Phish Biography

Phish was an American rock band noted for jamming and improvisation. The band's four members performed together for the better part of 21 years until their breakup in August 2004. Their music has elements of a wide variety of genres, including rock, jazz, bluegrass, heavy metal, folk, blues, progressive rock, acoustic, and classical. Each Phish concert was original in terms of the songs included, the order in which they appeared, and the way in which they were performed: most of their songs were never played the same way twice. Although the group received little radio play or MTV exposure, Phish developed a large following by word of mouth and the exchange of live recordings.

Phish's musical ethos is a playful mix of skilled improvisation, rock, jazz, bluegrass, heavy metal, folk, blues, progressive rock, acoustic, and classical. Some of their original compositions (such as "Theme from the Bottom") tend towards a psychedelic rock and bluegrass fusion, with more rock, jazz and funk elements than The Grateful Dead and other earlier so-called jam bands. Their more ambitious, epic compositions (such as "Reba" and "Guyute") are often said to resemble classical music in a rock setting. All told, the band performed 620 individual compositions, of which 226 were originals (of the 235 they penned) and 394 covers.

The driving force behind Phish was the popularity of their concerts. Each one a production unto itself, the band would constantly change set lists, details, and add their own antics. With many fans flocking to the venues hours before they opened, the concert was the centerpiece of an event that included a temporary community in the parking lot, complete with "Shakedown Street": at times a garment district, art district, food court, or pharmacy. For many, one concert was simply a prelude to the next as the community followed the band around the country.