 | Sampolit Film - The Latvian Legion Two divisions were to be formed on the Latvian soil during the Second World War. They were to form the core of the Latvian Legion which was created in order to prevent a new Soviet occupation. The 15th -- Latvian 1st Division and 19th -- Latvian 2nd Division along with the other Latvian military units it had a combat strength up to 165,000 men at its peak. The Latvian Legion was an unique battlegroup what was built on what stood on patriotism and high fighting moral. The legionaries continued the fight till the bitter end -- some dedicated their entire life fighting against the Soviet occupation. The Western countries yielded to the pressure of the Soviet Union and did not object to Latvia and other Baltic States remaining part of the Soviet Union. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia found themselves the only occupied states, whose independence was not restored after the Second World War. Only in 1991 it became possible to eliminate this historical injustice and the Baltic States regained their national independence. In the end, the Latvians were vindicated - they were cleared of any war crimes in 1950 by the US Congress statement which recognized the difference of the Baltic SS Legions from the German SS. Not many surviving members of the Latvian Legion are left today in Latvia. But each year the veterans, meet to remember their suffering and sacrifices. They see themselves as Latvian patriots who believed that they were fighting for the restoration of a free Latvia. For this reason, March 16th, the anniversary of a major Latvian Legion battle in Russia, was chosen as a day of solemn remembrance. This video is about the soldiers and legionaries who gave everything to save their own country. It also describes a nation whose independence and youth was violently taken away. It is about a country who suffered after the war 50 more years. A country to whom the Second World War did not end on the 8th of May 1945. The matter of the Latvian SS is still hotly debated. In Latvia and Estonia they are officially recognized as freedom fighters. |
 | Meet the Press moderator Tim Russert suddenly dies Very shocking and sad news. Political reporting will never be the same again. WASHINGTON - Tim Russert, NBC News' Washington bureau chief and the moderator of "Meet the Press," died Friday after being stricken at the bureau, NBC News said Friday. He was 58. Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday's "Meet the Press" broadcast when he collapsed, the network said. He had recently returned from Italy, where his family was celebrating the graduation of Russert's son, Luke, from Boston College. No further details were immediately available. Russert was best known as host of "Meet the Press," which he took over in December 1991. Now in its 60th year, "Meet the Press" is the longest-running program in the history of television. But he was also a vice president of NBC News and head of its overall Washington operations, a nearly round-the-clock presence on NBC and MSNBC on election nights. He was "one of the premier political journalists and analysts of his time," Tom Brokaw, the former longtime anchor of "NBC Nightly News," said in announcing Russert's death. "This news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice." In 2008, Time Magazine named Russert him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Timothy John Russert Jr. was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 7, 1950. He was a graduate of Canisius High School, John Carroll University and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He was a member of the bar in New York and the District of Columbia. In 2005, Russert was awarded an Emmy for his role in the coverage of the funeral of President Ronald Reagan. His "Meet the Press" interviews with George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000 won the Radio and Television Correspondents' highest honor, the Joan S. Barone Award, and the Annenberg Center's Walter Cronkite Award. Russert, who received 48 honorary doctorates, won countless other awards for excellence during his career, including the Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio-Television News Directors Association, the . He was also the recipient of the John Peter Zenger Freedom of the Press Award, the American Legion Journalism Award, the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Journalism Award, the Allen H. Neuharth Award for Excellence in Journalism, the David Brinkley Award for Excellence in Communication and the Catholic Academy for Communication's Gabriel Award. He was a member of the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. He was a trustee of the Freedom Forum's Newseum and a member of the board of directors of the Greater Washington Boys and Girls Club and America's Promise — Alliance for Youth. In 1995, the National Father's Day Committee named him "Father of the Year," Parents magazine honored him as "Dream Dad" in 1998, and in 2001 the National Fatherhood Initiative also recognized him as Father of the Year. Survivors include his wife, Maureen Orth, a writer for Vanity Fair magazine, whom he met at the 1976 Democratic National Convention; and their son, Luke. |
