Thank God I lived at the same time as the Grateful Dead.

Turning 80 in a few months. Survived a liver transplant, prostate cancer & bladder cancer. And still looks & acts pretty damn healthy! What a great bass player. I feel fortunate to have seen GD play twice (‘89 & ‘93).

@andyiwanski939

3 жыл бұрын

Full head of hair at 80

@apesmalink

3 жыл бұрын

What a guy. He’s one reason I’ve always loved the GD. I admire him and he’s someone I would enjoy talking with. Hardly seems like he’s old but age suits him too.

@jeremymoorer7033

3 жыл бұрын

He forgot, WSMFP

@stonejackballer482

3 жыл бұрын

Phils bass takes eery GD song to another level.

@donjames150

3 жыл бұрын

Don't you mean you feel "grateful"?

This is the best description of The Dead’s music I think I’ve ever heard even from Garcia or Hunter.

Phil is one of the greatest rock bassists ever. I've always considered him to be the Hendrix of rock bassists in the sense that he showed other rock bassists what was possible on the instrument. Plus, his tone is just sublime.

@jondavid3641

2 жыл бұрын

And he doesn’t get the respect or appreciation in the wider rock community that he should.

@jwardbass4452

2 жыл бұрын

No one plays like him at all. Completely unique and a one-off talent. Same can be said for the other members but Lesh stands out in the bass world

@benringenberg2394

2 жыл бұрын

​@@jondavid3641 true, but he is a God in the dead community, and I'm pretty sure that is more than enough for him. I love Phil, very intelligent as well as being an amazing musician.

@jamesball5743

2 жыл бұрын

Phil sucks, easily replaced.

@InService77

Жыл бұрын

My favorite musician for the last 40 years

I really enjoy hearing Phil talk. It's beautiful and intelligent on so many levels.

Phil is such a smart guy. Arguably the second most important member in fashioning the Dead’s music behind Jerry.

"opened my skull and rearranged my brains". saying things like that is another reason why this guy is so cool.

@stevefinger

6 жыл бұрын

That phrase hit me as well when i heard it

@jerroldrichards4084

4 жыл бұрын

Brahms First Symphony. Those who have not heard it, I sort of envy, because you can only hear it the first time once. OK, Brahms and Clara Schumann ... inquiring fans really, really, really would like to know, especially about that sort-of chaperoned visit to Switzerland.

@jgfunk

4 жыл бұрын

He has more than one brain... Knew he was a genius!

@tiredcaballero

3 жыл бұрын

Cool sayings and some deep bass thumps. Phil is blessed

@jivadaya6439

3 жыл бұрын

This man rearranged my brain at different times, not sure what to say

Jerry, Bob, Phil, and Bill really stand out from most other "rock" musicians with how widely read they are and how articulate they are about discussing their music. Very rare, like the Dead's music itself.

@mikec6733

10 ай бұрын

Yes. Owsley Stanley said that he was really impressed that one band had so many members that could intelligently discuss such a wide range of ideas.

@stephenfitzpatrick3031

3 ай бұрын

Very rare and unique . I'm an old man now and so so grateful .

The Mythical Ethical Icicle Tricicle.

What a grate musician & memory because he met me in 1978 , knew me immediately & took me & my niece into the backstage area on Mother’s Day in 1980 , my dream came true plus he asked me y I didn’t use my name to get in but I told him I wasn’t ready until that time !

Phil's the best. I met him at a blood drive in Philly and made him laugh when I asked to see his scar. He said, 'You wanna see my scar?' then stood and lifted up his shirt and said 'Cool, huh?.' I said 'Gnarly' and shook his hand. Friggen love that guy

@beaulyons1977

Жыл бұрын

This is great 🌹

" I got an invitation to join a band " . Man , didn't we all , ( and most grateful ) . I'm 70 and a half now and some of my most enjoyable moments are when I pick a Grateful Dead track on you tube and play along in my own way . Thank you Grateful Dead .

I love Phil. He's a nerd, and I LOVE nerds! ❤❤❤ I miss dancing in The Phil Zone 🎉

National Treasure: Phil Lesh

One of the most creative musicians that ever lived.

