Phish

This article is about the jam band. Not to be confused with Fish (singer). For deceptive internet practices, see Phishing.
Phish
Phish performing onstage
Phish performing in 2009. Left to right: Page McConnell, Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Jon Fishman.
Background information
OriginBurlington, Vermont, U.S.
Genres
DiscographyPhish discography
Years active
  • 1983–2000
  • 2002–2004
  • 2008–present
Labels
Spinoffs
Members
Past members
Websitephish.com

Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band consists of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, drummer Jon Fishman, and keyboardist Page McConnell, all of whom perform vocals, with Anastasio being the lead vocalist. The band is known for their musical improvisation and jams during their concert performances and for their devoted fan following.

The band was formed by Anastasio, Gordon, Fishman and guitarist Jeff Holdsworth, who were joined by McConnell in 1985. Holdsworth departed the band in 1986, and the lineup has remained stable since. Most of the band's songs are co-written by Anastasio and lyricist Tom Marshall. Phish began to perform outside of New England in the late 1980s and experienced a rise in popularity in the mid 1990s. In October 2000, the band began a two-year hiatus that ended in December 2002, but they disbanded again in August 2004. Phish reunited officially in October 2008 for subsequent reunion shows in March 2009 and since then have resumed performing regularly. All four members pursued solo careers or performed with side-projects and these projects have continued even after the band has reunited.[3]

Phish's music blends elements of a wide variety of genres[4] including funk, reggae, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, folk, country, jazz, blues, bluegrass, electronic music, and pop.[2][5] The band is part of a movement of improvisational rock groups, inspired by the format of the Grateful Dead's live performances and colloquially known as "jam bands", that gained considerable popularity as touring concert acts in the 1990s.[6][7] Phish has developed a large and dedicated following by word of mouth, the exchange of live recordings, and selling over 8 million albums and DVDs in the United States.[8]

Phish were signed to major label Elektra Records from 1991 to 2005, when the band formed their own independent label, JEMP Records, to release archival CD and DVD sets.[9]

  1. ^ Rick Foster. "Phish fans donate to area arts collaborative". The Sun Chronicle. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Phish". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
  3. ^ Puterbaugh, Parke (2009). Phish: The Biography. Hachette Books. p. 208. ISBN 978-0-306-81947-6.
  4. ^ "What Is Phish?". FAQ Files. Phish.net. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  5. ^ Conaton, Chris (July 1, 2014). "Phish - Fuego". PopMatters. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  6. ^ "8 Bands Carrying on Jerry Garcia's Legacy". Legacy.com. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  7. ^ Hyden, Steven (6 June 2013). "Is Phish a Great Band?". Grantland. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  8. ^ "Phish FAQ". Phish.com. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  9. ^ Puterbaugh, Parke (2009). Phish: The Biography. Hachette Books. p. 248. ISBN 978-0-306-81947-6.