eTown Solar Sessions - Interview with Phil Lesh

[@notme1453]

It took them all to be the Grateful Dead. Make no mistakes, all of them.

[@5thlevelweb887]

Yep, it was a group mind phenomenon. Even the deadheads were part of it.

[@matthewmaurysmith2486]

Having Phil around at this point in his career , pretty awesome. He still plays the hell out of the bass

[@jdf237]

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.

[@willmartin1837]

I was of the understanding that he’s an Ass…

[@jessewagner9362]

Huh

[@jdf237]

@@jessewagner9362 glad you agree

[@marksmither2]

sir, this is a Wendy's.

[@mindleft-buddy999]

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.

[@agear2]

What a gentle and humble genius....the glue that invisibly bound them together musically. His fragility is very obvious now.

[@bokehintheussr5033]

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.

[@Hayden-sp1ol]

Aloha Phil.....Always a Hoot

[@HockeyDudeJames]

My favorite bass player of all time.

[@bluewolf5925]

Let there be songs to Phil the air.

[@johnnytoobad7785]

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.

[@mindleft-buddy999]

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.

[@mauilogic1679]

💛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💛

[@desmondsgarage]

a legend. looks like the old man's gettin' on.

[@namcat53]

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.

[@eTownRadioShow]

Thank you so much for those kind words + thanks for watching!

[@spritelysprite]

Love ya Phil! Not Fade Away ✨🧙🏾‍♂️✨

[@paulkeniston5699]

I Love Phil's humble approach to engaging the song with his fellow musicians drawing from the "diamond" deep inside the soul

[@KarmaMechanic988]

He has become so frail and weak so rapidly. Hang in there, Phil!

[@chrisrobertson9264]

There were two lead guitar players in the Grateful Dead

[@hollowpoint45acp]

Who was the other one?

[@chrisrobertson9264]

@@hollowpoint45acp Phil was the other lead guitar player

[@c.johnston4768]

thanks for coming Phil. this must have been sometime during the shows in Boulder. thanks eTown.

[@gratefulFabi]

wow thanks for that interview! amazing

[@eTownRadioShow]

Thanks for watching!

[@paulferranti8536]

I never understood why jazz snobs would praise Jaco without mentioning Phil, he really was a titan of electric bass.

[@DaveFrank]

Phil is one of the great men of the 20th and 21st centuries. God Bless Him!

[@mcdaniels6188]

The secret to the Grateful Dead was the triumvirate. Jerry, Phil, and Billy. You couldn't have substituted anyone for any of those three.

[@babazoso]

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.

[@matthewmaurysmith2486]

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

[@mcdaniels6188]

@@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.

[@Simonfrios]

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. 😊

[@hollowpoint45acp]

​@@matthewmaurysmith2486weir is completely superfluous to the band's existence, so much so he was fired -- and not missed

[@joeryan1369]

I enjoy listening to him talk. Lots of fun. Thank you.

[@brianmcglade8164]

Perfect ! Blessings and grace to all !

[@hieronymous7]

"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!

[@josephsaunders8618]

Dude was so nervous but Phil carried him thru ❤

[@karlsonkab51]

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.

[@VirginiaRe]

Phil Lesh ❤

[@mitchellcollins6142]

Man I dig that man! Thank you Phil!

[@brianwalkosz9567]

This was amazing. Thank you all !

[@pauleandersonmusic]

"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!

[@yardarm5]

. 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 .

[@iamtheoceanr]

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.

[@bradynorris1653]

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.

[@sgg6927]

One of the most unique bass players ever

[@bar0756]

Very good, heart warming interview

[@ericgraham9617]

So grateful for Phil

[@Simonfrios]

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?

[@eTownRadioShow]

Thanks for watching!

[@JXY2019]

Man, Phil is getting old. Still very sharp though. Always great to hear his perspective

[@lisica8458]

Not "getting" old; he IS old -- 83 to be exact. But happy to see he's still active. BTW, Jerry would be 81 now.

[@LoudmanSpeaks]

Seeing Phil is like seeing phamily.