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From Billboard.com:
http://www.billboard.com/bb/daily/artic ... 1000518665

Phish To Split Following Summer Tour

In a surprising move, Vermont-based jam band Phish plans to split following the conclusion of its summer tour in August. Guitarist Trey Anastasio confirmed the news today (May 25) on the group's official Web site.

"Last Friday night, I got together with [bassist] Mike [Gordon], [keyboardist] Page [McConnell] and [drummer Jon Fishman] to talk openly about the strong feelings I've been having that Phish has run its course and that we should end it now while it's still on a high note," Anastasio wrote. "Once we started talking, it quickly became apparent that the other guys' feelings, while not all the same as mine, were similar in many ways -- most importantly, that we all love and respect Phish and the Phish audience far too much to stand by and allow it to drag on beyond the point of vibrancy and health."

He continued, "We don't want to become caricatures of ourselves, or worse yet, a nostalgia act. By the end of the meeting, we realized that after almost 21 years together we were faced with the opportunity to graciously step away in unison, as a group, united in our friendship and our feelings of gratitude."

Phish's final shows will be held Aug. 14-15 in Coventry, Vt. "We're also excited for the June and August shows, our last tour together," Anastasio said. "For the sake of clarity, I should say that this is not like the hiatus, which was our last attempt to revitalize ourselves. We're done. It's been an amazing and incredible journey. We thank you all for the love and support that you've shown us."

The group will release what now appears to be its final studio album, "Undermind," June 15 via Elektra.

Phish took a hiatus between 2000-2002, during which its members worked on a variety of solo projects. The quartet has toured fairly regularly since; its 2003 tour took in $14 million from just 19 dates.

In related news, Phish's June 17 concert at Keyspan Park in Coney Island, N.Y., will be broadcast live to 47 movie theaters throughout the United States. The show, to be recorded in high-definition video and Dolby surround sound, will be screened at select Regal, Edwards and United Artists theaters in or near a number of major U.S. markets, including Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia.

-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Oh dear. This will be a very sad day for a friend of mine.

((((((((((cartmill)))))))))))

I saw them back in the early 90s at the Boat House in Norfolk, VA and didn't see the fasination with them then nor do I see it now but to each their own, it's always a sad day when a band announce's their demise. Still, I'd rather attend a Phish show than a Dave Matthews one depending on how well the supply of No Doze is holding out of course...

now what will the dirty hippies do without a band to follow around the country?maybe get jobs?

tommcat327 wrote:now what will the dirty hippies do without a band to follow around the country?maybe get jobs?

Maybe become parrotheads?

tommcat327 wrote:now what will the dirty hippies do without a band to follow around the country?maybe get jobs?

I don't know about Phish fans but I've known plenty of fans of the Grateful Dead over the years and they all supported themselves just fine while following the Dead around.

tommcat327 wrote:now what will the dirty hippies do without a band to follow around the country?maybe get jobs?

Buy some soap and take a shower?

LIPH wrote:

tommcat327 wrote:now what will the dirty hippies do without a band to follow around the country?maybe get jobs?

Buy some soap and take a shower?

duuuude,crazy idea man.thats like such a wild concept

Jahfin wrote:

tommcat327 wrote:now what will the dirty hippies do without a band to follow around the country?maybe get jobs?

I don't know about Phish fans but I've known plenty of fans of the Grateful Dead over the years and they all supported themselves just fine while following the Dead around.

not the ones around here.unless you consider selling drugs and tie dye t-shirts a job.if thats the case then i stand corrected.they are all real entrepeneurs

...I heard the announcement was only going to last for a minute, but they improvised for three hours after making the announcement....

tommcat327 wrote:

Jahfin wrote:

tommcat327 wrote:now what will the dirty hippies do without a band to follow around the country?maybe get jobs?

I don't know about Phish fans but I've known plenty of fans of the Grateful Dead over the years and they all supported themselves just fine while following the Dead around.

not the ones around here.unless you consider selling drugs and tie dye t-shirts a job.if thats the case then i stand corrected.they are all real entrepeneurs

I can't speak for the drugs thing. I'm referring to craftspeople (and yes making tie dye t-shirts is a craft) and people that vend in the parking lots selling a variety of items from crafts to food. If it enables them to follow their favorite band around, more power to 'em.