@andrewmair7371

4 жыл бұрын

Big call… 🙄 😑 🦆

@jake42ner

4 жыл бұрын

Yep never played songs the same way twice

@bunnybeckman8029

Жыл бұрын

Except for Jerry of course , he is the best at what he did but they all had their own creative sides ! Still love the Gratefuldead !

Wonderful to hear Phil speaking about the creative process in music composition and about music in general. His early musical training and his knowledge of classical music have given him both range and depth not universally characteristic of popular musicians. There is so much intelligence in that face.

@chrisb45577

5 жыл бұрын

As an old (61) Deadhead, I do believe that classical music will always be more popular than the Dead.

@MdMaynard

2 жыл бұрын

Very well said Noe. So enjoyable to listen to this. Thank you to the uploader as well.

He's a great bass player. When I saw the Dead numerous times I was just so into Jerry I overlooked Phil but now I can appreciate his playing much more. Wonderful

What an amazing intellectual human being Phil is. Gift from the gods. Keep on helping us "get it"! Magical stuff right here.

Phil is one of my fave bassists. I love his syncopations and how he uses a lot of different scale tones.

@arbogash1852

4 жыл бұрын

His tone is absolutely amazing on American Beauty

@morganthomas5934

3 жыл бұрын

Arbo Gash if you listen to the Good Old Grateful Dead podcast, either the sugar magnolia or candy man one, it breaks the tracks down and explains that the bass was done by running it through 2 channels to make it sound thicker

Read Phil’s book “searching for the sound” good stuff

@fernandobolanos1649

3 жыл бұрын

Is better than the Bill?

@tiredcaballero

3 жыл бұрын

Only book I've ever finished

@freedomworks3976

3 жыл бұрын

@@fernandobolanos1649 no Bills book was better , but both are real good

@fernandobolanos1649

3 жыл бұрын

@@freedomworks3976 i read the amazon advance of Bill's book and got me, the Phil's book was boring

@commontater8630

3 жыл бұрын

If you like Phil in this interview, *definitely* read his book!

Couldn't have said it better myself...!!!

He was always my favorite in the band (Jerry a close second). Like Phil, a violinist who took up bass to play in rock bands, I found Phil's musical approach and mentality to be the flexible glue that brought the band's sound to life, and kept it fresh as it continued to grow. He's one of the greatest bass guitarists ever. On April 1, 2000 (no fooling), I bumped hard into Phil at a Giants ballgame, as he left the concession stand with two hot dogs (one for him and one for a young man who might have been a grandson). "John Coltrane and Charles Ives" --- yes!

@Preston_McKnight

2 жыл бұрын

That definitely would’ve been his son

Lived in Eugene and the Bay Area. Late 60's. The Dead were always visiting Kesey. When they came to town people would appear from nowhere. Good people. I remember Mr. Lesh well. A straight ahead, no bluff master of the bass. None like him. Great of you to bring back the memories

The true genius in this band,it was hard for me to stop listening to him in the shows I attended trying to listen to them as a unit,Phil sounded like that interview, full of creativity and inspiration,and at the same time always in a dialogue with the others, listening carefully to what they were doing and responding brilliantly, thank you Phil for all what you brought.

Phil's last line is sublime. Peace.

What amazes me is that he was 75 at the time of this interview, but he looks great, easily 20 years younger than he is.

The things he starts saying around 11:37 are profound. I think anyone who loves the Dead has intuitively picked up on the idea of them tapping into something bigger and channeling it through their instruments.

@alfreddorsey8916

Жыл бұрын

Phil is one of a kind.

@GizzyDillespee

Жыл бұрын

@@alfreddorsey8916 His evil twin plays treble

@cyrusdubash3097

9 ай бұрын

Yes! I knew it's from on high!

Love Phil, incredibly smart and an amazing bass player. The musical convos between him and Jerry make the Dead special

I read somewhere Phil felt under appreciated for his role in the creative process of the dead- not to anyone who has unclogged ears. Brilliantly inventive player.

@bustermot

3 жыл бұрын

I have to admit that I under appreciated Phil. First there was Jerry and then Bob and then Pigpen then Donna. Jk. But really I just think Phil was sidelined by the music press. I feel like bassists often are. Now I see him for what he is. Super cool and every bit his band mates equal.

@WinkLinkletter

Жыл бұрын

I started to really deliberately listen to his bass genius when I saw "The Phil Zone" Twilight Zone font bumper stickers.

