2009 Phish

Patient Phish fans’ faith has finally been rewarded – they’ve reunited and they’re on tour! Anyone who’s ever seen this phenomenal jam band live knows it’s an opportunity not to be missed, and there’s no way of knowing if they’ll ever play together again after this. So what are you waiting for? Get your Phish tickets today!

On May 25, 2004, Trey Anastasio made an announcement on the official Phish website. All of the band's members agreed that the 2004 summer tour would be their last together. While Phish maintained their success over the years, they felt it would be best if they ended on a high note. Separately, the band members, including singer/guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, keyboardist Page McConnell and drummer Jon Fishman, may continue to tour.

It won't be the first time Phish's members have toured independently. Mike Gordon performed his first-ever solo tour in 2003, a 9-date run in support of Inside In, an album released on Ropeadope Records. The tour kicked off at The Fillmore in San Francisco, and stopped at 8 cities, playing in theatres and clubs before concluding at New York's Irving Plaza. The tour featured a seven piece all-star group handpicked by Gordon that was quite eclectic in its instrumentation, including pedal steel, banjo, trombone, guitar, flute, drums, and tap dancing.

Jon Fishman also toured in 2003, playing drums for The Jazz Mandolin Project, a group whose sounds offer something for everyone, from rock to drum-and-bass and jungle music to plenty of jazz. Trey Anastasio is also no stranger to touring on his own, as he has done so off and on for years.

During the early '90s, Phish emerged as the heirs to the Grateful Dead's throne. Although their music is somewhat similar to the Dead's, the group adheres more to jazz-derived improvisation than folk tradition, and they have a looser, goofier attitude. After all, their drummer regularly played a vacuum during their concerts. Phish's main claim as the inheritors to the Dead's legacy was their approach to their musical career. The band didn't concentrate on albums, instead dedicating themselves to live improvisation. Within a few years of their 1988 debut, Phish had become an institution in certain sections of America, particularly on college campuses. And their in-concert popularity didn't necessarily translate to huge record sales; their biggest-selling albums usually halted at gold status. Still, Phish were the de facto leaders of the neo-hippie jam band movement until deciding to retire in 2004.