Fish about why he left Marillion: "We became too big"
Вставка
- Опубліковано 23 вер 2024
- Join the FaceCulture-communty and get exclusives! / @faceculture
In a recent interview about his final album Weltschmerz Scottish singer and songwriter Derek William Dick, better known as Fish, talked about his time in Marillion and why he ultimately decided to leave the band.
FaceCulture Podcast: faceculture.buzzsprout.com
More video's: www.FaceCulture...
Twitter: / _faceculture
Facebook: / faceculture
Instagram: / faceculture
Marillion's early albums were my life blood in my mid teens, now I'm 51 and they are still so relevant, ageless, timeless.
I am the same age and agree 100% with that 👍
@@simonw4340 Me too, I'm 51 and first went to see Marillion in 1983 last time was around 2010.
saw them 22 times during the 80's and 90s'
I'm 50 and they were a huge part of my teens and I still have my albums and CDs by marillion.reel to reel is my favourite but it's all good.
I agree. The first two albums in particular are classics.
They put me off Prog for 20 years....so 2nd rate.
Fish is a great man and an even more awesome person. He knows what’s really important in life.
I love his comments on the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. He states his case and allows others to disagree and promotes a good turn-out to confirm the result. How many people would do that? Love him.
Awesome man! I loved Marillion with Fish in it, I was sorry to see him leave the band but watching this I have nothing but even more respect for this man.
In few words he expressed the feeling of the band becoming too big. Large gigs, one exactly like another - just a job to do, a streak of identical shows becoming a blur of towns and cities, then seeing dozens of strangers drinking and eating for the money you earned by singing, people you don't want to meet, greedy agencies taking fee on any single step, security guys, all the grinding machinery you're not enjoying being within.
Fish is a brilliant lyricist and poet. Time will tell how incrdibly gifted a wordsmith he is. He's a modern poet.
His lyrics have so many double meanings but which tie in perfectly..i'm still discovering new ones after years.
At age 15 I lost my mother to cancer and Misplaced Childhood, released that year, took me to a different place and helped get me through some very hard times. Roll on 3 years and I was working as a barman in Edinburgh (Sneaky Pete’s in the Cowgate) and I had the pleasure of serving (buying) Fish a drink and thanking him for the music that had helped me so much. The man was a gentleman and very kind to me....I’ll never forget that or his music.
I am really sorry to hear that. I was exactly the same age as you in 1985 and I can't imagine how I would have coped with that. Peace to you. I also loved Marillion from that year too.
I agree that Fish seems a great guy.
Fish is a gentle personality..
he has this need to send out a message.. to live..to express..
he is a poet ... I really enjoyed him in his music ..
and the fact he kissed me in Paris .. a never forgotten moment..
yours is a very moving and beautiful story - my mother died of cancer 25 years ago - she liked Fish as a personality musician actor - we're all Scottish and there's something essential about that - Sneaky Pete's is a great venue - saw a band I follow called Heavy Lungs there in 2019
What an honest and straightforward man. No matter how hard you try to avoid fame, you're still a hero, a poet and a star to me, Derek William Dick !
Clutching at straws is one of the greatest albums ever recorded ... it takes you on a whole journey through so many emotions !! As for Fish's lyrics he is simply one of the greatest poets to ever put pen to paper .
Its really good and for sure I own and still listed to that CD.
But I rate Misplaced Chidlhood higher still.
Suppose its a mix of 'what speaks to you' and which lyrics you think the most expressive and beatifully crafted.
[ Although if anyone want's to diss Grendel they can fk right off too ;-p ]
Clutching is my favourite album end of 👊👊
Sugar mice has been my anthem this year, i was left by my ex, backstabbed by a “friend” and in finical crisis, but I’m just sitting with the broken angels, clutching at straws and nursing my scars
@@Ballsy_ After that the only way is up.
Hang in there mate.
