
What a gentle and humble genius....the glue that invisibly bound them together musically. His fragility is very obvious now.
I found myself sitting elbow to elbow with Phil during one of the most important moments in his life; his son’s first public musical performance at Terrapin. After the show I approached him to tell him that I came from a broken home and that the Dead had probably saved my life. His eyes welled up with tears as I told him my story, and he talked to me for probably 15 minutes, offering advice and musical insights. In fact, he told me that night that accessing musical telepathy requires listening with your entire being, and the bit from Mingus, except he worded it differently. “You got get out in front of it.” He didn’t explain as he did in this interview. I had to think about it for a while. One of the best moments of my life. Rare that you meet your heroes and they exceed your expectations.
Thanks for being on my life’s journey, what a trip it was.
My favorite bass player of all time.
RIP Phil, your contribution to music & humanity has been immense!
The Grateful Dead wouldnt have been the band it was without Phil Lesh. Its his syncopated, melodic bass playing that makes the Dead's music just pop.
Having Phil around at this point in his career , pretty awesome. He still plays the hell out of the bass
Loved Phil. His contributions to the Dead are immeasurable. He opened minds and brought in sounds and melodies that were exploratory, expansive, exhilarating; sometimes curious and strange. He was fearless. Because of the Dead, I got into all kinds of great music- avant garde Jazz, world, classical, country. He made me fearless too. Thank you Phil ❤️
Phil was open to all music, a real jewel 💎 in the band(s).
Aloha Phil.....Always a Hoot
Love that fucking artist right there...
That man-- in his golden years-- looks so fucking cool; exactly what a musician with the level of skill developed through the years spent creating the completely unique voice he got from those Alembic's in both the GD and PLF, combined with the utter sophistication and sense of wisdom that he exudes, would look like at 84.
Love you Phil, so grateful to have been witness to many of your performances despite my age.
It took them all to be the Grateful Dead. Make no mistakes, all of them.
Yep, it was a group mind phenomenon. Even the deadheads were part of it.
@@5thlevelweb887 " Even the deadheads were part of it."
Yes! and this happens with Phish too... I call it "transpersonal music"!
As a fan from the beginning of both The Grateful Dead and later, Hot Rize, having seen both bands many times, this was very enjoyable and a real surprise. Nick handled it well; Phil opened up a bit and was well spoken. I had the pleasure and honor of speaking with Phil and Bobby Peterson for a while at the San Raphael "office" in the late 70's. I was able to show him some of my artwork and hang out for a wonderful time with my heroes. He was gracious, kind and very intelligent; a great guy. Thanks so much Nick for the opportunity to be with both of you; it's a thrill.
Thank you so much for those kind words + thanks for watching!
I Love Phil's humble approach to engaging the song with his fellow musicians drawing from the "diamond" deep inside the soul
Let there be songs to Phil the air.
thanks for coming Phil. this must have been sometime during the shows in Boulder. thanks eTown.
Great interview/conversation, Nick! Thank you! Phil was my all-time favorite electric bass player. I am 80, and the Grateful Dead was one of my favorite bands. It is not for nothing the Deadheads followed them. They had a magical way of unlocking the Infinite for anybody who wanted to hear. Thanks again!
There were moments when then took you with them out on the hunt for the muse over the hills and far away but they always got you home .God bless you Phill buckle up and fly straight x
An extremely gifted amazing mind has left us.
I did acid with Phil, Jerry,Billy and Bear pigpen and Ramrod at my first show in 1971 when I asked Jerry if I could sit behind the amps and he said yes. Bear was dropping liquid acid on the back of people’s hands
and I stuck my hand out and he put four big drops on the back of my hand and I licked it off. Bear even hooked me up with his local dealer,
and I began selling his acid. I still miss Jerry and now Phil died . Over the years I have been in touch with Bob. I would always go to rat dog shows and find his bus and whited till they would leave the bus and stay hello and shake his hand and sometimes he he would take me in
and let me sit behind the amps. I met my wife at a show so thank you
Jerry and Phil and everyone that enabled the Dead to do their thing and everyone thank you very much ❤️⚡️🎸⚡️
That is so cool what show was that ????
Excellent interviewer.
A great musician who also wrote a fascinating book about his musical life with the Dead.
Dead-Head since 1971 when I first saw them at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester NY at the ripe old age of 16.
