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PHISHY FACTS

Phish consists of 4 members:

Trey Anastasio -- Guitar
Page McConnel -- Keyboards
Jon Fishman -- Drums
Mike Gordan -- Bass

The quartet lives in Vermont, where it all started just over 15 years ago at UVM. The boys met in college and after Trey, Jon, and Mike traded in a second guitarist for the Chairman of the Boards, Phish was born. With their quirky lyrics and long jams, an overnight sensation they were not; the boys worked in small clubs and toured rigorously for many years without much notice beyond distinct groups that became drawn to the band for their musical virtuousity. Well, to make a long story short, the group's popularity grew slowly but steadily until the mid 1990s before they gained relatively widespread recognition. Some attribute it to the death of Jerry Garcia or the release of Hoist, but none of it could not have been possible without the talent behind the music.

What separates Phish from the rest? The answer, like most things, is complex.

Free flow of music. The band allows people to tape their shows, thereby spreading the music to listeners most bands can only dream of. There is a reason for the desire to share the music, though. (Check out my tapelist.)
Continuous Innovation. Every night of Phish is a new one with continually innovative jamming that brings the audience into the creation of the music. Together we reach new spiritual heights night after night and share our love with all those around us.
Community. With most bands, people go to a show solely for the music. They arrive a half hour before showtime and leave promptly before the encore. Not with the boys, though. We arrive early, make new friends and share thoughts, ideas, and all we have to offer. Some follow the band and pattern their entire lives after their tours by vending in the lots to make enough lucre to make it to the next show. Some save all year to spend their money when Phish comes to town. In short, the fans, regardless of hair length, creed, color or social standing, all find themselves with a similar goal: to get to the band.
Official Music Releases
- Junta (1988; 1992 re-release)
- Lawn Boy (1990)
- A Picture of Nectar (1992)
- Rift (1993)
- Hoist (1994)
- A Live One (1995)
- Billy Breathes (1996)
- Slip Stitch and Pass (1997)
- Story of the Ghost (1998)
- The White Album (circa 1984; 1st released 1999)
- The Siket Disc (1999)
- Hampton Comes Alive (1999)
Nothing, however, is better than the live unadulterated stuff only available through seeing the band in concer or the trading community, whose members generally have hundreds of hours of the band's music. You can visit my list, others at TapeTrade.com, or one of the other myriad tapetrading sites. Most people are eager to get others into the music, so starting a collection isn't hard. For an FAQ all you newbies, visit Phish.net and get started today

For a more thorough chronology of the band, check out the official site.

Page last updated 29 November, 1999
Jim Burke, meatkills@hotmail.com

PHISHY FACTS

Official Music Releases