It took me awhile to warm to Clutching. Misplaced, brilliant album, at the time thought it too commercial, but still worth listening too. Fugazi has to be my joint fave with Script. It's only in the last 5 years as I have been replacing LP's with CD's that I've really got into Clutching. I think it may have been an age thing when I was younger. I did buy it back then, but never played it as much. Now its the album I listen too the most.
Bab Boon 100% agree with you about Grendal. 🤘
This man was Marillion. I grew up through my teens and into my early 20's with their albums during his reign and was lucky enough to see them live numerous times. Script, Fugazi, Real to reel, misplaced, clutching at straws, Thieving magpie all albums I still listen to now. Will buy the last solo album and wish Fish the best of luck in music retirement. This was my music in the 80's and I am stilling listening. Thank you sooo much Fish.
Liverpool Empire '84...i have been to many, many gigs with different bands and this is still my all time fav.
At 2:28 I was half expecting him to say "a villa in France, my own cocktail bar, and that's where you're gonna find me". Fish is so great.
Clutching was the natural conclusion for Fish in Marillion and it's a stone cold classic. Best album in their catalogue, hands down.
Can't you understand that the government left me out of work..................ahhh the tragic irony 35 yrs later. :-(
Each of those four albums is an album classic, in my opinion. And "Vigil" and "Internal Exile" are musical and lyrical masterpieces as well.
I think the musical ranking I still disagree with the most to this day is Progsphere's ranking of Marillion's studio albums, where they put Clutching at Straws in third place, right behind Script, which was an undoubtedly more immature record but it was probably better in their eyes because of its more clichéd, "proggier" sound. Clutching at Straws aged so much better imo, both lirically and sound-wise, while Script remains an awkward pot-pourri of 1970's Genesis and synthpop sounds that is difficult to remove from its context.
100% agreed!
Sorry, but Misplaced Childhood always was, allways will be my favorite album above clutching at straws, and this because as a concept album ist is more than the sum of its parts. Single parts of clutching might be better, but al a whole, M C is unbeatable!
Often in life, less is more! My heart was broken when Fish quit MARILLION in 88. Now this vid makes me understand why he quit. Shouldn't we all follow our heart more often?
Thanks Fish...
Your heart was broken? Lol WTF
I wish him all the best. The guys a legend.
Legend? Lol..How?
Fish is like Mick Fleetwood,Phil Collins,and Peter Gabriel all in one...loved the attitude of playing to 300 people. Love him.
Such class. Pure brilliance. This is what a true artist looks like. Love those early Marillion albums with Fish. Respect!!! ❤️
an true what?
@@lifeshort corrected mate 😊
Did he marry the pretty lady from the Kayleigh vid?
@@sashaboo72 Yes he did.
@@nickjh1968 aww that’s sweet
I've been a Marillion fan since the Script for a Jester's Tear album and was gutted when Fish left after Clutching at Straws. I saw Marillion on the Season's End tour and Steve Hogarth looked a little nervous for the first two songs, but after that, he gave an excellent performance. They have been a great band from the first album. Fish continues to produce fantastic albums with lyrics which never fail to hit the mark.
"gutted when Fish left"..you're a poet!
Last week I had an evening of listening to the album script for a jesters tear. And this week misplaced childhood. I slipped away into my late teen years memories. Full of friends. Situations. The first girl I ever loved and the one I married. Including the birth of my daughter Kayleigh named after your song. God bless you Fish your a true legend
Such an honest, humble man, I could talk to him all day!
I did in a pub, before a gig in Norwich . Very friendly down to earth guy .
Still have my ticket he signed 👍
And that's why I like scottish people..they speak genuinely and with a heart
the Hearth of Lothian
I was 15 when Misplaced Childhood came out. That album shaped my life in the next years.... SO GOOD.
The legacy of the poet, the magic of the lyrics, brilliant! Fish and Marillion for ever!
I talked to Mark Kelly after a concert in 1991, post-Fish, and asked him what had happened, why did Fish leave, he told me 'One by one he just pissed us all off.' and that was that. Well, then we drank. I never really listened to them beyond the first two Hogarth albums, but I still listen to the first four albums.