Love Phil. I can remember my first experience listening to music on the radio in the 60s and being almost confused by it. To hear something so concrete, but not be able to touch it. I imagined it being like a moving boquet of textures that flowed like a river. My parents encouraged me to listen to music but purchasing instruments or taking lessons was always out of reach. In my 20s I was given a drumset and played for many years in many very bad to average bands. I raised two boys and bought them many many instruments and they both are great musicians! I now play bass at 58 yo and Phil is one of my favorite bass players.
Big love for Phil ❤ Appreciate this interview Nick ..
Phil is one of the great men of the 20th and 21st centuries. God Bless Him!
Phil is not only my favorite bassists, but my favorite musician. The first time I heard the studio version of Sugar Magnolia, I was blown away by his style. Been a huge fan ever since.
Rest easy 💔 thanks again 🙏 😊
"I think I may be recording things for the afterlife." What a beautiful way of looking at when the music is playing itself any you're listening while playing. I love that!
I enjoy listening to him talk. Lots of fun. Thank you.
Perfect ! Blessings and grace to all !
🙂👍🏻! Love you, Phil! Thank you for being! ☮️❤️🎼
❤️⚡️💙🌈✨
Man I dig that man! Thank you Phil!
For me he just explained "such a long long time to be gone and a short time to be there.!! joyful Phil we than you for all!
Thanks for this Nick! Having just 'telepathed' with Phil after his passing, I am intrigued with his comments about 'witnessing' and 'making notes for the afterlife'. Obviously he was thinking about his upcoming transition by 2023, if not earlier. Other commentators here may find this an outrageous claim, but I am a lifelong psychic/ medium and have interacted with a number of musicians that way.
This was amazing. Thank you all !
Love ya Phil! Not Fade Away
✨🧙🏾♂️✨
wow thanks for that interview! amazing
Thanks for watching!
So grateful for Phil
Phil Lesh ❤
Very good, heart warming interview
. reminds me of why I loved pbs as a child, suddenly hearing the Dr. Who original 70’s sonic openers , my explore sound always exciting .
💛Yo Phil Babe! .... I had a notion during a glance at The Titan Sub ride, the carbon fiber 5 inch layering over the metal of sort mix upon cracking up the carbon fiber actual then takes on water and weight like putting on a thick sweater and submerging in water my training kicked in as I visioned the experience "Sink like a Stone, Float like a Feather", was realized as if it was the first and only time I had spent on that dive....... As the buoyancy release mechanism, failed from the added weight of wet sweater, as I imagine the Titan Sub and passengers were perhaps within that certain time space in concert suspended "Sink like a stone, float like a feather" the numbers of 18 & 22 was activated in degrees days hours dates absolute as I witnessed in mind I immediately saw a vid with just Morning Dew date 6/18/83 @ SPAC....I haven't played with the numbers, however I saw that the 18 and 22 were there and responsible!.... Like to hear others sights!.... Thinking of Dew's....."Can't walk you out in the morning dew my honey" nuclear new clear nu clear💛
Dude was so nervous but Phil carried him thru ❤
Does anyone know what Phil’s belief was on the afterlife ? That’s really cool that he mentioned reading the Bible to his grandmother. Does he talk about his faith or beliefs in his book? Anyone? Thank you!
When Robert Hunter passed away Phil wrote a heartfelt message that included this, 'when my time comes I'll be looking for you (Hunter) and Jerry out there in the transitive nightfall of diamonds'. Sounds like he believed there was an afterlife.
@ thank you for your reply!
What a pleasure to hear Phil interviewed by someone who knows music. The most interesting question for me would be, how did you go from being an avant-garde classical guy to being the deads bassist… How did your earlier musical career affect the way you played base with the dead?
Thanks for watching!
"Wake now, discover that you are the song that the morning brings" Thanks Phil. Rest easy my teacher...
There were two lead guitar players in the Grateful Dead
Who was the other one?
@@hollowpoint45acp Phil was the other lead guitar player
@@chrisrobertson9264 this comment made me gigglesnort cause it was so damn true
One of the most unique bass players ever
R.I P Phil .Such a long long time to be gone and a short time to be there . Shine On Phil😪
massive respect of his approach plus a half century ago, his "tone" was one of power and beauty - sat apart from other players - partly due to wideband pickups and the Alembic approach to electronics and guitar tech. That tone imo has not been surpassed even to today - maybe not matched due to his marvelous playing.