 | serbs videos are reppressed by isolation.prison total. you can hate,bless or ignore me.(look othger comments)7 a.m. videos are blocked.computer in on only at 7 p.m.isolation.jeer.drugs.no right for sleep.drugs sprayed husband.forbide on videos.i can not send to you anything,.they demand i not to sleep at all,disconnect computer at day time.no chance for sdurvivle and freedom of speech. you admit to set on fire one christian nation on another and give your values and heros up to islamistic butchers.you fight for goods forget that persons only will escape you. video for Pontyi Pilat of Radovan Karadzic.22nd,july.haag court must be fired,as holland makes crimes against humanism experimentin on people by gebbels standarts. from nbcnews.today,22nd,2008th It didn't take long for the hardliners to hit the streets. Shortly after the office of Serbian President Boris Tadic issued a late-night statement announcing the arrest of Radovan Karadžić, scores of young ultranationalists started gathering in Belgrade's main squares. Some drove around town singing jingoistic songs; others insulted and spat at police hastily deployed to keep the peace. "Radovan is a hero," shouted members of the youth movement Obraz as they gathered around the special court building where Karadžić's extradition hearing will take place. "Boris, save Serbia, kill yourself," they yelled in a message to the president. Karadžić, the former Bosnian Serb leader accused of genocide and crimes against humanity, was arrested in Serbia Monday after 13 years on the run. But while human rights organizations around the world welcomed the unexpected news, Serbs feared that Karadžić's detention could provoke a nationalist backlash. Serbian authorities last night dispatched police reinforcements to Belgrade's U.S. Embassy, which was torched in February after Kosovo declared independence. Special units were also positioned around the court. Karadžić is accused of masterminding the deaths of 100,000 people in his ethnic cleansing campaign against Bosnian Muslim, Bosnian Croat and other non-Serb civilians during the bloodiest of the four wars that followed the break-up of communist Yugoslavia in 1991. One of the main accusations against him is the killing of more than 7,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica, the worst massacre in Europe since World War II. Although details about how Karadžić was located have yet to emerge, the arrest appears to have been a direct result of the formation of a new pro-Western Serbian government earlier this month. Last Friday's replacement of the powerful secret service chief, loyal to the former ultranationalist prime minister Vojsilav Kostunica, by an aide of the liberal Tadic is also believed to have been instrumental in Karadžić's detention. "The arrest of Karadžić shows that elections do matter," Thomas O. Melia, deputy executive director of the Washington-based Freedom House, said in a statement, welcoming the arrest as "a triumph" for both the international community and Serbia's new authorities. "It's no coincidence that the Serbian government appointed a new head of security on Friday and this arrest happened just three days later." The arrest brings Serbia one step closer to membership in the European Union, |
 | Eugene Grey Live at Sunfest 2005 - Linstead Market According to Rootz Reggae & Kulcha magazine (2004), "Eugene Grey is yet another of the many genius guitarists of world class status that Jamaica has produced" playing professionally from the age of 14. Born in Green Island Jamaica in 1951, he went to Ruseas High School in 1963 where he started playing the harmonica in the School Band. After winning 1st place in the Pop and Mento competition in 1964, he taught himself to play the trombone, drums, piano and lastly the guitar, which he made. Besonic.com (2006), the German music internet site states "Eugene's playing recalls the fluidity of Charlie Christian, the creativity of Wes Montgomery, and the first-class execution of George Benson while sounding completely unique - an incredible feat given the deep talent pool of past and present jazz axemen". This extraordinary style was showcased to a packed house in Argentina November 2007 where Eugene, backed by the local band Sessiones wowed the crowd as the headliner at the La Trastienda Club. This is a venue that has hosted the likes of the Wailers and the Skatalites. Eugene has toured worldwide as lead guitarist with such artists as Grammy Award winners Burning Spear and Toots and The Maytals, Ras Tesfa, Culture, Fab 5, Irving Burgie and Kid Creole and The Coconuts. Other artists Eugene has performed with include Big Youth, The Harlem Renaissance Orchestra, America's Singing Poet Steve DePass, West Africa's Abdou M'Boup and Vieux Diop, Tony Cafresi and His Latin Orchestra, The Wailers, and The Skatalites. While with The Skatalites Mr. Grey performed with Charlie Palmieri and Arthur Blythe at New York's club 'Village Gate'. In addition to performing with these distinguished acts, Eugene performs his original compositions with his own group. He released his official solo album Timeless (Greyphone) in 2002 that was nominated for a 2003 Reggaesoca Music Award. 