Being a performing musician for over 40 years, I love this. Great perspective on life/music.
I'll never forget walking through Dublin in 1985,l wanted to buy the latest KERRANG Magazine and nipped into an Easons ( lrish WH SMITH) l picked up a copy and started reading it,a hand reached in beside me and grabbed a Kerrang too and l paid no notice till l heard this booming,exotic,Scottish accent,it was of course Fish and Steven Rothery reading a Marillion article,l was stunned! ( Especially since l had handpainted the "Script" album as a backpatch on my Denim jacket and had about 12 Marillion patches on it. "Nice artwork" Steve said,l was too shocked to respond! Then Fish asked me where the Venue in Dublin was for the gig over the next two nights,was it close? (It was 3/4 of a mile away) "It is! Follow me,i'll take you there!" I got to hang with them for a 3/4 mile walk and it was a very cool experience for a 16 year Old Marillion Nut. A brilliant day and both gigs were amazing. ( Fish cried on the second night) amazing times. Thank you Steve and Fish.
That's crazy! I had a similar experience...The night after the first concert I was working in a fast food restaurant on Westmoreland Street. This guy comes in and orders a burger for his breakfast wearing a Marillon tour jacket. I said "nice jacket, great gig last night, are you with the road crew?". "No" he said. Turned out he was the keyboard player Mark Kelly. I was morto!
@@paulfmrichardson Cool story!😁 in fairness l could'nt miss Fish or Steve,first time l'd ever heard a genuine Scottish accent,very exotic in Dublin at the time!
Cool story
You lucky sod!
Great memory. Glad to have read it.
A true lyrical genius, and a genuinely decent bloke, saw him in hull doing his last clutching at straws album, was BRILLIANT.. long live Fish
I could listen to this all day. Very sincere, no bullshit and I totally agree with him.
Clutching at Straws. What a masterpiece that record was?! One of the best of all time I think
Its sad most have never heard of it, but to my mind its the best concept album out there, I find it far better than The Wall.
@@mikearchibald744 Agreed. In my opinion, for concept albums, it goes:
1. Operation: Mindcrime - Queensrÿche
2. Abigail - King Diamond
3. Cluthing at Straws - Marillion
4. The Crimson Idol - W.A.S.P
5. The Seventh Son of a Seventh Son - Iron Maiden
I love Clutching at Straws! What a powerful and classic album. I've listened to hundreds of albums, but that's probably still in my top 5.
If its utter shite then you are definitely wasting your time at the wrong topic.
Clutching is brilliant; but I'd still put Misplaced slightly above it.
This man is a legend. First Marillion song I heard was Grendel... never looked back.
I was bummed when he left, but we wouldn't have gotten the brilliant solo albums OR some pretty damn good later Marillion stuff.
It was on the Market Square Heroes 12”
For me it was 3 boats down the candy 🙂
@@Robcatist I got 'em all. 7", 12", 12" Picture Disc 🙂👌
So great 💫
I love the early Marillion, the fish era.. Clutching at straws are a masterpiece.. And after seeing this video.. I understand why I like the fish era. I have always feel Mr Fish have been a down to earth character.. Thank you Mr Fish. For being so real and natural. And thank you for the excellent Marillion albums. 🙂✌❤
I was devastated when Fish left Marillion, In my view as Marillion the whole was more then the sum of it's parts. But then I did love his first solo album and also Marillion's first solo album. I can understand his choice and totally agree to what he needed to do. I do love all his solo work. Marillion is just a small part of his career but for me growing up into adulthood a very important part of my life. I played their songs every day in the eighties and early nineties. Let's say they kept me alive. I kept on following Marillion too but my heart lies with Fish. His music comes from his heart.
Totally agree with you, l played marillion music all the time as well, and after fish split from marillion l follwed fish, on some tours the music and lyrics still resonate with me today.