Phil looks awsome !

What a fantastic job of clearly explaining something intangible. Go Phil!

It's interesting listening to him describe being lost inside of the music. The audience and the band feeding off each other, reaching new heights.

What a thoroughly nice,articulate guy he is. He really gets to the heart of what the Dead were about.Love em all!

Really the anchor and sophisticate of the band.

Great interview with hyper articulate Phil. His reference to Ives is spot on amazing. He makes the case for music in all forms about as well as a human can.

Wow. Yeah. Phil lays it out for us here. Such a genius. He articulates the various eras of the bands progression in such an elegant way. Thanks for sharing.

Great interview, Phil is an excellent storyteller.....this guy is a musical genius!

Very glad I got to share the time and space on this Earth with this band. Bill Kreutzmann was my main influence in playing the drums.

One of the best explanations of how songs are written. I'm a songwriter and I couldn't have said it better!

This interview only reinforces every reason why Phil is my favorite out of all of them. Great bass, Lesh Phil-ling. Sincerely, an unabashed Phil Head. (And be sure to read his autobiography, Searching For The Sound! It's totally worth it!)

@danmeehan5801

2 жыл бұрын

His book is amazing. Met him at his restaurant.

@kennyschachat

6 ай бұрын

I agree. Reading his autobiography and his descriptions of the Dead's music affirmed and confirmed everything that I had perceived and thought and experienced through their music, going back to when I first heard them play live in 1967 and many other shows and of course on their records. Not surprising of course, but nice to read it in Phil's own words. One of the things that I always like about the Dead was how articulate they are about their music.

Phil's bass took GD music to another level.

Thanks, Grateful Dead. I really needed you guys, and what you were doing. Here it is 2020, and I still do. Sort of like a vitamin, Vitamin Dead, now and then.

@bunnybeckman8029

Жыл бұрын

Good way of putting it that way a dead vitamin ! If I don’t listen to them for a day I’m not me so I have too ! It’s like an addiction ! ❤😅

Excellent interview. One word. Genius....

"I came to a dead end" You certainly did thankfully Phil!! 😝

Phil is still as cool as he was back in his younger days, i think he might be the nicest one out of the bunch

@MrDeadHead69

9 жыл бұрын

david brinkman we have the Same Birthday 03-15-Fish no wonder

@edwardjohnson9841

9 жыл бұрын

david brinkman i might have to agree with you on that one ; )

@andrewprice1467

9 жыл бұрын

david brinkman Met him at Terripan Crossroads a little over a week ago! What a great experience. so nice he took pictures with me and my 2 brothers thanks phil Forever grateful

@gratefulaya192

9 жыл бұрын

yes Phil is awesome and he really loves his fans and people, he is a good soul that deserved to have another chance

@chrishenderson3215

8 жыл бұрын

+david brinkman too cool for school, Walter Cronkite

Great interview Matt. One of my all time hero's telling me his secrets in my living room. Thanks for taking the time to edit and post it.

12:26 "At the best moments, there's nobody there. There's only the music."

Phil's book (Searching for the Sound) on life with the band is the best of reads, gives me energy like this interview.

Phil is the best!!! Was lucky enough to run into him before his Halloween show, in Chicago, circa 2006. (When he was touring w/ Phil & Friends & Bob Dylan) It was only a few minutes, but I got to tell him how much his music meant to me, and shake his hand. Being a bass player also, I was bummed out when I realized, none of his bass playing awesomeness transferred to me via osmosis....

@nankypooh655

2 жыл бұрын

Are you sure that wasn't 2004? They did a three night stint at The Riviera in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago around that time, but I don't recall Phil being in Chicago around 2006.

