After Jerry's death, Phil had many troubles of his own. In 1998, Phil had a liver transplant due to a chronic hepatitis C infection. In 2006, he had surgery for prostate cancer. Since then, he has been doing good. In 2005 he published a book "Searching for the Sound: My Life with the Grateful Dead." Also, along with his wife Jill, he continues to run his charitable organization the Unbroken Chain Foundation. Phil continued to dab in the music here and there with The Other Ones and The Dead. However, Phil officially formed his band Phil Lesh Quintet (PLQ) on December 30, 2000.
The band eventually evolved into Phil and Friends. Although many guests including former GD members have sat in, the band currently consist of Phil, Jackie Greene, Larry Campbell, John Molo, and Steve Molitz. Waren Haynes continues to step in and out with them as well. P & F channels the Grateful Dead, but with only one drummer. They have put out three albums: Love Will See You Through (1999 - before an official band announcement), There and Back Again (2002) which featured many original songs, and Live at the Warfield (2006).
| Grateful Dead | Bob Weir | Bill Kreutzman | Mickey Hart |
Justin Dignan