Same here loved dissecting those lyrics on their albums and it provided a light in the sometimes dull 80's
Amazing the music of Fish and Marillion I discover this music yesterday and I can't stop listening Lavander and Keileigh. Full of meaning and energy! I am 42
Listen to the whole albums from the Fish era, you won't regret it. My favourites are Misplaced Childhood and of course Clutching at Straws... I'm 39 btw 😉
10000000% respect to him. He did a Dave Chapelle before Dave Chapelle did. A Pearl Jam before Pearl Jam. You could always hear the integrity in his voice on those Marillion albums. That was what made them so special and utterly inimitable. Why they inspired such passion in their fans. Love to hear this.
He personally gave me the rest of his cigarette he was smoking from the stage, when I was 17 in 1986, Massey Hall, Toronto.
Just re-bought Script & Childhood on 5 disc special edition including blu-ray 5.1 audio. Never gets old.
Fish is a true musician. Does music for the love of it and does it his way with no pressure telling him how he should do his music. I'm a great admirer of this guy. Big fan of Fish era Marillion and his early solo albums.
The band was called Marillion after Fish left but it wasn't Marillion any more.
I respect the man for sticking to what he wanted to be instead of just being miserable.
Despite growing turbulences in the band, I consider Clutching at straws a f..kin masterpiece! My beloved album from Fish era. The entry suite: Hotel hobbies/That time of the night/Warm wet circles is among my favourite pieces of rock music ever written/played. There are moments in this suite that still send shivers down my spine every single time I listen to it (after 23 years since I discovered Clutching at straws in my uncles record collection).
I so totally agree, C.A.S. Is so beautiful that it hurts
yeah...totally agree
Lucas Jankowski yep, there’s something about it that hits you starkly and gets to your soul. After the passage of all these years it still hits me the same way. Good to see that others get the same feeling too.
100%. That opening salvo on Clutching at Straws may still be their finest moment. Just unbelievable.
Fantastic interview that shows Fish has a heart and soul and his head is in the right place. The system hates this kind of individual. Join us as we use our music to shine some light on the truth in these twisted and dark times. TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER.
That really is him.
I met him in Paris backstage after the concert thanks to one of the organizers I met in Brussels at their concert. He walked up to me and kissed me on the cheek .. I was stunned...now listening to this .. I can tell “fish” .. you made it “
Love all their stuff, but have to say my favourite album is still Misplaced Childhood. Fish, IMHO, is THE best lyricist of the last 50+ years.
I saw them @ Reading in '83 as a 17 yr old. Its hard to believe its 40 yrs ago! Blimey how time flies. Im 57 now but i still feel like im 17 lol. Never cared for them after Fish left. Their debut is their best work imho.
The concert you'd saw in Reading, it was like the concert in the Hammersmith Odeon 1983?
That was released as Recital of the Script on VHS/DVD/Blu-Ray.
Wish I'd been there.
Simply the best! The simple life, the interaction of people is one of those fantastic skills from Derek. During a performance here in Brazil, after a song, he just sat on the stage and started a very nice conversation with us. The unforgatable day!
I remember when I was 17 and clutching at straws came out, every second of that album is a punch of joy. Best rock album ever been made.
Me too. I’m now 55. Fugazi is one of my favourite album albums of all time. Definitely in top 5.
I am in my 60's and they still have a special spot in my heart with Fish as the singer and the band was kick ass...good stuff i''d recommend to people interested into prog/rock.
Clutching at straws and Misplaced Childhood are my favorites. I was fortunate to see Fish playing the whole Misplaced Childhood-album at Sweden Rock Festival a few years ago.
I think it's the only way to listen to it, played live. It's GREAT!
Don't want to offend the cultists, I value both! The fish years and the Hogarth years, two different bands!
Then you're a true fan! Good for you mate - see you at one of the Conventions!
Totally agree! Steve Hogarth is just as good in his own right, so why not love them both?
Same as Genesis in some respects. Although they had 3 eras. The five man band era, the four man band era and finally, the three man band era.
What a man. Straight up down to earth. Complete contrast to the so called superstars today.