@markpbetz

2 жыл бұрын

@@nankypooh655 it's very possible. I've always been bad with dates. :) It would take forever to look thru my box of stubs, to find the exact date.

phil always looks like hes super happy when hes playing, just pure jokes through all the sets hahaha

"that's when the audience know's that they got a good one"

Phil is the most well spoken member of this band and clearly has enlightened me as to what the Grateful Dead became and shed more light on how a band forms, particularly his band and their music. I would have loved to have had him as a music teacher, but he is above that now (probably always was meant to be a creator, not a teacher, but would've been a great teacher anyway); I always loved hearing phil's bass when I was tripping. Three River's Stadium in Pittsburgh was special for me for some reason, the acoustics and the seating in the third row on the first tier. I could hear the bass rip through me better there then if I was up in front, and I have been as close to as the 11th row at a dead show. Man I am sorry to disappoint Phil by saying these things, but I wasn't always the most obedient listener, but I was never the guys he hated that hung outside looking for a ticket or looking to simply cash in on the name of the band. There is and never will be a jam band like this one in history and i wish Jerry would've showed up ath the hall of fame and I wish other genres of music would've given the Dead more recognition. Just listen to this man speak and you can tell he knows his shit, he knows music. As Anthony Keidis said of Flea at their induction ceremony,'.....is a true rocker.' Phil Lesh was a the real fucking deal. a real rocker. On bass, he was the link between the heart of Jerry's leads and harmony and Bobby and the drums and percussive aspect of the keys rhythms. The link that made our souls shatter and our minds blown.

@user-sg6ni3wd3v

9 ай бұрын

Well said Paul and I 💯 agree. 😊❤ og deadhead

Imagine if Phil never walked into that record store and found that Warlocks album...how different shit may have turned out

Haha those bands that play the same set list each night. I saw Page- Plant at the Forum, then again a few days later at Irvine. After the 3rd song, I realized it was the same set list. The two venues were 45 minutes away from each other. As the song tapered off, I desperately tried to remember what song came next. Suddenly it came to me. I stood from the top of the grass section and cupped my hands to yell, "SONG REMAINS THE SAME!!!!!" Jimmy Page heard me all the way from the stage and began playing it, as 400 people in front of me all turned around to see who called the song..............

@vladdrakul7851

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah but Page never regained his chops after 1974 or so. But in their best days 1968 to 1974 they too played GREAT improvised sets. Like Garcia, heroin and cocaine killed the creativity as opposed to the Acid pot era. I really like Phil, one of my favorite dead dudes. Much more a Phil than a Bobby guy. The Dead never regained the edge lost by Garcia's 1979 collapse! For me my favorite was the Pig Pen era of 1968 to 1972 and then the Jazz rock Blues for Allah era of 1975 to 1979. I love their best stuff not their mediocre material. True for anyone whose music I love as that is true appreciation. Few artists keep it going on a peak forever. The Doors perhaps but they only lasted 5 years. kd Lang and Bowie and Parliament Funkadelic did maintain great creativity for decades as did Cab Calloway but that is very rare. The Dead had 13 years on top of their game. The Beatles 7!

@erichanhauser3190

4 жыл бұрын

@@vladdrakul7851 Yes, ZEPPELIN was heavy improv in the early days. Hit or miss, when it worked it was magic.

@bend6973

3 жыл бұрын

@@vladdrakul7851 You're kind of of dork. The dead were on fire with Brent keys!

@vladdrakul7851

3 жыл бұрын

@@bend6973 No I am a Dead lover with a different opinion than you and you are a rude immature jerk who starts out replies to music comments with political level insults rather than an argument. Neither impressed or convinced, sorry but Brent was very mediocre IMHO as was the 80's Dead generally. Since my POV is shared by BIll, Phil and Jerry himself when still alive, ( *'the great shows became fewer and far between'* ; I will happily concur while ignoring your rude behavior. *'Peace and love'* my ass, You younger ones never really got it, did you??

@siulumlion

Жыл бұрын

You missed the opportunity to yell "SET REMAINS THE SAME!"

What a fantastic interview!!

WOW ... this interview opened up a whole new understanding of the grateful dead and their success. The most profound thing I learned and know realize is that they each came from such a totally different background of music. That they all where committed to come together and make it work. This in the end is what made the dead so good. ***Diversity + togetherness = WOW *** ... hhhmm maybe there is a political statement there as well oh hey check this out "Make America Grate Again"

When I brought my energy shit was the best. Good times. My favorite Bassist.

Phil is a giving caring ❤ man,my X and I were on tour with the Dead, they added a 3rd show I was standing in an intersection, a limo pulled up, Phil rolled down his window, and Phil handed me 2 tix, it was a miracle, peace and love 💘 Daryl

In a parallel universe, there is no Grateful Dead. Instead there's the Mythical Ethical Icicle Tricycle.