2004 saw his performance at the Suntrust Jazz Brunch at Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale coincide with the release of Shades of Grey (Greyphone) which again was nominated for a 2005 Reggaesoca Music Award. In March 2007 he performed as the opening act for Dionne Warwick on March 25, 2007 at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida. This performance was also a vehicle to showcase the release of his latest project Authentic (Greyphone). As well as his own recordings, Eugene has recorded on several notable artists' releases. One being the 2006 release of his mentor and friend, Ernest Ranglin's Surfin' (Telarc). He has also recorded on all of the albums by Kid Creole and the Coconuts including arranging the song "Haiti" on their 1994 project. Others include, Ras Tesfa's Voice of the Rastaman (Shanachie) and on the 1995 album "Via Jo" (Triloka) by artist Vieux Diop from Senegal, West Africa. Mr. Grey composed and arranged an original piece "Song for Jah" which was featured on the album "Another One Gone" (Shanachie) by artist Safi Abdullah. Another aspect of his career is performing as a member of the orchestra in several Off-Broadway plays and musicals such as "In A Pigs Valise" in 1989; "Pecong" in 1991 at Newark Symphony Hall and the Off Broadway Classical musical "Sally and Tom" at Castillo Theatre in 1995/96. He also was Musical Director for the Off-Broadway musical "Rasta" in 1995. In 2005 Eugene was in London as Musical Director for Irving Burgie's musical review "Day-O". Eugene was commissioned to re-arrange 42 of the original songs of his longtime employer, Irving Burgie made famous by Harry Belafonte for this review. Eugene believes that he was given a gift of music ability which has to be shared. Therefore, he constantly strives to give of himself and his talents. Performing, recording as well as teaching, allows him to realize that desire. |
 | Eugene Grey Live at Marcia's Cafe 2005 According to Rootz Reggae & Kulcha magazine (2004), "Eugene Grey is yet another of the many genius guitarists of world class status that Jamaica has produced" playing professionally from the age of 14. Born in Green Island Jamaica in 1951, he went to Ruseas High School in 1963 where he started playing the harmonica in the School Band. After winning 1st place in the Pop and Mento competition in 1964, he taught himself to play the trombone, drums, piano and lastly the guitar, which he made. Besonic.com (2006), the German music internet site states "Eugene's playing recalls the fluidity of Charlie Christian, the creativity of Wes Montgomery, and the first-class execution of George Benson while sounding completely unique - an incredible feat given the deep talent pool of past and present jazz axemen". This extraordinary style was showcased to a packed house in Argentina November 2007 where Eugene, backed by the local band Sessiones wowed the crowd as the headliner at the La Trastienda Club. This is a venue that has hosted the likes of the Wailers and the Skatalites. Eugene has toured worldwide as lead guitarist with such artists as Grammy Award winners Burning Spear and Toots and The Maytals, Ras Tesfa, Culture, Fab 5, Irving Burgie and Kid Creole and The Coconuts. Other artists Eugene has performed with include Big Youth, The Harlem Renaissance Orchestra, America's Singing Poet Steve DePass, West Africa's Abdou M'Boup and Vieux Diop, Tony Cafresi and His Latin Orchestra, The Wailers, and The Skatalites. While with The Skatalites Mr. Grey performed with Charlie Palmieri and Arthur Blythe at New York's club 'Village Gate'. In addition to performing with these distinguished acts, Eugene performs his original compositions with his own group. He released his official solo album Timeless (Greyphone) in 2002 that was nominated for a 2003 Reggaesoca Music Award. 2004 saw his performance at the Suntrust Jazz Brunch at Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale coincide with the release of Shades of Grey (Greyphone) which again was nominated for a 2005 Reggaesoca Music Award. In March 2007 he performed as the opening act for Dionne Warwick on March 25, 2007 at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida. This performance was also a vehicle to showcase the release of his latest project Authentic (Greyphone). As well as his own recordings, Eugene has recorded on several notable artists' releases. One being the 2006 release of his mentor and friend, Ernest Ranglin's Surfin' (Telarc). He has also recorded on all of the albums by Kid Creole and the Coconuts including arranging the song "Haiti" on their 1994 project. Others include, Ras Tesfa's Voice of the Rastaman (Shanachie) and on the 1995 album "Via Jo" (Triloka) by artist Vieux Diop from Senegal, West Africa. Mr. Grey composed and arranged an original piece "Song for Jah" which was featured on the album "Another One Gone" (Shanachie) by artist Safi Abdullah. Another aspect of his career is performing as a member of the orchestra in several Off-Broadway plays and musicals such as "In A Pigs Valise" in 1989; "Pecong" in 1991 at Newark Symphony Hall and the Off Broadway Classical musical "Sally and Tom" at Castillo Theatre in 1995/96. He also was Musical Director for the Off-Broadway musical "Rasta" in 1995. In 2005 Eugene was in London as Musical Director for Irving Burgie's musical review "Day-O". Eugene was commissioned to re-arrange 42 of the original songs of his longtime employer, Irving Burgie made famous by Harry Belafonte for this review. Eugene believes that he was given a gift of music ability which has to be shared. Therefore, he constantly strives to give of himself and his talents. Performing, recording as well as teaching, allows him to realize that desire. interview |