"ìm 70 years old and every day I listen at least one song of old Marillion I like also "Fellini days"
I like your taste. stay well from a 56 year old freak who now lives the quite life in Canterbury U.K.
I shook hands with Derek during Sheffield concert 2015, as he sat & sang next to me in row 7. Still own & enjoy all Fish era Marillion albums on CD & vinyl.
You are a true legend !!!
Your music is wonderful 😁
Fish is such an intelligent and sensible man. He couldn't associate with all those sharks around him. I love his attitude. the downside is, we never heard them again. we we're never more touched by their talents... that's what's sad.
He still played for years afterwards with his band doing his own tunes and the odd Marillion one. I went to see him a few times and although i'm a big Marillion fan i actually prefer Fish's rocked up version of Punch 'n Judy
Fish speaks with a realness and an honesty you can't help but respect. No fakery whatsoever.
Brilliant! What an absolute legend. In it for the music and the passion of what that means, not only to the bands or artists, but the fans too. Fair play to you Fish. What a top guy!
I’m 50 and grew up with these guys, love the music, .My 16 Year old Son now loves them too, I’ve done my job as a dad😊
My two soons also love Marillion, one of them also plays some of their songs. Love from Portugal
Thanks for this interview, so relaxed and natural. My congrats to the Interviewer. Some absolute gems in here about this great man and the band.
Thanks for the kind words Steven!
I've always loved Fish and now I love him even more; wonderful artist and human being.
When Fish turned his back on the band, so did i. I'm happy to say i saw them live in the 'painted' and 'unpainted' days. I think the last time was at the Milton Keynes Bowl. It might have been Quo's so called last gig.
The best one was when they showcased Misplaced Childhood. Playing it through in it's entirety. I remember Fish saying it had two tracks, one called side one and the other side two...
It's still my favourite album of theirs and in my top ten of all time!
I discovered this band today. Hearing him say “It wasn’t about the money” makes me want to dive into their discography!
If you listen the script for a jestures tear, the web, et al…the lyrical symphony arouses emotions, curiosities, questions - timeless spectrum of a journey every human goes through, teens, early twenties…the passage for thinkers is captured like none other in Marillion and Fish.
I've discovered, F Marillion in 1979 , i'm 63 and still listening to their master pieces Fish i like a lot
What a great guy. That’s real passion for your music! A lot of artists could learn from him.!!
I was introduced to Marillion, post-Fish, 13 years ago. Marillion is now my favourite band and I love Steve Hogarth, but I adore Fish-era Marillion, too. One exquisite band with two different and delicious flavours.
they were never the same once fish left, a true great band
@Maxx Kroes That's the problem. There are some great songs sprinkled in. But you take those 4 albums with Fish....all those songs are great. With Hogarth, it's like they have done all they can to distance themselves from their past. Love some of their 90's out put. But after that? It's like they are trying to be Coldplay light or something.
I don't have security
I don't have a Mustang in the drive
I don't have a villa in France
I don't have a hole up in Barbados
This is what we are
We have a home
We have a garden
And I like it like that
It's small and it's simple and I enjoy it
And that's where you're gonna find me..INCOMMUNICADO!
52, PA, USA. Still have all my vinyl, many 12" singles too. Didn't 'love' Clutching at Straws initially, but turned into a favorite. Loved Vigil In A Wilderness of Mirrors, but also very sad for the loss of Marillion. Liked Season's End, but Marillion was never the same for me again. Thank you Fish for hours and hours and hours (and hours!) of musical enjoyment.
I saw them in 87 at the Wembley arena, Clutching at Straws, I am still drowning! 😢😢😢
So did I, great gig
Appreciate the thoughts from Fish, and I get that lots of artists prefer small, intimate gigs, and I get the committee thing too, and also the concept of 'becoming famous' - but that's just what happens when you get successful in this game. What you are actually telling us is you didn't want to be famous, you wanted to remain small. I still feel it was a big mistake leaving Marillion. You were excellent. The ensemble you created with Rothery, Kelly, Mosley and Trewavas was unmatched. I listened to the 1987 Wembley gig tonight - I have never heard better music. You are right on one thing, Clutching at Straws is mind bendingly good, although almost everything you did in those four albums, was excellent. I have seen and heard some of your shows, the level of musicianship isn't the same as with Marillion. Your last point is true, but ironic. You stated you write what you want to write and you do what you want to do. Marillion have been doing this for years via the power of the internet. PS, I always preferred you to Hogarth.