@bobareebop

2 жыл бұрын

We can only hope so!

I heard that eternal music that's constantly playing some where in the cosmos through the Grateful Dead. A very great interview, thanks Phil. I never knew why I liked their music so much, just did, and now I know why because on occasion the Grateful Dead Tapped into that music that reveals the best energy. And then you kind of jones for hearing and feeling it again and again. I never get tired of the listening to The Grateful Dead.

Listening to Phil trying to describe songwriting and performing with the GD reminds me of that line from TMNS, "They're a band beyond description..."

He's talking about audio on the radio from a NY symphony playing Brahms #1 influencing him as a child. Phil's bass, much like JPJ's on the early Zep albums, was a melodic thing that always drew attention away from whatever thoughts were fluttering through my head.

Thanks for posting this !!!

He played at the Oregon County Fair this last July. He had a list of demands before he'd agree to play. One of them was his own personal water flushing toilet LOL I don't blame him.

@reeceschrock396

4 жыл бұрын

What elese

@zurieljoshua

4 жыл бұрын

The dude is 80. He should have a flushing toilet.

@noahachrem

3 жыл бұрын

I was there! Good time!

Great interview, thanks! Just saw Philand the Terrapin Family Band in Minnesota and it was great!

Creating community...Joseph Campbell, the late mythologist who turned on so many people through his interviews with David Moyers and books, after attending a Grateful Dead concert, said, "This is a wonderful fervent loss of self in the larger self of a homogeneous community. This is what it is all about !" It's just beginning to dawn on the general populace that "our" strength doesn't come from military might or economic superiority. It's our "cohesion" that creates real strength. The Grateful Dead created cohesion among people living or trying out an alternative lifestyle to the morass of greed, fear and ignorance. Thank goodness they knew to record their music. "The first days are the hardest days, don't you worry any more..."

Great interview, thanks for this. Phil, please do more long form interviews, documentaries, etc. Perspective is enhanced when context is given to varied aspects of the experience. Glad we once shook hands at the Tattered Cover bookstore in Denver. ~Peace~

Such a huge part of my life forever. Tapped the eternal consciousness and brought us in. What else can one ask for.

We want Phil! We want Phil!

Jon Anderson of Yes had a band with his brother called The Warlocks before Yes.

@allencollins6031

3 жыл бұрын

Didn't know that

Fantastic interview, Lesh's understanding of music is beautiful

So happy to hear Phil say at 12:36 what I’ve been saying for many years to the uninitiated...To really get the full experience of a Greatful Dead show.....”You Can’t Be There”!!!.....The Zen guys are always making the same point but about life in general. Thank You Greatful Dead🙏

Cool grandmother story thank you very much well done very relaxed very informative historical and why I love the music and the communion community thank you Phil long may you run

Great interview, Matt. I've had the pleasure of hanging a bit with Phil over the years and he's always be a fascinating guy much less a sublime musician. Lots of fun and enthusiasm in this interview for anyone who is new to the GD story. Always good to hear Phil's perspective on anything.

@Erik_1538

7 жыл бұрын

v32unes Suuuuure...

So True, Phil ! I felt that from the very first shows I attended. ...To find out now, that was their intention ? That's why they are such a gift...

He is so so cool. Go see Phil lesh people where ever u can.

ROCK!! Foi muita viagem, caro LESH.

How can Phil have hair that good in his 70's?!...Doesn't seem fair...

@markherman9067

3 жыл бұрын

Traded a liver

@boopah4365

3 жыл бұрын

@@markherman9067 That's a no-brainer....where do I sign up?

right on Phil. thank you

What a wonderful interview. It's fantastic for me to discover how articulate and insightful Phil is. How great that Phil was really into Ives. It totally makes sense. Another tidbit I learned- Crosby and Nash helped the GD with songwriting and singing harmonies.