 | Eugene Grey Performing Live at Sunfest 2005 According to Rootz Reggae & Kulcha magazine (2004), "Eugene Grey is yet another of the many genius guitarists of world class status that Jamaica has produced" playing professionally from the age of 14. Born in Green Island Jamaica in 1951, he went to Ruseas High School in 1963 where he started playing the harmonica in the School Band. After winning 1st place in the Pop and Mento competition in 1964, he taught himself to play the trombone, drums, piano and lastly the guitar, which he made. Besonic.com (2006), the German music internet site states "Eugene's playing recalls the fluidity of Charlie Christian, the creativity of Wes Montgomery, and the first-class execution of George Benson while sounding completely unique - an incredible feat given the deep talent pool of past and present jazz axemen". This extraordinary style was showcased to a packed house in Argentina November 2007 where Eugene, backed by the local band Sessiones wowed the crowd as the headliner at the La Trastienda Club. This is a venue that has hosted the likes of the Wailers and the Skatalites. Eugene has toured worldwide as lead guitarist with such artists as Grammy Award winners Burning Spear and Toots and The Maytals, Ras Tesfa, Culture, Fab 5, Irving Burgie and Kid Creole and The Coconuts. Other artists Eugene has performed with include Big Youth, The Harlem Renaissance Orchestra, America's Singing Poet Steve DePass, West Africa's Abdou M'Boup and Vieux Diop, Tony Cafresi and His Latin Orchestra, The Wailers, and The Skatalites. While with The Skatalites Mr. Grey performed with Charlie Palmieri and Arthur Blythe at New York's club 'Village Gate'. In addition to performing with these distinguished acts, Eugene performs his original compositions with his own group. He released his official solo album Timeless (Greyphone) in 2002 that was nominated for a 2003 Reggaesoca Music Award. 2004 saw his performance at the Suntrust Jazz Brunch at Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale coincide with the release of Shades of Grey (Greyphone) which again was nominated for a 2005 Reggaesoca Music Award. In March 2007 he performed as the opening act for Dionne Warwick on March 25, 2007 at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida. This performance was also a vehicle to showcase the release of his latest project Authentic (Greyphone). As well as his own recordings, Eugene has recorded on several notable artists' releases. One being the 2006 release of his mentor and friend, Ernest Ranglin's Surfin' (Telarc). He has also recorded on all of the albums by Kid Creole and the Coconuts including arranging the song "Haiti" on their 1994 project. Others include, Ras Tesfa's Voice of the Rastaman (Shanachie) and on the 1995 album "Via Jo" (Triloka) by artist Vieux Diop from Senegal, West Africa. Mr. Grey composed and arranged an original piece "Song for Jah" which was featured on the album "Another One Gone" (Shanachie) by artist Safi Abdullah. Another aspect of his career is performing as a member of the orchestra in several Off-Broadway plays and musicals such as "In A Pigs Valise" in 1989; "Pecong" in 1991 at Newark Symphony Hall and the Off Broadway Classical musical "Sally and Tom" at Castillo Theatre in 1995/96. He also was Musical Director for the Off-Broadway musical "Rasta" in 1995. In 2005 Eugene was in London as Musical Director for Irving Burgie's musical review "Day-O". Eugene was commissioned to re-arrange 42 of the original songs of his longtime employer, Irving Burgie made famous by Harry Belafonte for this review. Eugene believes that he was given a gift of music ability which has to be shared. Therefore, he constantly strives to give of himself and his talents. Performing, recording as well as teaching, allows him to realize that desire. |
 | Metal Church "The Fight Song" Track taken from 1991's "The Human Factor" Lyrics: In these days of depressing times, There stands one final truth There's no doubt in my mind at all: the future belongs to the youth So take a stand and show them the best you can do The odds are against you, or so you assume Fight for your rights, they're yours to keep So fight and make it right The road is a long and a treacherous one Draw on the strength from within Don't be discouraged by a slap in the face The struggle has yet to begin So take a stand and show them the best you can do The odds are against you, or so you assume Fight for your rights, they're yours to keep So fight and make it right So take to the streets and find a new way Confusion in masses, the law of today Ride out the storm, it's tougher than ever Can't you see? We're in this together Endowed with a free will and thoughts for expression Don't let them fall by the way Strengthen and use them but don't you abuse them Help build a better day So take a stand and show them the best you can do The odds are against you, or so you assume Fight for your rights, they're yours to keep So fight and make it right Make it right Make it right Make it right Track Listing: 1. The Human Factor 05:00 2. Date With Poverty 05:20 3. The Final Word 06:00 4. In Mourning 06:02 5. In Harm's Way 07:00 6. In Due Time 04:05 7. Agent Green 05:58 8. Flee From Reality 04:12 9. Betrayed 04:33 10. The Fight Song 03:25 Total playing time 51:35 Metal Church is an American heavy metal band from Aberdeen, Washington. They formed as Shrapnel in 1981, their first album was released in 1984, and the band's most recent work, A Light in the Dark was released in 2006. Metal Church was formed when the thrash metal genre was still evolving. David Wayne's vocals on the self-titled album Metal Church and The Dark, retained a melodicism that many other American thrash bands abandoned. The lyrics from the album The Dark talk about death, assassination, and fears. Metal Church is still a working band; they are working with their third vocalist. Metal Church originally formed as Shrapnel in 1981, with Mike Murphy on vocals, Kirk Arrington on drums, Craig Wells and Kurdt Vanderhoof on guitars, and Duke Erickson on bass. Mike Murphy quit, however, citing personal and creative differences. He was replaced by David Wayne. Before releasing their self-titled debut album, Metal Church released a demo tape, called the Four Hymns. This album contained the songs "Battalions," "Deathwish," "Gods of Wrath," and "The Brave." Though the demo has been long out-of-print, the songs are freely available from the band's web site. In 1984, their self-titled debut album was released. The album included a cover of the Deep Purple song, Highway Star. By the time Metal Church released The Dark, they were touring with high-profile acts like Metallica. In 1989, the band replaced Wayne with former Heretic singer Mike Howe, and released Blessing In Disguise. Following the release of 1991's The Human Factor, Kurdt started working solo, and later with his new band, "Hall Aflame", which released their debut album, Guaranteed Forever, through I.R.S. Records. The band broke up in 1993 after the release of Hanging in the Balance. Kurdt and Kirk formed "Vanderhoof" and released their self-titled debut album in 1997, and Wayne, formed "Reverend" in 1989. The founding members of Metal Church released the album Live in 1998. The band then started working on a new studio album. Craig Wells departed from the band due to personal and creative differences. He was replaced by John Marshall. Masterpeace was released in 1999. Vanderhoof released A Blur in Time in 2002, and Kurdt started working for new material for Metal Church's studio album. In 2003 David Wayne departed Metal Church again due to personal and creative differences. David Wayne formed a new band called Wayne and an album titled Metal Church with former band mate Craig Wells. In 2004, Kurdt and Kirk recruited Ronny Munroe, ex-Malice guitarist Jay Reynolds, and Steve Unger. The result was the album Weight of the World. In 2006, Kirk Arrington left the band due to health complications with diabetes. His replacement was Jeff Plate, who previously worked with Savatage, Chris Caffery and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. On June 26th, 2006, Metal Church released their latest album, A Light In The Dark, which featured a re-recording of "Watch the Children Pray", a tribute to David Wayne, who died in 2005. DISCLAIMER: Standard disclaimers apply. I encourage viewers to buy the original content, both the music and the photos, from the owners. THIS IS A FAN-TRIBUTE ONLY! I am in no way affiliated with the band or the photographers |
 | 7 SECONDS on CAPITAL CHAOS 1998 http://capitalchaos.net 7 SECONDS on CAPITAL CHAOS TV 1998 live @ Bojangles - Sacramento, CA ....also on the bill were THE KNOCKOFFS, A DAY IN THE LIFE & 7 SECONDS http://capitalchaos.net 7 Seconds is a hardcore punk band from Reno, Nevada. Formed in 1979 by brothers Kevin Seconds and Steve Youth, their first show was played on March 2, 1980. In the February, 2005 issue of AMP magazine, in an article titled, "7 Seconds: 25 Years of Our Core," Kevin Seconds explained how the band's name originated: "We were big fans of The Dils, they had this EP, 198 Seconds of The Dils and I was so in love with punk rock that I would just write album titles on my clothes. This was still when Steve and I lived with my mom. We had this desk in this room we shared and I wrote '197 seconds of The Dils', I miswrote the title. Over time, everything else faded, but the 7 Seconds part was there, and I circled it, I thought it looked cool." http://7seconds.com 7 Seconds is well known for bringing positive ideals into hardcore punk and are considered "living legends" by many people in the underground punk scene. They helped along the Straight Edge Youth Crew movement in the 80's Hardcore scene. They have released numerous albums since 1981, including The Crew; Walk Together, Rock Together; New Wind; Good to Go and the recently released Take It Back, Take It On, Take It Over. They also appeared on the 1985 hardcore compilation Cleanse the Bacteria, in addition to numerous other compilations, such as "Not So Quiet On the Western Front," "Something to Believe In," and "Another Shot from Bracken." http://myspace.com/7seconds In the late 1980s, the band began to grow musically as they explored other sounds. Critics of this switch to more complex and slower music often compared the band to U2. Albums from this period include the Praise EP, Ourselves, and Soulforce Revolution. However, the band has since returned to their hardcore punk roots where they can claim more of a following. The band is still recording music and touring the United States, Europe, and Japan to this day. Trivially, 7 Seconds covered German pop artist Nena's hit song 99 Red Balloons on their second album, "Walk Together, Rock Together." Demos * 1980 (cassette), 1980 * Drastic Measures (cassette), 1980 * Socially Fucked Up (cassette), 1981 * Three Chord Politics (cassette), 1981 [edit] 7" EPs * Skins, Brains and Guts (Alternative Tentacles, 1982) * Committed For Life (Squirtdown, 1983) * Blasts From the Past (Positive Force, 1985) * Happy Rain/Naked (Eating Blur, 1993) * Split With Kill Your Idols (SideOneDummy, 2004) [edit] Albums * The Crew (Better Youth Organization, 1984) * Walk Together, Rock Together (Positive Force/BYO, 1985) * New Wind (Positive Force/BYO, 1986) * Praise [four-song EP] (Positive Force/BYO, 1986) * Live: One Plus One (Positive Force/Giant, 1987) * Ourselves (Restless, 1988) * Soulforce Revolution (Restless, 1989); #153 on the 1989 Billboard 200 * Old School (Headhunter/Cargo, 1991) * Out the Shizzy (Headhunter/Cargo, 1993) * alt.music.hardcore (Headhunter/Cargo, 1995) * The Music, The Message (Immortal/Epic, 1995) * Good To Go (SideOneDummy, 1999) * Scream Real Loud (SideOneDummy, 2000) * Take It Back, Take It On, Take It Over! (SideOneDummy, 2005) [edit] Compilations * Not So Quiet On The Western Front (MRR/Alternative Tentacles, 1982) * We Got Power: Party Or Go Home (Mystic, 1983) * Something To Believe In (BYO, 1984) * Nuke Your Dink (Positive Force, 1984) * Cleanse The Bacteria (Pusmort, 1985) * Another Shot For Bracken (Positive Force, 1986) * Four Bands That Could Change The World (Gasatanka, 1987) * Flipside Vinyl Fanzine, vol. 3 (Flipside, 1987) * Human Polity (One World Communications, 1993) * The Song Retains The Name, vol. 2 (Safe House, 1993) * Ten Years Later (Bossa Nova, 1997) * Short Music For Short People (Fat Wreck Chords, 1999) * Old School Punk Vol.1 (Walk Together, Rock Together) |
