The Legacy of Phil Lesh and His Advocacy for Organ Donation
The Grateful Dead, along with its numerous successors and offshoots, gained a reputation for their unique ability to ensure that no two concerts were ever the same. They continually revamped their set lists with each performance. However, since the late 1990s, there was one consistent feature at nearly every show involving the original bassist, Phil Lesh, who sadly passed away at the age of 84. This hallmark was not a song, but rather a heartfelt monologue delivered by Lesh, imploring the audience to consider becoming organ donors.
This important message was deeply personal for him. In 1998, at the age of 58, Lesh faced a life-threatening situation due to chronic hepatitis C, which led him to receive a life-saving liver transplant. He often expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’m only alive today because a man named Cody decided he wanted to be an organ donor. He did it in the simplest way possible: He turned to someone he loved and who loved him and said, ‘Hey, if anything happens to me, I’d like to be an organ donor.’”
In a 2002 interview with Relix magazine, Lesh articulated the importance of this decision: “If you need an organ, or if someone you love needed one and one was available, would you accept it? Of course you would. Well, fair is fair. If you’re willing to accept it, then you should be willing to be a donor as well.”
Lesh’s transplant occurred just three years after the passing of Jerry Garcia, another founding member of the Grateful Dead. Lesh firmly believed that the transplant not only saved his life but also empowered him to embark on an extensive touring schedule for decades to come with bands like Furthur and his own ensemble, Phil Lesh and Friends.
The pre-encore speech became such a staple at his concerts that fans and websites dedicated to tracking set lists for Lesh’s performances often noted it as “Donor Rap” or “Phil’s Donor Rap.”
In a notable event six years ago, Phil Lesh and Friends performed a benefit concert for the American Transplant Foundation at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Denver, commemorating the 20th anniversary of Lesh’s transplant. Anastasia Henry, the foundation’s executive director, reflected on Lesh’s unwavering commitment: “We didn’t need to sell him on anything. He had zero requirements — very simple.”
During the encore, which featured captivating renditions of “Fire on the Mountain” and the beloved Lesh-penned Grateful Dead classic “Box of Rain,” Lesh once again delivered his donor rap. In a poignant moment, he referred to his liver donor solely by his first name, emphasizing that he was not the only person whose life was transformed by Cody’s decision to donate. “Me and Cody,” he remarked, “have had a great relationship for 20 years.”