HARDCORE Phish FANS Collaborate on ultimate “bible” of band experience
Big Cypress, December 21, 1999 – As 75,000 fans prepare to usher in the New Year by joining the band Phish at the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in Florida, a project designed to serve as the most complete and accurate collection of information about the band is entering the final production stages. The Mockingbird project will contain information on every known performance by the band and includes contributions of stories, artwork, and photographs from hundreds of fans.
The book is being assembled by the Mockingbird Foundation, an ambitious group of fans on the Internet, most of who have never met in person. “This book will be a must-have,” commented project editor Ellis Godard, “even the most die-hard Phish fans will learn something new from this book.” Since its inception in 1996, the Mockingbird Project has worked closely with Dionysian Productions, Phish’s management company, and the book includes an in-depth interview with band archivist Kevin Shapiro. The result is in the most in-depth coverage of the band’s 16-year history ever written, described by Mockingbird Foundation member Marcie Vogel as “the definitive desk reference for Phish fans.”
Foundation literary agent Christian Crumlish of Waterside Productions announced that all proceeds from the book would go to charity. “We decided that it was time to give something back to the Phish community.” The Mockingbird Foundation expects to announce the selection of a publisher early in 2000 and the book will hit shelves later in the year. Fans are invited to learn more about the project at http//www.phish.net/mockingbird/.
About the Mockingbird Foundation
The Mockingbird Foundation is a not-for-profit group formed in 1997 to undertake several Phish-related projects for charity. Although this is their first effort, the foundation will take on additional charity projects in the future. The foundation and the book both take their name from a character in several Phish songs named “The Famous Mockingbird” who helps wayward society by retrieving the book of knowledge from an evil invader and returning it to the people. The Mockingbird Foundation website is at http//www.phish.net/mockingbird/.
About Phish
Phish was founded in 1983 at the University of Vermont and moved to its current lineup in 1985. Guitarist Trey Anastasio, drummer Jon Fishman, bassist Mike Gordon, and keyboardist Page McConnell have been touring the country for the past 15 years, slowly becoming one of the nations largest live acts. They recently released a 6-CD live box set recorded last fall at two concerts in Hampton, Virginia. Phish’s millennium celebration at the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in Florida runs December 30-January 1. The band’s official website is at http//www.phish.com.