 | Lawnboy - Phish cover with theerion Lawnboy - Phish cover with theerion on rythym and vocals and strat2caster improvising some acoustic lead...another Sunday at Strats Place Phish was an American rock band noted for their extended jam sessions and musical improvisation. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983, the band's four members performed together for the better part of 21 years until their breakup in August 2004. Their music had elements of a wide variety of genres[1], including, but not limited to, rock, jazz, and funk sounds. Each of their concerts was original in terms of the songs performed, the order in which they appeared, and the way in which they were performed. Although the group received little radio play or MTV exposure, Phish developed a large and dedicated following by word of mouth, via Phish.net (originally a mailing list, then a Usenet newsgroup, now a website), and the exchange of live recordings. The beginning (1983-1992) Phish was formed at University of Vermont in 1983 by guitarists Trey Anastasio and Jeff Holdsworth, bassist Mike Gordon and drummer Jon Fishman. For their first gig, a Halloween dance in the basement of the ROTC dormitory, the band was billed as Blackwood Convention, a reference to a bidding convention in contract bridge. Their second gig — and their first billed as Phish — was November 3 in the basement of Slade Hall at UVM,[2] though another source gives the date as December 2.[3] The band was joined by percussionist Marc Daubert in the fall of 1984;[4] he left the band early in 1985,[5] and Page McConnell joined on keyboards in September. Holdsworth left the group after graduation in 1986, solidifying the band's lineup of "Trey, Page, Mike, and Fish" — the lineup that would remain for the rest of the band's lifespan.[5] Following a prank at UVM with his friend and former bandmate Steve Pollak — also known as "The Dude of Life" — Anastasio decided to leave the college. With the encouragement of McConnell (who received $50 for each transferee), Anastasio and Fishman relocated in mid-1986 to Goddard College, a small school in the hills of Plainfield, Vermont.[5] Phish distributed at least six different experimental self-titled cassettes during this era, including The White Tape.[6] This first studio recording was circulated in two variations: the first, mixed in a dorm room as late as 1985, received a higher distribution than the second studio remix of the original four tracks, circa 1987. The older version was officially released as The White Tape in 1998.[7] By 1985, the group had encountered Burlington, Vermont, luthier Paul Languedoc, who would eventually design two guitars for Anastasio and two basses for Gordon. In October 1986, he began working as their sound engineer. Since then, Languedoc built exclusively for the two, and his designs and traditional wood choices have given Phish a unique instrumental identity.[8] Recently, however, Languedoc has begun crafting guitars on custom order and, on a very limited basis, to the general public through local music shops. Phish in the fall of 1986.As his senior project, Anastasio penned The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday, a nine-song concept album that would become their second studio experiment. Recorded between 1987 and 1988, it was submitted in July of that year, accompanied by a written thesis. Elements of the story — known as Gamehendge — grew to include an additional eight songs. The band performed the suite in concert on five occasions: in 1988, 1991, 1993, and twice in 1994 without replicating the song list.[9] Beginning in the spring of 1988, the band began practicing in earnest, sometimes locking themselves in a room and jamming for hours on end. Dubbed "Okipa Ceremonies" (also spelled Oh Kee Pa), one such jam took place at Anastasio's apartment, and a second was at Paul Languedoc's house in August 1989.[10] The band attributes the sessions to Anastasio, who discovered the concept in the films A Man Called Horse and Modern Primitives.[11] As a result of this dedication, the band issued their first mass-released recording, a double album called Junta, later that year. On January 26, 1989, Phish played the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, Massachusetts. The owners of the club had never heard of Phish and refused to book them, so the band rented the club for the night. The show sold out due to the caravan of fans that had traveled to see the band.