The original 5 members of the Grateful Dead in 1965 were Jerry Garcia - Vocals, Lead Guitar, Bob Weir - Vocals, Rythm Guitar, Phil Lesh - Bass, Ron (Pigpen) McKernan - Keyboar
…ds and Bill Kreutzmann - Drums. In '67 Mickey Hart - Drums was added to the band. From '68 to '70 Pigpen was replaced by Tom Constanten. Pigpen Returned in '70 and again left the band under the advice of his doctor and was replaced by Kieth Godchaux, the husband of back-up vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux (Donna the Bufallo). Pigpen returned briefly to the band from 1971 - 1972 playing his final show at The Hollywood bowl, all his failing health and liver allowed, and he passed away in March of '73. He was the first to pass in what was to become the rumored Curse of the GD keyboardists. Kieth Godchaux returned to the keyboards following Pigpens illness and played from '72 to '79, when he was replaced by Brent Mydland. A narrow escape one would think, but less than a year after leaving the band Kieth was killed in a car accident. Brent Mydland, arguably (not by me) the best keyboardist they ever had could sing, write, and hammer the keys like no one else, played with the band until 1990. His last show was July 24, 1990. He was found dead early in the morning of the 26th from a heroine overdose. Vince Welnick joined the band as keyboardist along with Bruce Hornsby who partnered with Welnick on keyboards for a little over 100 shows, then Welnick took over solo with the band until 1995 and the Death of Jerry Garcia. Welnick sunk into a depression over the death of Garcia but tried to carry on joining one of The Deads more popular Tribute bands, Cubensis. Less than a month after his Cubensis tour in 2006, his battle with depression and his long battle with cancer got the best of him and Vince took his own life. (MORE) 
