BUSINESS WIRE, February 8, 2000, http://www.businesswire.com
“Fans Organize Phish Tribute Album For Charity”

The Mockingbird Foundation announced today that it would produce a Phish tribute album with the profits going entirely to charity. The release will feature 12-15 artists covering original Phish material and will include both studio and live contributions from a variety of top musicians.

“The Mockingbird Tribute,” as it is tentatively titled, will pay homage to Phish’s music. Over the past 16 years, Phish has developed a repertoire of hundreds of original songs ranging from bluegrass to jazz. Their material is well known for blazing improvisation and complex composition material and has been documented on nearly a dozen releases. They have shared the stage with dozens of musicians ranging from Son Seals to Jimmy Buffet, and have influenced an entire genre of “jam bands” in musical style and showmanship.

“We are still finalizing the concept and participants,” said producer Ellis Godard. “We aim to include the all-stars of Phish history, from those who performed with the band on stage to those influenced by their music.” The final list is expected in late February.

The album is being produced by the Mockingbird Foundation, a group of ambitious fans who incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1997 to undertake several Phish-related projects for charity. The group is also publishing a book which project founder Craig Delucia describes as “the definitive Phish encyclopedia.” The foundation, the book, and the tribute take their name from a character in several Phish songs, 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.

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 16 years, slowly becoming one of the nation’s largest live acts. They recently released a 6-CD live box set recorded in 1998 at two concerts in Hampton, Virginia. Phish’s millennium celebration at the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in Florida was the largest and top-grossing millennium concert in North America. The band’s official website is at http//www.phish.com.