[12] By late 1990, Phish's concerts were becoming more and more intricate, often making a consistent effort to involve the audience in the performance. In a special "secret language,"[13] the audience would react in a certain manner based on a particular musical cue from the band. For instance, if Anastasio "teased" a motif from The Simpsons theme song, the audience would yell, "D'oh!" in imitation of Homer Simpson. (help·info) In 1992, Phish introduced collaboration between audience and band called the "Big Ball Jam" in which each band member would throw a large beach ball into the audience and play a note each time his ball was hit. In so doing, the audience was helping to create an original composition. In an experiment known as "The Rotation Jam", each member would switch instruments with the musician on his left. On occasion, a performance of "You Enjoy Myself" involved Gordon and Anastasio performing synchronized maneuvers on mini-trampolines while playing their instruments.[14] Phish, along with Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, and The Beatles, was one of the first bands to have a Usenet newsgroup (rec.music.phish), which launched in 1991. Aware of the band's growing popularity, Elektra Records signed them that year. The following year A Picture of Nectar was complete: their first major studio release, enjoying far more extensive production than either 1988's Junta or 1990s Lawn Boy. These albums were eventually re-released on Elektra, as well. The first annual H.O.R.D.E. festival in 1992 provided Phish with their first national tour of major amphitheaters. The lineup, among others, included Phish, Blues Traveler, The Spin Doctors, and Widespread Panic. That summer, the band toured Europe with the Violent Femmes and later toured Europe and the U.S. with Carlos Santana. Rise in popularity (1993-1995) Phish began headlining major amphitheaters in the summer of 1993. That year, the group released Rift packaged as a concept album and with heavy promotion from Elektra. In 1994, the band released Hoist. To promote the album, the band made their only video for MTV, "Down With Disease", airing in June of that year. On Halloween of that year, the group promised to don a fan-selected "musical costume" by playing an entire album from another band. After an extensive mail-based poll, Phish performed the 30-song, self-titled Beatles classic — better known as The White Album — as the second of their three sets at the Glens Falls Civic Center in upstate New York. Following the death of Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia in the summer of 1995 and the appearance of "Down With Disease" on Beavis and Butthead, the band experienced a surge in the growth of their fan base and an increased awareness in popular culture. Poster for Phish's 1995 Halloween extravaganzaIn their tradition of playing a well-known album by another band for Halloween, Phish contracted a full horn section for their performance of The Who's Quadrophenia in 1995. Their first live album — A Live One — which was released during the summer of 1995 became Phish's first RIAA certified gold album in November 1995.[15] During this fall tour, the band challenged their audience to two games of chess, with each show of the tour consisting of a pair of moves. The band made their move during the first set, and, during the break between sets, the audience members could vote on their collective move at the Greenpeace table. The audience conceded the first game at the November 15 show in Florida, and the band conceded the second at their New Year's Eve concert at Madison Square Garden. Having played only two games, the score remains tied at 1-1.[16] This year-end concert would later be named as one of the greatest concerts of the 1990s by Rolling Stone magazine.[17] Cultural icons (1996-2000) Phish retreated to their Vermont recording studio and recorded hours and hours of improvisations, sometimes overlaying them on one another, and used those tracks as a basis to write most of the songs on the second half of Billy Breathes, which they released in the fall of 1996. Alongside traditional rock-based crescendos, the album has more acoustic guitar than their previous records, and was regarded by the band and some fans[18] as their crowning studio achievement. That summer, they mounted their first two-day festival — The Clifford Ball — at a decommissioned Air Force base in Plattsburgh, New York. Between 70,000 and 80,000 people were in attendance; MTV was on-hand to document the experience. In Phish's own makeshift city, Great Northeast Productions created an amusement park, restaurants, a post office, playgrounds, arcades, and movie theaters, and for two days Plattsburg AFB was the ninth largest city in New York. Aside from six "traditional" sets, the band rode a flatbed truck through the campground, serenading the audience at 3 a.m.[19] The concert's production company went on to host six more Phish festivals. Jams were becoming so long that several 1997 sets contained only four songs; their improvisational ventures were developing into a new funk-inspired jamming style. Vermont-based ice cream conglomerate Ben & Jerry's launched "Phish Food" that year and proceeds from the flavor are donated to the Lake Champlain Initiative. Part of Phish's new non-profit foundation, The WaterWheel Foundation was also comprised of two other now-defunct branches: The Touring Branch and the Vermont Giving Program.[20] The Great Went, Phish's second large-scale festival, was held that summer at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine, just miles from the Canadian border. The band drew 65,000 people, qualifying the festival to be the largest city in Maine.[21] Band and audience collaborated yet again in a colossal work of art: individual pieces of art by fans were connected to a large piece of art by the band. A giant matchstick was lit, burning the resultant tower to the ground.