Grateful Dead Bassist Phil Lesh Launches ‘Darkstarathon’ Project

Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh has a new project in the works called the “Darkstarathon.” Lesh announced “Darkstarathon” from his recently launched Terrapin Clubhouse YouTube Channel.

“Dark Star” was among the Grateful Dead’s signature psychedelic rock improvisation vehicles, responsible for many of the band’s most exploratory and ambitious jams. Lesh was integral in working with producer John Oswald on the 1994 album Grayfolded, which utilized Oswald’s “plunderphonics” technique to create seamless versions of “Dark Star” out of live recordings from 1968 through 1993.

Here’s what the 83-year-old Lesh said about “Darkstarathon,” which has its own separate YouTube Channel:

“Hey now! Welcome to the ‘Darkstarathon!’ What is a ‘Darkstarathon,’ you may ask? I will be collaborating with many musical friends to create a “Dark Star” that pauses but never ends. Each band will pick up where the last band left off and it will be a living breathing infinite piece of music. If you’re as crazy about this sort of thing as I am, please subscribe to the channel and join us on this journey. I promise to make it weird.”

Along with the “Darkstarathon” channel, Lesh revealed a third YouTube Channel called the Clubhouse Sessions that will feature the bassist performing with a variety of musicians. Lesh is also slated to premiere The Phil Zone Podcast. View Lesh’s recent announcements below: