Phish
620
N. Route 31, Suite C
Crystal Lake, Illinois 60012
| Comprising
Trey Anastasio (vocals/guitar), Page McConnell (keyboards/vocals), Mike Gordon
(bass/vocals) and Jon Fishman (drums/vocals), Phish were founded in 1983 at the
University of Vermont in New England, USA. Anastasio had posted flyers around
the campus looking for like-minded musicians. Fishman, Gordon and original second
guitarist Jeff Holdsworth responded, but the band only really took shape in 1985
after the recruitment of McConnell and Holdsworth's departure. A regular venue
was found at Burlington's Nectar's, before Phish expanded their activities to
tours of venues and halls nationwide. The band's avowedly eclectic music - drawing
from jazz, funk, bluegrass, country, punk and pop - introduced them to a large
cult audience throughout America, a following that has increased in size ever
since.
Their 1988 own label debut, Junta, captured their free-flowing
improvisations, while 1990's Lawn Boy (on the Rough Trade Records' subsidiary,
Absolute A Go Go) featured improved production and a relatively structured approach
to their cross-genre experiments. Their debut for Elektra Records, A Picture Of
Nectar, saw several critics draw comparisons with the Grateful Dead - as much
for their self-reliance and relationship with their fans as any musical similarity.
Rift, released in 1993, was just as enjoyable, though a little more restrained
than its predecessor. By 1994 and (Hoist), Phish had become both a major live
attraction and important figures in the mainstream of American music. (Hoist)
duly doubled the sales achieved by Rift, and included two highly successful radio
singles, "Down With Disease" and "Sample In A Jar".
By
this time membership of their fan newsletter had grown to over 80,000, while their
Internet service, phish.net, was one of the most active throughout the USA. Just
as importantly, the band's live reputation had not diminished. In 1994, they achieved
a Top 50 placing in Pollstar's Top 50 grossing acts of the year poll - a testament
to the 100 plus shows they had played to an estimated 600,000 fans. One of the
highlights was their 30 December appearance at New York's Madison Square Garden
which sold out in less than four hours. Their Halloween show in Glens Falls, New
York, saw the band perform the Beatles' White Album in its entirety between their
own sets. The result of these activities was the 1995 issue of a live double album,
A Live One, which captured the band in its natural environment - judging by the
efficiency of their touring and merchandising they plan to be around for the long
haul. Billy Breathes was assured and relaxed (their Workingman's Dead, it was
noted). In further keeping with their Dead connection, Ben & Jerry the ice
cream moguls introduced a Phish Food flavour to go along with their Cherry Garcia
brand. The 1998 studio
set, The Story Of The Ghost, featured the major radio hit "Birds Of A Feather",
and debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200 album chart in November. The ultimate
treat for Phish fans, the six-CD live set Hampton Comes Alive, was released the
following year. Anastasio also records with an 11-piece fusion ensemble called
Surrender To The Air, featuring alto saxophonist Marshall Allen and trumpeter
Michael Ray from the Sun Ra Arkestra, and guitarist Marc Ribot. Phish, like the
Grateful Dead, are a phenomenon, they prove beyond doubt that selling records
is secondary to touring regularly. Multi-platinum albums are never likely to figure
in Phish's plans; multi-million dollar takings at their concerts, however, are
an everyday event. In a surprise move, the band wound down their operation in
2000. After a two year hiatus they announced their return with a New Year's Eve
show. Need tickets to see Phish? Click
here
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