Key Lime Lee wrote:...I heard the announcement was only going to last for a minute, but they improvised for three hours after making the announcement....

and did it all sound the same?

First The Fat Boys breakup and now this.

But really I think Jimmy will be having a few more fans following him next year.

Jahfin wrote:I can't speak for the drugs thing. I'm referring to craftspeople (and yes making tie dye t-shirts is a craft and people that vend in the parking lots selling a variety of items from crafts to food. If it enables them to follow their favorite band around, more power to 'em.

ah yes,in the finest traditions of olde world craftsmanship

you guys dont like Phish? Guess I like a variety of music...i love Phish, although Ive never been to a concert. Looks like I should try to make it to one this summer if i can.

MelliJellyBean wrote:you guys dont like Phish? Guess I like a variety of music...i love Phish, although Ive never been to a concert. Looks like I should try to make it to one this summer if i can.

i like to fish

tommcat327 wrote:

Jahfin wrote:I can't speak for the drugs thing. I'm referring to craftspeople (and yes making tie dye t-shirts is a craft and people that vend in the parking lots selling a variety of items from crafts to food. If it enables them to follow their favorite band around, more power to 'em.

ah yes,in the finest traditions of olde world craftsmanship

I don't think anyone ever said that in order to make money by following the Grateful Dead that they had to be skilled at "olde world craftmanship" and to be honest I'm not sure what you even mean by that. My point is, not all fans of the Grateful Dead fit into the stereotype you seem to think of them as. If they can make money to get them to show to show I see nothing whatsoever the matter with it. I'm glad something like the Grateful Dead existed (and still does to a degree but it will never be the same as when Garcia was alive) because it afforded people with a wanderlust to live out their fantasy of living on the road outside the confines of society as most people know it. Jack Kerouac wrote about it and lived it himself, I think it's wonderful that others got to do it as well.

Jahfin wrote:

tommcat327 wrote:

Jahfin wrote:I can't speak for the drugs thing. I'm referring to craftspeople (and yes making tie dye t-shirts is a craft and people that vend in the parking lots selling a variety of items from crafts to food. If it enables them to follow their favorite band around, more power to 'em.

ah yes,in the finest traditions of olde world craftsmanship

I don't think anyone ever said that in order to make money by following the Grateful Dead that they had to be skilled at "olde world craftmanship" and to be honest I'm not sure what you even mean by that. My point is, not all fans of the Grateful Dead fit into the stereotype you seem to think of them as. If they can make money to get them to show to show I see nothing whatsoever the matter with it. I'm glad something like the Grateful Dead existed (and still does to a degree but it will never be the same as when Garcia was alive) because it afforded people with a wanderlust to live out their fantasy of living on the road outside the confines of society as most people know it. Jack Kerouac wrote about it and lived it himself, I think it's wonderful that others got to do it as well.

DITTO... there are plenty of people who follow Jimmy all over the place too... i think it's cool, and wish I had the opportunity to do it.

MelliJellyBean wrote:you guys dont like Phish? Guess I like a variety of music...i love Phish, although Ive never been to a concert. Looks like I should try to make it to one this summer if i can.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I saw them a long time ago but I just didn't get into them. I've also heard a number of their records over the years but they've just never done anything for me. Same thing goes for a lot of other so-called "jam" bands out there like String Cheese Incident, Moe., and others. Some I do like are Widespread Panic, Leftover Salmon, Donna the Buffalo (who I've never really thought of as a "jam" band anyway), Robert Randolph and the Yonder Mountain String Band. Most jam bands lose me once the noodling begins. Yep, that's the very definition of a "jam" band but if they aren't able to keep the improvisation interesting then it just bores me. I think the band most of these groups were inspired by, the Grateful Dead, did it best and that's a lot to live up to. Yes, the Dead had their off nights but when they were on I felt they were one of the best live bands on the planet. So no, I don't hate Phish, I was just never a fan.