The surviving members of the Grateful Dead have shared the bittersweet news that they were in talks for a 60th-anniversary reunion before the passing of their legendary bassist and co-founder, Phil Lesh.
Lesh, who helped shape the sound of the San Francisco band, passed away in October at the age of 84. The heartbreaking announcement described his final moments as peaceful, surrounded by family and love.
In an emotional interview with CBS This Morning, Bobby Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart reflected on their plans to reunite with Lesh for the milestone occasion. The bandmates revealed they had even penciled in time to rehearse. “I was hoping that we could play with him again one more time,” Kreutzmann shared. “That was my sadness… I know he wanted to play with us again too.”
Weir added, “We were kickin’ it around. In fact, we were gonna get together and kick some songs around tomorrow.” The reunion, while unconfirmed, was an idea the band had begun to explore seriously. “We were gonna see where it goes. But we were just gonna play the four of us,” Weir said wistfully.
The Grateful Dead’s enduring legacy continues to resonate with fans and the music industry. Next month, the band will be honored at the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors, a fitting tribute to a group that forever changed the landscape of rock music.
Photo: Herb Greene