Fish came to Brazil, doing a solo tour, at Olympia on May 11th, 2005. That’s a great concert which inspired our song “Um Homem Qualquer”. Clutching at straws, my favorite, Marillion album. Never give up playing or listening to Progressive music, just for the record, great interview. Hello Fish, thanks for the awesome music and lyrics...
I first saw Marillion in November 1982 in a small venue in Norwich which held about 200 people. The gig was absolutely amazing, but when I next saw them (March 1983) at a much bigger venue with a 1400 capacity something had changed. I suspect it was because by then they had 'made it' and by then had a couple of hits in the charts, as well as TOTP appearances, so the audience had changed and the connection was lost. I went to see them again in February 1984 and that confirmed my suspicion. This kind of music demands an intimacy with the audience which just can't be had in a large venue.
Totally agree, lucky you!
My brother got me into Marillion back when Script For A Jester’s Tear came out. He had the full color “picture disc” vinyl. I fell in love w/Grendel, as Beowulf is my favorite poem. I rediscovered Marillion when I got a 3 song sample cd w/The Great Escape. Fell in love w/that as well. Pretty cool how the band has evolved over the years. Love early Marillion w/Fish & the live video of Grendel. I’d actually like to see another harder band cover it, staying true to the original, but amping up the bass & guitar. As far as “current” Marillion goes, Brave Live 2013 is my fave.
I've got Misplaced Childhood and Real to Reel on picture discs. I was walking past a little music shop several years ago and walked out with a couple of ZZTOP picture singles and one that i just liked the look of. A shaped disc with a picture of a woman in a long flowing dress. Imagine my surprise when i got home and looked at the back to find it was called A Gentleman's Excuse me. By Fish!
@@koitorob that’s awesome!!!
I met Fish back in the 80's and was mesmerized forevermore.
Fish is a great man, I used to live near him in the 80's in Gerrards Cross i'd see him on his bike while i was on a sit on lawnmower he would always say hello just a nice fella enjoying his day. i'd walk past house and see the Gold Albums on his living room wall. I live back in south yorkshire now but i would like to to see him perform if he gets close to Sheffield.
I love Misplaced childhood album & also 1 of my fave songs is "that Time of the Night I think you were a great storyteller in your lyrics 👌👌👌
I'm a bit shocked listening to him. He sounds so ... normal. Not the way I envisioned that voice, singing those words. He just seems so down to earth. Thanks for the interview!
Great interview from an amazing guy.
Such a shame he felt he had to leave, him & Marillion were perfect.
He didn't left, they kicked him out
@Relax Relax : official communiqués from the band when it happened... Sorry, but he didn't denied it until pretty recently... The reasons? Oh, just listen to Clutching at Straws lyrics? Ever lived with someone in this lifestyle? You freaking don't want to!
Any way, it ended being a lose-lose game for all of them and it was very sad!
@The reason I'm here is to enjoy myself : _"Yes just listen and got the lyrics, I understand where you’re coming from, it’s totally madness"_
Well, I had several G/F in this lifestyle... Ooooch... So I'm not too surprised the band ended being fed up... At the same time, maybe they should have tried to help him more, but well, I wasn't in.
*_"What is your most favorite song if you can choose that is lol"_*
Difficult for me to say. In terms of songwriting, it's really high end poetry, the music was absolutely gorgeous, actually, It'd be faster for me to point what I lesser like, usually, the singles which targeted radio airing and MTV.