@daviddemar8749

3 жыл бұрын

@@humanbeing5300 Fascinating to know I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the info🌷⚘🥀😊👍

@jsoon71

3 жыл бұрын

@@daviddemar8749 Give the recent Good Ol' Grateful Deadcast a listen, particularly the recent episodes related to American Beauty. There are extended segments with both Crosby and Nash talking about hanging and working with the Dead in those days. Both state unequivocally that they didn't "help" the Dead with their vocal arrangements or their songwriting. Jerry, Hunter and the rest of the guys knew what they were doing. Influenced (particularly on the vocals), certainly, but "helped" implies that they worked with them on the vocal arrangements or the song construction, which doesn't sound accurate, based on interviews, etc. Also, Crosby is listed as the producer on his first solo record, not Jerry. Jerry spent a lot of time at the studio with Crosby and plays guitar and pedal steel on a number of tracks (Phil, Billy, and Micky also appear on several tracks). Crosby talks about all of this at length on the podcast I mentioned. It's really interesting stuff.

@daviddemar8749

3 жыл бұрын

@@jsoon71 I will follow up on this . Thank you for the time and effort you spent on this comment. It is the type of " epistle " that I often post and is qualitatively and quantitatively above and beyond the juvenile stuff that passes for communication amongst adults in the digital age in which we now live. I really appreciate it. P.S. If you dont already play an instrument, I invite you to try doing it. It is never to late to start. I've been a hobbyist-guitarist off and on since 1970 when I was ten. It's clear that you love listening to great music. I can tell you that based on decades of my experience, actually making music is way way way more enjoyable than "just" listening to it. Keep rocking🎼🎶🎵🎶👍🇺🇸🎸

@jsoon71

3 жыл бұрын

@@daviddemar8749 Yeah, no problem, man. Easy to come off like a jerk on the internet, so glad that wasn't your impression of my comment. I've gone on a bit of a Dead biography binge during Covid, as well as listening to various podcasts. It's a really interesting story, and, obviously, I love the music. I do play the guitar semi-competently, and I agree, it is pretty rewarding. Take care, man.

Love this 🌹

Wonderful said - THX Phil

there was a fountain that was not made by the hand of man: "Wow thats a goosebump lyric" Phil Lesh

@jerroldrichards4084

4 жыл бұрын

There is a fountain. Is.

@jimcross7686

10 ай бұрын

That lyric from Box Of Rain is still one of my favorite of theGrateful Dead. This song is one the best of the band’s songs.

Happy Birthday. Phil Bass grate Lesh Philling

Great interview 🌹

Phil is a True-Gem!

🌳 I had a dream once with Phil Lesh where he showed me some new futuristic jazz-electronica 🍇 Which definitely increased my respect for him, made me see him in a different light 🌻

Still has that twinkle of musical adventure in his eye......AND more than a little mischief!

Box of Rain is Phil ..still love his sonic booms on bass when I listen to those killer shows

Jerry found Grateful Dead in a random book. That is awesome!!!

@mikeyj.3605

3 жыл бұрын

As Phil says here he backed Jerry on that name and the momentum pushed it through.

@nankypooh655

2 жыл бұрын

Actually, it is most likely that he found the definition of "Grateful Dead" in The Funk and Wagnalls' Encyclopedia of Mythology and Folklore. If you've never heard of it, yes, it IS a real book, and gives a thorough description of the term/definition Grateful Dead. It is believed that not only the term/phrase, but the actual definition itself is the reason why he chose the name. It really resonated with him. I won't go into details or give the definition, so I encourage you seek out a copy of the book and read it for yourself. Pretty cool stuff.

The Warlocks Phil is speaking of most likely on the 45 was and became ZZ Top who had recorded a single around that time as the Warlocks. I don't think it was the Velvet Underground (Warlocks) whom hadn't recorded yet and wouldn't have had a record on the west coast anyway if they had.

@lilacrain3283

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting! It had always puzzled me when I heard stories about them changing their name since the Velvet Underground never put out an album as the Warlocks, as you said

I've been enjoying David Bowie interviews on youtube recently watching Phil's mouth as he talks and pauses to ponder in this here, there are many moments when their smiles are the same

Love this guy

Thanks for the JAZZ aspect within the G. Deads music

Really great interview, Phil is very intelligent on a musical level. Still my favorite Dead member after Jerry.

Phil is ADORABLE!

This is f*cking golden!

love your sounds from winterland recording s sir!Derek sincerely frog took music theory,didn't much for on drums but made tablets of keyboard,scales, and cords and how relate!

the deads music has all ways been good aaaaaand makes you happy

an amazing human being