Band Interview: Fishbone, Still Tearing it Up in the Boneyard!

In the late 80's there were two musical movements happening in Hollywood California. One was made of spandex, make up and hair spray. The other had lyrical depth, musical originality and was not afraid to take chances even if it meant confounding its audience. The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane's Addiction were at the forefront of the Hollywood alternative rock scene and standing alongside them was the band Fishbone. Fishbone made for a unique entry into the Hollywood underground scene. The band was comprised of six African American musicians, five of whom had grown up with each other in South LA and were bussed to the San Fernando Valley for high school. Their sixth member, vocalist Angelo Moore was already attending school in the valley. The band quickly became immersed in the ska scene at the time but also found they had a knack for combining elements of John Coltrane, Rush and Parliament Funkadlelic. A record deal followed and so did extensive touring. The bands heady mix of rock, funk, punk, metal, ska and soul floored audiences and musicians alike. Their live shows thrilled concert goers but the band found it hard to expand out of their cult following. Just as the group seemed destined to break big a combination of bad luck and bad choices hit the band like a brick wall. A falling out ensued with their producer David Kahne, guitarist, chief songwriter and founding member Kendall Rey Jones left the group to join a religious cult. When the band tried to have him "deprogrammed" Jones initiated a lawsuit against his former bandmates. Band members exited the group left and right, resulting in having to re-vamp the lineup.

From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, Fishbone has seen it all and done it all. In 2007 the group is ready to rock audiences once again. They are on a new record label with a new disc in stores, "Still Stuck in Your Throat" and the band is gearing up to headline the last few dates of the Warped Tour this summer. The only original members left from their 80's hey day are kinetic frontman Angelo Moore and bassist Norwood Fisher. I recently had the pleasure to sit down with Norwood Fisher and we chatted about the past, present and future of Fishbone.

Associated Content: It has been six years since we have heard new Fishbone music. Why has it taken so long to hear a new disc? What has the band been up to?
Norwood Fisher: Over the years we have had some lineup changes. We really needed the time to deal with band issues, business issues, wives, girlfriends, families!! We had to deal with our accountants, managers and a new record label. We needed a fresh outlook before we recorded new music.

AC: How is this new lineup treating you? Are you getting used to this new version of Fishbone?
NF: We are very fortunate to find musicians that have the ability to play and improvise as well as these guys do. It really is coming together especially live. They are really finding their way in both the new songs and the old tunes on stage every night and that is the true test. When I hear a guy in the band say, "I'm not familiar with that song yet" you better believe that is the tune we will open the show with!! (Laughs) They are really making their influence and presence felt on stage.

AC: With so many lineup changes, was their any thought given to changing the name of the band?
NF: To be honest we thought about breaking up the band when the first member, Kendall Jones left the group. At the time he quit we thought maybe it was time to dissolve the group but we had a lot of obligations like the '94 Lollapalooza tour! We had to ask ourselves if it was worth keeping this thing together. Now it's down to me and Angelo. All I can say is when you hear the cd you can hear the essence of Fishbone music. It sounds like the band that made all of those other records. It naturally sounds like us therefore it makes sense to keep the name.

AC: How did you hook back up with producer David Kahne? Rumor was he parted ways with the band on bad terms.
NF: I kept in contact with David as much as I could. There were some misunderstandings in the past but he always had our best interests at heart. The issues of the past are now water under the bridge. Our lives took separate paths but I always respected his contributions as a producer. As a producer he really helped me to find my comfort zone in the studio.

AC: Fishbone has been featured in two documentaries (Afro Punk and Electric Purgatory) that take a look at African American musicians in modern/punk/alternative rock. In your opinion have things gotten better, worse or stayed the same for Black musicians in the world of rock?
NF: Hmm...can I answer all of the above!! (Laughs) I think it truly is all of the above. I mean, I still have a career. We figured this was not going to be easy when we first started out. We knew there were going to be huge hurdles for us to jump over. Bands like Bad Brains helped pave the way for us and I think in some small way we helped pave the way for artists like Ben Harper and Lenny Kravitz. I think nowadays it's just not as strange to see Black artists playing rock music. It is a little more palatable to see a Black artist playing rock. There are still hurdles to climb but it seems like it is a bit more acceptable now.

AC: Fishbone will be hitting the west coast dates of the Warped Tour this summer along with Bad Religion, Pennywise and The Circle Jerks. How does it feel to be part of the elder statesmen crew on this tour?
NF: We did this tour ten years ago. I grew up listening to The Circle Jerks and Keith Morris is a dear friend of mine. I mean all the guys you just mentioned...I have been a fan of these bands and to now have them as my peers is amazing!! I am a fan of The Circle Jerks. I am a fan of Pennywise. I'm like a kid when I am around them. As far as being an "elder statesman"...I can't say that I like all of the new stuff I hear but I do like some of it and we need to listen to what these kids are doing. When I do get a chance to talk to them I end up saying, "well I like what you are doing...if I was doing it I might do it like this!!" (Laughs)

AC: Last month in an interview you mentioned that you are interested in doing a tour with Bad Brains and Living Colour. Any possibility of that happening in '08?
DC: We have spoken to Living Colour. I have spoken to Earl from Bad Brains. H.R. is excited about it. I love The Bad Brains new record! Whether it's a full tour or just a few dates I am a positive person and I think we can make it happen.

AC: Reunion fever seems to have hit hard this year with so many bands getting back together. Any chance of reuniting the original members of Fishbone?
NF: Honestly, I am in touch with all of the original members except for Kendall. Now is not the time to try and unite the original band. I like the current lineup we have right now. We are having a lot of fun together, but the original lineup created this sound. The original lineup really lit a fire in LA and besides, those guys are family. I am not sure when it would happen but I still have a lot of love for those guys and I see the value in some day having that happen.

AC: What does the future hold for Fishbone?
NF: After we do the Warped Tour we will probably do another tour of Europe. Then we will do some more stateside shows and start working on material for a new disc. We are still putting the pieces together in terms of exact dates but it is all coming together.

If you plan on attending the Warped Tour in August be sure to catch Fishbone on the last few dates of the tour.