*_"And why? Perhaps to private question, sorry you don’t have to answer"_*
Oh, it simply would be too long to answer by writing! Why do I prefer Relayer and Tales of Topographic Oceans to 90125? Why I never liked Nirvana or GnR while I'm an unconditional of Magma, Frank Zappa, King Crimson or Steve Reich?
@The reason I'm here is to enjoy myself :
: Let's say that your question might be answerable for s.o. that has just a few hundreds records at home. I may have more devices used to play music (instruments, recording gear,etc) than such people own as records. I started o collect records while still in primary school and used and abused of my card at the departemental public library (our département = administrative subdivision, compares in size and population with the state of Delaware), borrowing records since 1982...
In such a position, I simply cannot answer your question...
Makes me think I haven't listened to Miles' _In a Silent Way_ for a long time, as well as the Real World Records' 90's catalogue where you could near pick anything and get a masterpiece...
Had I to publish lists, it should be "1000 records to listen to before you die" or stuff like that!
Thanks so much for your honesty and sincerity, Fish. You are the best. I agree with you. "Clutching at Straws" is definitely the best album you made you Marillion. It is simply brilliant. I am so glad to hear that you are happy with your life and what you do. I sincerely wish you all the best, good health and success in your projects. Thank you so much for all the beautiful work you have created so far. I really respect and admire you.
I don't agree! CLUTCHING is not the best album
I respect him so much for this but still miss Marillion with Fish.
Clutching at straws is my favourite album. Marillion at their best.
I agree.
Freedom is the most important thing. And happiness comes with simple things too.
Cant agree more to his words although I was blown away back in the days as I was big Marillion fan mid to late 80s.
Clutching is a masterpiece imo. Both Rothery & Fish were on fire. There's been awesome glimpses of brilliance since,but nothing equal. Do yourselves a favor and pick up the recent remaster.
Great job! This is the whole Marillion spirit missing along these latest years.. Fish.. he is talented and his nature always moved us as real stone Marillion fans since the 80s. Fish will always have our big respect.
Are you serious?
Interviewer: So, I was wonderi...
Fish: Goes on a 4:50 ramble.
Honestly though, Mr Dick seems like a very genuine, humble, and likable lad. Stepping off the bus because it's not taking you where you want to go, I have a lot of respect for that. In an age when music as seen as an industry where everyone is involved for the money, it's great to hear that some people were always in it for the love of music.
A great artist and a good person
I have seen Fish in Islington 2015 and 2016. 2015 was just after the Paris attacks and Fish was greater than ever. my husband who was a music promoter was very impressed and he took me back the next year. My personnal favourite: Script for a jester's tear
Been FOLLOWING YOU & MARILLION Since 1985.....LOVE FOREVER.......LAVENDER GOT ME......
Just for the record, I am neither a Marillion or Fish super-fan, but I do love their work.
For my money, I think if Fish had stayed they may have had one or two more big albums, but when the 90s hit the whole scene changed, and I think they would have struggled.
Although painful, it was probably for the best as more good music came out of it (Fish solo and the new Marillion as a group and solo too).
I suspect Fish-era Marillion will live on as a legend, but that is probably more myself and others harking back to our 80s childhoods, rather than a definitive artistic statement.
Mind you, Clutching At Straws is simply EXTRAORDINARY and may never be bettered. Just a shame it took me 20 years before I ever heard it (stupid, or what!?)
I know what he means because i was at the Ahoy show. Only show i’ve seen with the original line-up. Memories… thanks for sharing.
Thank you for opening up - your honesty, warmth of heart and playfulness in spirit is enthralling to observe. May God bless you with distinction on your miraculous Earthly Sojourn...
Fish and Marillion all found a way ultimately to be happy with themselves and thankfully that has resulted in another 30 years of incredible music from all of them - so it was all for the best!
If you've seen and read Fish interviews over the years and read 'Separated Out' by Jon Collins (which they all collaborated on), you'll find the reasons for him leaving change quite a bit depending on which point he wants to get across. Essentially, as he mentioned here, they were being screwed by John Arnison who was making a packet by keeping them on the road when they all really wanted to spend some more time stretching themselves creatively in the studio. This, amongst the usual petty squabbles and personality clashes in any band, was pushing them apart and Fish's breaking point came before the rest of the band.