[22] The Story of the GhostPhish headlined Farm Aid in the summer of 1998, sharing the stage with Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and Paul Shaffer. Again, altering their approach to studio releases, the band recorded hours of improvisational jams over a period of several days and took the highlights of those jams and wrote songs around them. The result was The Story of the Ghost and the instrumental The Siket Disc in 1999. Phish returned to Limestone for the Lemonwheel festival, and 70,000 fans again made the event the largest city in Maine. On Halloween in Las Vegas, Nevada, the group performed Loaded by The Velvet Underground; two nights later they played Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety to an audience of 4,000 in Utah. The following year, the band decided to forego the annual summer festival to prepare for the New Year's Eve millennium celebration. However, at the eleventh hour, Camp Oswego was held in July in Volney, New York, with 65,000 in attendance. For the Millennium Celebration, Phish traveled to the Big Cypress Indian Reservation in the Florida Everglades. Of the major New Years Eve concerts around the globe — Sting, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel — at 85,000, Phish had the largest attendance of any paid concert event that night.[23] During ABC's millennium coverage, Peter Jennings and World News Tonight reported on the massive audience and featured the band's performance of "Heavy Things". Called "Big Cypress", the enormous festival culminated with an extended seven-and-a-half hour set that began at midnight and ended at sunrise. 2000 saw no Halloween show, no summer festival and no new songs: May's Farmhouse contained material dating from 1997. That summer, the band announced that they would take their first "extended time-out" following their upcoming fall tour.[24] During the tour's last concert on October 7, 2000 at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, they played a regular show and left without saying a word as The Beatles' Let It Be played over the sound system. The hiatus allowed the members of Phish to explore more deeply their musical side projects. Anastasio continued the solo career he'd begun two years earlier, formed the group Oysterhead, and began conducting an orchestral composition with the Vermont Youth Orchestra. Gordon made an album with acoustic guitar legend Leo Kottke and two films before launching his own solo career. Fishman alternated between Jazz Mandolin Project and his band Pork Tornado, while McConnell formed the trio Vida Blue. One more time (2002-2004) Over two years after the hiatus began, Phish announced that they were getting back on the road with a New Year's Eve 2002 concert at Madison Square Garden. They also recorded Round Room in only three days. In their return concert, McConnell's brother was introduced as actor Tom Hanks. The doppelgänger sang a line of the song "Wilson", prompting several media outlets to report that the actor had "jammed with Phish." At the end of the 2003 summer tour, Phish held their first summer festival in four years, returning to Limestone for It. The festival drew crowds of over 60,000 fans, once again making Limestone the most populous city in Maine. In December, the band celebrated its 20th anniversary with a 4 show mini-tour culminating at Boston's Fleet Center. During the Albany date on this tour, Phish invited founding member Jeff Holdsworth onstage for the first time since 1986. In order to avoid the exhaustion and pitfalls of previous years' high-paced touring, Phish played sporadically after the reunion, with tours lasting about two weeks. After an April 2004 run of shows in Las Vegas, Anastasio announced on Phish.com that after a small summer tour the band was breaking up. Their final album, Undermind, was released in late spring. The band jammed with rapper Jay-Z at their second Brooklyn show in the summer of 2004, and performed a seven-song set atop the marquee of the Ed Sullivan Theater during The Late Show with David Letterman to fans who had gathered on the street, a move reminiscent of The Beatles' final performance on the rooftop of the Apple building in London. Their final show was also the last Phish summer festival — Coventry — named for the town in Vermont that hosted the event. 100,000 people were expected to attend, and it was simulcast to thousands more in movie theaters across America. Phish's final bow, August 15, 2004After a week of rain that prompted rumors of a sinking stage, Gordon announced on the local radio station that attendees should turn around, no more cars were being allowed in. As only about 20,000 people had been admitted, many concert-goers abandoned their vehicles on highway roadsides, shoulders and medians and hiked to the site, some as far as thirty miles. With the amount of people that walked in, the crowd grew to an estimated 65,000 in attendance. The band broke down crying onstage several times during the final concert, most notably when McConnell choked up during the ballad "Wading in the Velvet Sea" and elicited Anastasio to say a few words of farewell. Their final encore consisted of one song — "The Curtain" — which contains the now-meaningful repeated line "Please, me, have no regrets." Coventry was an emotional goodbye for Phish and for its audience; an end to Phish's chapter in rock music. Without any help from radio, music television channels or album sales, Phish became one of the biggest live acts of all time. As Rolling Stone put it:[25] " Given their sense of community, their ambition and their challenging, generous performances, Phish have become the most important band of the Nineties. " |
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