Fishbone has no equal. I have been fortunate enough to see them live dozens of times. I am smart enough not to try to categorize them. I am humble enough to appreciate them musically (yep-I'm a bass player who considers Norwood to be God-like). I am not sure why anyone WANTS them to be a "BIG" mainstream corporate music indy whore-band. I guarantee that they will be able to sustain themselves on loyal fans like ME! PLUS-they aren't a bunch of druggies waiting for their "ROCK STAR" exit...
Dont know if it was color as much as that massive array of styles that made them so great might have ended up hurting them in the end. I was listening to some of their stuff the other day for the first time in years and it struck me just how unfocused everything is. Great, great music, but it's hard to grab onto anything. Like when RHCP's Blood Sugar came out and it was like, wow, they just totally mastered their style. Fishbone came close with Reality, but then the lineup started to dissolve.
It bugs the hell out me that the only reason I can think of that fishbone stayed obscure, when primus, bungle, and all the other "technical" 90s bands got huge, is that fishbone where black dudes. I want there to be a better reason, but I keep coming back to the fact that perhaps the music industry still has a lot of subconscious racism going on.
It's not just the race issue, it is the in that they aren't a band that can be easily categorized. Their music was ahead of it's time; but now I think they would fit right in. With so many acts out there that fuse different styles of music and black folks starting to be more accepted in what some consider "non-black" genres they could see deserved commercial success. I just listen to bands like TV on the Radio and Janelle Monae and I hear Fishbone.
@nullunit This is pretty much the heart of it. I remember reading an article about them where their record company was like, WTF are we supposed to do with these guys? Never underestimate the power of marketing. Just sad to see they weren't able to carve out a more stable niche, a la 311 or somebody like that, and are just scraping by.
@MrShayneOneill Of course you're right, Red Hot Chilli Peppers blew up worldwide, and, frankly, they stole so much of their sound directly from fishbone.
@theScytheofGod Don't agree with that at all. RHCP is a great, great, great band in their own right. Obviously they share their roots in funk, but two totally different bands in my opinion.
@MrShayneOneill Living Colour got huge and they were all black dudes... Truth is I don't agree that they are obscure. Everyone that grew up in the 90's listening to good music knows about Fishbone! But they certainly deserved much more than being just a legendary alternative band.
Claypool is right, Fishbone should have been so much bigger than they are - people deserve their great music. And George Clinton nails it, the band really is committed, saw them last night and they indeed sound as fresh as the day I first heard them back in the early 90s.
Fishbone! Still rockin', jivin', jazzin', funkin, hip-hoppin', soul-stompin' and whatever-it-is they're doin' after all these years. Come to Manila. We need ya over here!
Saw them live last June and they were fucking amazing....no joke at all. One of the best live bands
rsohlich1 2 weeks ago
Fishbone has no equal. I have been fortunate enough to see them live dozens of times. I am smart enough not to try to categorize them. I am humble enough to appreciate them musically (yep-I'm a bass player who considers Norwood to be God-like). I am not sure why anyone WANTS them to be a "BIG" mainstream corporate music indy whore-band. I guarantee that they will be able to sustain themselves on loyal fans like ME! PLUS-they aren't a bunch of druggies waiting for their "ROCK STAR" exit...
brikrantz 1 month ago
Dont know if it was color as much as that massive array of styles that made them so great might have ended up hurting them in the end. I was listening to some of their stuff the other day for the first time in years and it struck me just how unfocused everything is. Great, great music, but it's hard to grab onto anything. Like when RHCP's Blood Sugar came out and it was like, wow, they just totally mastered their style. Fishbone came close with Reality, but then the lineup started to dissolve.
dmccarney1 2 months ago
been seeing them since 1985!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
desmundhume 2 months ago
...poor man's Sly & The Family Stone AT BEST.
RAM71 2 months ago
This movie was GREAT! I can't wait for the DVD. I'm getting it the day it drops!
ajoy3 3 months ago
FISHBONE Kicks Mutha F*kin Ass !!!
riseandshinetruthnow 5 months ago
It bugs the hell out me that the only reason I can think of that fishbone stayed obscure, when primus, bungle, and all the other "technical" 90s bands got huge, is that fishbone where black dudes. I want there to be a better reason, but I keep coming back to the fact that perhaps the music industry still has a lot of subconscious racism going on.
MrShayneOneill 5 months ago 5
@MrShayneOneill
It's not just the race issue, it is the in that they aren't a band that can be easily categorized. Their music was ahead of it's time; but now I think they would fit right in. With so many acts out there that fuse different styles of music and black folks starting to be more accepted in what some consider "non-black" genres they could see deserved commercial success. I just listen to bands like TV on the Radio and Janelle Monae and I hear Fishbone.
nullunit 2 months ago
@nullunit This is pretty much the heart of it. I remember reading an article about them where their record company was like, WTF are we supposed to do with these guys? Never underestimate the power of marketing. Just sad to see they weren't able to carve out a more stable niche, a la 311 or somebody like that, and are just scraping by.
dmccarney1 2 months ago
@MrShayneOneill Of course you're right, Red Hot Chilli Peppers blew up worldwide, and, frankly, they stole so much of their sound directly from fishbone.
theScytheofGod 2 months ago
@theScytheofGod Don't agree with that at all. RHCP is a great, great, great band in their own right. Obviously they share their roots in funk, but two totally different bands in my opinion.
dmccarney1 2 months ago
@MrShayneOneill Living Colour got huge and they were all black dudes... Truth is I don't agree that they are obscure. Everyone that grew up in the 90's listening to good music knows about Fishbone! But they certainly deserved much more than being just a legendary alternative band.
Dundum2011 2 months ago
@MrShayneOneill
Maybe you should research the history rather than rely on something as removed from reality as your own imagination.
It's been well documented that they were poorly managed and marketed in the 80's.... a time when they had the best chance to make it big.
larkydozer 1 month ago
Claypool is right, Fishbone should have been so much bigger than they are - people deserve their great music. And George Clinton nails it, the band really is committed, saw them last night and they indeed sound as fresh as the day I first heard them back in the early 90s.
Tentacleed 6 months ago 3
More people need to experience this band. They really DO defy a simple explanation. Even my black friends don't know much about them.
liamtz 6 months ago
Fishbone! Still rockin', jivin', jazzin', funkin, hip-hoppin', soul-stompin' and whatever-it-is they're doin' after all these years. Come to Manila. We need ya over here!
mackymaca 7 months ago
Just saw them in Fresno yesterday and they were so great! I'm converted.
rsohlich1 9 months ago
Chuck D has the best quote about Fishbone, and it's the truth.
Great piece of the past, a Great deal of the present, and they've always been in the Future.
Fishbone is one of the greatest, Thank You Angelo, my friend
mrbobloblaw666 9 months ago
rocky
aaronamccoy 10 months ago
I´d love to see this movie! Sadly, Im in Norway, and its not available anywhere :( :(
gabinga74 10 months ago
Angelo at 1:13... just amazing... the little details... and the big ones 2
TheBass2themax 11 months ago
LKol
MrStarwarsinc 1 year ago