I saw them twice on the CaS tour, once early on and once toward the end by which point his voice was shot and as a result I thought his vocalist days were numbered and he needed an extended break. He has said in the past that if they'd taken some extra time off then come back together, he thinks they could've been better than ever. However, by that time Rothery was probably the one who would have been most happy to see the back of him so it's doubtful it could've worked.
I was anxious about H replacing him but within minutes of seeing him with them live on that first tour and hearing that voice, it was more a case of "F'kin 'ell this guy is great." or as a mate put it - "Who cares about the price of Fish now, eh?"
I think H fitted in much more harmoniously with them musically speaking and has helped push them in interesting directions. He's also a very amiable character which would have been quite a contrast to the big Scotsman trying to drag everybody kicking and screaming in the direction he wanted to go.
Can't say I've been the biggest fan of Fish's solo work, seems like re-treading old paths a little too often for me, but he has never failed to be a sublime master of the lyric.
At last...someone who understands what actually happened!
yes, but see, i think roundabouts afraid of sunlight h-marillion peaked. i still bought a few of their albums afterwards, but i had to admit to myself that after a truly interesting creative reinvention of themselves they just got rote. the last two h-marillion albums... i gave a listen to both, but i'm serious, i kinda gave up around halfway in both cases. it was just boring. no invention. beautiful, deep music, but zero invention.
so thinking back, i'd say steve h was just TOO perfect for them and that kind of backfired on the long run. they got comfy.
fish, on the other hand, while at times i felt he got musically uninventive, his lyrics and his whole personality carried the torch. he never had a boring moment, and judging from what i've heard so far weltschmerz is going to be a hell of a goodbye. and just thinking when judging post-fish marillion albums and fish albums, i think fish wins, hands down. for me. de gustibus non dispuntandum, tho. :)
What a great guy .Ive just listened to your music after a long while and its just so good.
I was fortunate to see the Clutching at Straws tour in A small club in NYC and what a show it was!!!
Respect. I’ve always said that when it’s not fun anymore, I’ll stop doing it. Good to see someone putting their money where their mouth is.
The thing was as a band they were making very little money. I read that for the misplaced childhood album, (2.9million sales? ) the band got something like 13p or 17p or whatever, to share amongst the band for each album sold. Touring all the time, living out of a suitcase and STILL got no money. I think he simply snapped at the end. Why go through the shit if there isn't anything at the end. With Fish, he has session musicians and can exercise a degree of choice about where and when he tours and what he writes.
Clutching at Straws has long been a favorite on mine, so I'm glad they at least cranked that out before Fish left. Weirdly, Season's End (the first post-Fish Marillion album) is probably my favorite Marillion album musically. I also think Fish's departure was the catalyst the band needed to get off the "crazy rock band carousel", and the band ironically became more of what Fish wanted it to be after he left (less popular, less about the money, etc). And so it goes...
Chateaux Fish, from the beginning until the end, you did it your way. Fabulous
Amazingly so huge and popular that I have never heard of them. Perspective is everything I guess, once you are surrounded by a few thousand, it feels like it goes on forever.
I’ve always loved Marillion. Fish was brilliant when I saw the Fisheads in Swindon at the 12 Bar back in the day. But fundamentally I also think the original band had stayed its course by the time Clutching @ Straws came out - it wasn’t a massive success (I loved it) but I think it’s lack of success was a contributing factor to the band split. I agree with Fish completely. The record company certainly didn’t help.
A true artist - make the most of his generation of musicians and creatives - they won't be back once they've gone
I think people listen to the radio and think that’s all new musicians are when that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are and will still be great musicians in the future just not all this rap and pop shite.
Que honra....falar diretamente a Fish sobre sua obra...❤
I didn' "get" Clutching At Straws when it was released, but it grew on me little by little. It is in my opinion the best Marillion album by far. Perfection.