"I tried not to play while the other guys were playing. In other words, I tried to stagger my entrances so that it created a rhythmic relationship between the kick drum and the bass..." Great self-definition of how he plays!
❤🔥🙏🏽
At age 81, recovering from recent back surgery, on Labor Day that year, on the stage of his Restaurant and music Venue, 'Terrapin Crossing' - Phil Lesh sat and read to children from two books recently released by friends, authors of those children's books. He graciously stood for a photograph with me before he climbed the stairs to the outdoor stage… there, surrounded by musicians not yet conceived when he first met Jerry Garcia and began his musical journey, the tall personification of the age of love, smiled and supported the beat of the music, as 60 year old twirlers danced at his feet, children played in the grass at the feet of their 30 something parents… exposed as several generations before had been exposed to the siren tones of this Peter Pan… Yes Yes Yes, who will deny it was "…a long strange trip" but one of shared joy and love. Rest in peace; I was a traveler who rode your wake, forever grateful for your being. Best wishes to all those who were close to your heart. and knew your love and support..So So Sorry you had to end...
a legend. looks like the old man's gettin' on.
❤
I never understood why jazz snobs would praise Jaco without mentioning Phil, he really was a titan of electric bass.
I wish he let Phil answer the jamming pitfalls question!
Grateful Dead was going no where without Billy. He is the most important musician on stage. The most important phone call Jerry made was to Billy. Billy is drastically underrated, most under appreciated drummers in music. I have transcribed many of the so called great drummers and NOT ONE OF THEM DO WHAT BILLY DOES, NONE. He is unmatched. Billy is the greatest drumset player ever.
I was of the understanding that he’s an Ass…
Huh
@@jessewagner9362 glad you agree
sir, this is a Wendy's.
Yes, the original quintet Warlocks/GD sound was heavily reliant on the drumming of Billy. But as things progressed through the years, notably when they became the greatest improvisational rock and roll band of the time--after only 3-4 years together!--when Phil was on the band was on. He and Jerry's notes intertwining formed that "sandworm in heat" sound...the man was a god in the early years and up until the end. And he had even more career peaks from like 2001-2006 when it comes to his playing and mastering of his instrument.
With much sorrow, I am uploading a cover of Box Of Rain at this very moment. It should be online in a few minutes.
th-cam.com/video/h0iDpTDnTkM/w-d-xo.html
RIP Phil
The secret to the Grateful Dead was the triumvirate. Jerry, Phil, and Billy. You couldn't have substituted anyone for any of those three.
Absolutely. Phil, Jerry and Bobby were the core of the band, and although every other member contributed to the whole, those three were the ones that were essential in creating their identity.
Lol, leaving Bob out of that equation is revisionist history. Not just his playing, but singing and songwriting. I love billy,but you could replace him way before bob lol, ya'll are just bob haters makin it obvious
@@matthewmaurysmith2486 Not really. Hardly a Bob "hater". I saw Bobby and the Midnites three times, and enjoyed them.
At one point Bob and Pigpen were considered for being excused from the band. At that point he could have been replaced, but with the years that followed he contributed more as a songwriter and singer, thus cementing his spot. Billy, on the other hand, anchored that rhythm, especially after Micky's departure in '71.
Billy is one of the most underrated drummers, but if you watch him as the solo drummer during those years it was apparent he'd have been right for accompanying anyone on the level of Miles Davis, or John Coltrane. The man could SWING. One of the greatest compliments I could pay Billy is he made it look easy, when in fact, it was anything but.
This is a good point. I love Bobby. Honestly i think he's almost a sideshow to Jerry, but the Dead wouldn't be the same without Bobby's best songs and his rhythm playing, not to mention killer harmonies. The rock star stuff was overkill. Maybe that was for the ladies and gay brethren. 😊
@@matthewmaurysmith2486weir is completely superfluous to the band's existence, so much so he was fired -- and not missed
😢😢😢
Man, Phil is getting old. Still very sharp though. Always great to hear his perspective
Not "getting" old; he IS old -- 83 to be exact. But happy to see he's still active. BTW, Jerry would be 81 now.
He has become so frail and weak so rapidly. Hang in there, Phil!
Mike Gordons questions sucked.
@Nick Forster - You talk too much and listen too little.
Seeing Phil is like seeing phamily.
RIP Phil
RIP Phil