Phish Pays Tribute to Phil Lesh With Cover of Grateful Dead’s ‘Box of Rain’

Phish remembered Phil Lesh during the opening concert of the group’s fall tour.

Hours after Lesh’s death on Friday (Oct. 25), the jam band legends paid tribute to the late bassist with a cover of the Grateful Dead‘s “Box of Rain” at MVP Arena in Albany, N.Y.

The performance marked the first time Phish has covered “Box of Rain.” Guitarist Trey Anastasio previously played the 1970 track with Lesh during one of the Grateful Dead’s Fare Thee Well shows in 2015, according to Rolling Stone.

Watch Phish’s cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Box of Rain” here.

Lesh, a founding member and longtime bassist for the Grateful Dead, passed away Friday at the age of 84. As one of the co-founders and longest-tenured members of the group, he was an essential part of a group that became synonymous with touring and live performance in rock music.

No cause of death was given at the time of publication.

Prior to Phish’s concert, Anastasio shared a heartfelt remembrance to Lesh, whom he shared the stage with on various occasions.

“Phil was more than a revolutionary, groundbreaking bass player—he transformed how I thought about music as a teenager,” Anastasio wrote on Instagram. “I have countless memories of standing in awe, listening to his winding, eloquent bass lines blending seamlessly with Jerry and Bobby’s guitars, Brent Mydland’s keys, and the thunderous drums of Billy and Mickey. I’m so grateful for those beautiful memories.”

Grateful Dead will be honored as the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year. The 34th annual Persons of the Year benefit gala will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, two nights before the 67th annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena.