I want a reunion. I want a reunion. I want a reunion. I want a reunion. I want a reunion. I want a reunion. I want a reunion. I want a reunion. I want a reunion. I want a reunion. I want a reunion. I want a reunion. I want a reunion. I want a reunion. I want a reunion. I want a reunion.
Don't get me wrong, I also like Hogarth. He's a fine singer & writer. But........
I want a reunion.
_________________ Putty Cats are God's gift to the universe.
Cancer scare forces ex-Marillion frontman Fish to 'retire'
Dec 22, 2008
Former Marillion singer Fish has been forced to "retire from music" for at least six months because of a cancer scare.
Writing on a MySpace blog, Fish said he was diagnosed with "irregular cell growth" on one of his vocal chords in July.
The star is now awaiting hospital test results which will help determine how long he will have to take off from music, although he admitted that he will definitely be out of action until mid-2009.
"I am taking at least six months off from singing," Fish said. "I'd like to think that I can play some festivals in the summer of 2009, but there will be no arranged tours until 2010.
"I don't plan to even contemplate a new album until the end of next year. It all depends on what happens in the coming weeks. There are no set plans for any musical activity at the moment or in the near future."
Despite the setback, Fish remained upbeat.
He said: "In all honesty I am 50 years old, I smoke(d), drink, have a "colourful" history, have sung nearly 1,700 gigs in 27 years and have conducted probably three times as many interviews. It's like standing on the M1 and expecting not to be hit by a car."
Fish finished his message by saying he would see fans "onstage sometime".
It seems apt that on the closing day of 2008 I received the news that I had been hoping for in a phone call from my ENT doctor.
The biopsy samples taken from my vocal chords have come back negative on any malignant or pre-malignant growth. It appears that the source of all my problems has been a cyst which has been present for quite some time and was surgically removed during the recent examination.
I have been given a clean bill of health and told to start vocal exercises in order to stretch the repairing tissue. I can't explain how relieved I am.
My voice has dynamically changed since the growth was removed and was noticed on the phone by my doctor and commented on by Mo when she visited the studio yesterday. Even the muscle movement involved in swallowing has eased and for the first time in a couple of years I don't feel as if I have a golf ball in my throat.
I have to admit that certain newspaper reports got me down when after gleaning all their quotes from my blog they then came up with the assumption that I was finished as a singer. It appears they have most definitely got it wrong and one of my first calls was to Yatta to tell him to go ahead and book festivals for the Summer.
The other plans remain the same and I will be actively pursuing a revitalisation of my acting career and working on my novel as of the beginning of next year 2009.
I've already been approached to present and co-produce a series of programmes on '60s and '70s Scottish rock music by an independent film company; something that I find exciting and which will take me into an area I have wanted to investigate for quite some time.
It's most definitively going to be a busy year.
With the promise of festivals in the Summer there will obviously be a couple of warm up dates as I will have to put together a new set with hopefully my existing band line up. With this in mind I am going to look at the possibility of a convention in Haddington sometime next summer. Yatta and I will need to put our heads together to work out the feasibility of it all as I don't want to commit to any touring outside of festivals and staggered dates are difficult to maintain a settled band line up as some musicians will have other commitments that I have to respect and adjust to. I am confident I can make it happen and at least hit some stages in the middle of 2009.
I just want to wholeheartedly thank all of you who sent me emails and posted letters of support on the forum. It meant a lot to me as it was a difficult head space to be in for quite some time. I sincerely appreciated your best wishes and genuine concern and it continued to remind me what a special group of people I have out there and who are brought together by the music.
All I can do is wish you all a very happy and brilliant new year when it comes in and I will raise a glass to you all when the bells call in 2009.
We received big news for Marillion fans in North America, the band has announced a 13 date North American Tour that will take place next summer. Here are the details we were sent: Having maintained a continuous touring schedule through the rest of the world, as well as the high profile Marillion Convention Weekend events, this will be the band's first visit to the US since 2004.
The tour will hit several cities across North America, with 2-consecutive-night events planned in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. To mark the occasion of these special events, Marillion will be performing different set-lists over the consecutive shows in these cities. Fans travelling to these destinations will witness unique sets as the band set-up camp in select markets.
As legions of fans that regularly flock to see the band live or buy their records are all too aware, there really is no other band like Marillion. Hailed as Internet pioneers for their game-changing use of technology to unify and mobilize their global fan community, Marillion have been un-compromising with their music and vision. With their revolutionary presale campaigns, in-house label and their own Racket Records recording studio, Marillion have remained uniquely independent.
The overwhelming demand to bring Marillion back to the States once resulted in a fan-sponsored tour fund and a series of legendary dates for rabid fans in 1997. For their 2012 return to North America though, everyone's invited to experience the unforgettable show that only Marillion can deliver. Currently in the studio, creating their 17th studio album, Marillion look forward to unveiling their latest collection in mid 2012 as they hit US shores.
June 2012 10 Washington, DC 9:30 Club 12 New York, NY Irving Plaza 13 New York, NY Irving Plaza 15 Philadelphia, PA Theatre Of The Living Arts (TLA) 16 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club 18 Quebec City, QC Imperial 19 Montreal, QC Olympia 20 Toronto, ON Opera House 22 Chicago, IL Park West 23 Chicago, IL Park West 27 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues 28 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues 29 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
Not sure what I'll do here. I've see them live 8 times and was there on the last tour in 2004 which was underwhelming. If they're just going to play (what in my opinion) is their latest garbage from the last 3-4 albums no way I'd go. But if they at least play some of the old Hogarth and Fish material I might go for the Philly show. This used to be a very special band to me and my friends and now none of us care anymore. I'd like to see them one more time, but I would really need to have an idea of what they'd be playing. An entire Season's End would certainly get me there.
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
I saw the Marbles tour at Irving Plaza. They were amazing, but my back & legs can no longer handle standing for concerts. If I remember correctly, the doors opened at 8, they went on at around 9:30 or 10, and they played for nearly 2-1/2 hours. It was brutal. I barely tolerated it when I was in my 20s, but not at all in my 40s. So sadly I'll have to pass on this tour, unless Irving Plaza does one of their rare shows with seating.
I will absolutely pass on this. Wasn't too keen anyway, but tickets are $50 and $62 before fees. Insane. Plus, standing all night is a killer. Sorry guys.
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
If they'd only go flac at these prices, they'd have some of my business. I will only by an mp3 if I am DESPERATE & the song is available in no other format..
_________________ Putty Cats are God's gift to the universe.
Fish recently posted this on his Facebook site, a very good explanation on the pitfalls of touring when you are a secondary act. Might give everyone a little empathy on the state of the biz for working musicians:
The dates I have posted for this year are the only shows I am playing in Europe. Some of you have asked why not Italy? France? Spain? etc etc.
The bottom line is that with band and crew wages,agency commission,local/national taxes, nightliner bus and hotel costs, fuel, food and all the other sundries associated with day to day touring working on an average of 5 shows a week I need at least £5000 a gig to pay for it all. And that is before I make a penny!
To put it in perspective the offers I have had from Italy so far are on guarantees of around 2000 euros.I only work to guarantees as the percentages I get if more people show up mean nothing if they don't and I have been clobbered in the past taking gambles.I am personally responsible for all my costs and to the people I employ.
It's all very well posting here about such and such a town or country but turning up in such and such a town or city because 12 people have posted here doesn't mean that the thousand or so I need to make up the numbers will appear.
The promoters make their offers on what they think is the tickets they know they will sell for definite. They don't want to lose their shirt and neither do I.
My agent does his best to find me the shows but if promoters aren't willing to pay the money to support my costs then there is no show.There's no point in throwing the toys out the pram on this it's just a reality.I accept that.
Too many bands are touring because they can't make money on physical album sales and 'Johnny Punter' has only so much disposable income to spend on concert tickets never mind the time in their lives to attend gigs.Some bands and promoters are getting hurt out there especially when 'premier' bands come out with tickets at £65 plus and hoover up that 'disposable income' leaving the 'championship' and 'lower league' bands struggling to sell venues.. It's the way the music business is these days. I accept that.
So what do I do? Hike ticket prices higher and play to a more 'select' and well heeled audience to get the guarantees higher? I don't think a lot of fans would be happy about that and I think the attendances would suffer.
Play more shows in a week to spread the costs? Physically I can't play 4 shows in a row anymore without it having detrimental effects on my voice and 3 on day off 3 doesn't work either as we have travel movements and venue availabilities to take into account.- and that is a tough call on a long tour even if we could get the rabbits in a row!
I'm not going to go over the North America question again here as I am tired of dealing with explanations. All I will say is there are even more costs involved there and I couldn't make 13 shows work with guarantees of $150 000.
In 2016 I was harangued by Spanish fans to replace shows in Madrid and Barcelona after cancelling them through illness on the previous tour. I made the effort and came down with 2 shows in 5 days due to travel distances. I played to around 800 people across those 2 gigs. The promoter lost money as did I. He hasn't offered what I need this year.
I'd like to get out in April/ May 2019 and play those countries missing on this years schedules but I can't take risks and cannot afford to lose money especially at this time in my life. My agent is continuing to try and bring touring together and he will continue to haggle best he can to make it happen but I'm afraid the bottom line is if the guarantees aren't there then I have to stay at home.
And just to add to the difficulties I already have making budgets work in a couple of years the shambles that is Brexit is potentially going to make things far worse than is now in the coming years.
Working visas for every European country for band and crew, Carnets at every border crossing with VAT checks and accounting meaning long delays getting to shows on buses and trucks whose drive time is regulated which will threaten shows as we can't guarantee arriving on time. Reciprocal tax agreements potentially thrown out the window meaning we can't claim - for example - 19% tax we pay in Germany on all shows after production costs. The list goes on and on.
Touring is a very hard and difficult undertaking and requires a lot of logistical thinking and financing to pull it off. If it works then great but if it doesn't the downside is potentially disastrous.I prefer not to court disaster these days.
I love playing shows and this 50 date tour this year is a massive exercise that has proved and will prove very demanding. We have managed to make the figures work on these gigs but even then there are a couple of gambles in order to make the routing work.
Just because we aren't playing in your town , city or country shouldn't be taken personally. It's not through choice it's through lack of viable offers from promoters and,sad to say, demand.
Some will say "oh here he goes moaning again". I'm not. I accept the reality of my situation and I wish some people out there would accept it too.
I am retiring from the music business in 2020 and it's the right time. Until then enjoy the shows while they are still there and I sincerely appreciate your support on this upcoming tour. We will have some fun
Fish
BTW, I can't wait to actually meet the man on 2019's Cruise To The Edge.
_________________ "Every day a little sadder, A little madder, Someone get me a ladder."
ELP
“You can't have everything. Where would you put it?”—Steven Wright
Fish recently posted this on his Facebook site, a very good explanation on the pitfalls of touring when you are a secondary act. Might give everyone a little empathy on the state of the biz for working musicians:
The dates I have posted for this year are the only shows I am playing in Europe. Some of you have asked why not Italy? France? Spain? etc etc.
The bottom line is that with band and crew wages,agency commission,local/national taxes, nightliner bus and hotel costs, fuel, food and all the other sundries associated with day to day touring working on an average of 5 shows a week I need at least £5000 a gig to pay for it all. And that is before I make a penny!
To put it in perspective the offers I have had from Italy so far are on guarantees of around 2000 euros.I only work to guarantees as the percentages I get if more people show up mean nothing if they don't and I have been clobbered in the past taking gambles.I am personally responsible for all my costs and to the people I employ.
It's all very well posting here about such and such a town or country but turning up in such and such a town or city because 12 people have posted here doesn't mean that the thousand or so I need to make up the numbers will appear.
The promoters make their offers on what they think is the tickets they know they will sell for definite. They don't want to lose their shirt and neither do I.
My agent does his best to find me the shows but if promoters aren't willing to pay the money to support my costs then there is no show.There's no point in throwing the toys out the pram on this it's just a reality.I accept that.
Too many bands are touring because they can't make money on physical album sales and 'Johnny Punter' has only so much disposable income to spend on concert tickets never mind the time in their lives to attend gigs.Some bands and promoters are getting hurt out there especially when 'premier' bands come out with tickets at £65 plus and hoover up that 'disposable income' leaving the 'championship' and 'lower league' bands struggling to sell venues.. It's the way the music business is these days. I accept that.
So what do I do? Hike ticket prices higher and play to a more 'select' and well heeled audience to get the guarantees higher? I don't think a lot of fans would be happy about that and I think the attendances would suffer.
Play more shows in a week to spread the costs? Physically I can't play 4 shows in a row anymore without it having detrimental effects on my voice and 3 on day off 3 doesn't work either as we have travel movements and venue availabilities to take into account.- and that is a tough call on a long tour even if we could get the rabbits in a row!
I'm not going to go over the North America question again here as I am tired of dealing with explanations. All I will say is there are even more costs involved there and I couldn't make 13 shows work with guarantees of $150 000.
In 2016 I was harangued by Spanish fans to replace shows in Madrid and Barcelona after cancelling them through illness on the previous tour. I made the effort and came down with 2 shows in 5 days due to travel distances. I played to around 800 people across those 2 gigs. The promoter lost money as did I. He hasn't offered what I need this year.
I'd like to get out in April/ May 2019 and play those countries missing on this years schedules but I can't take risks and cannot afford to lose money especially at this time in my life. My agent is continuing to try and bring touring together and he will continue to haggle best he can to make it happen but I'm afraid the bottom line is if the guarantees aren't there then I have to stay at home.
And just to add to the difficulties I already have making budgets work in a couple of years the shambles that is Brexit is potentially going to make things far worse than is now in the coming years.
Working visas for every European country for band and crew, Carnets at every border crossing with VAT checks and accounting meaning long delays getting to shows on buses and trucks whose drive time is regulated which will threaten shows as we can't guarantee arriving on time. Reciprocal tax agreements potentially thrown out the window meaning we can't claim - for example - 19% tax we pay in Germany on all shows after production costs. The list goes on and on.
Touring is a very hard and difficult undertaking and requires a lot of logistical thinking and financing to pull it off. If it works then great but if it doesn't the downside is potentially disastrous.I prefer not to court disaster these days.
I love playing shows and this 50 date tour this year is a massive exercise that has proved and will prove very demanding. We have managed to make the figures work on these gigs but even then there are a couple of gambles in order to make the routing work.
Just because we aren't playing in your town , city or country shouldn't be taken personally. It's not through choice it's through lack of viable offers from promoters and,sad to say, demand.
Some will say "oh here he goes moaning again". I'm not. I accept the reality of my situation and I wish some people out there would accept it too.
I am retiring from the music business in 2020 and it's the right time. Until then enjoy the shows while they are still there and I sincerely appreciate your support on this upcoming tour. We will have some fun
Fish
BTW, I can't wait to actually meet the man on 2019's Cruise To The Edge.
I've met Fish 3 or 4 times, and though he's a little gruff, he's very nice and in a really tough spot.
I'd love a reunion tour with Marillion, but that ain't gonna happen, but I totally get why he can't tour a lot.
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
Fish has been doing a live Facebook Q&A each Friday afternoon during this crisis usually at 1PM EST. Today he spent nearly 2 hours talking all things Fish and Marillion and previewed a song from his upcoming new album (to be released in September).
He is a great conversationalist. Today's talk can be found on his Facebook page.
_________________ "Every day a little sadder, A little madder, Someone get me a ladder."
ELP
“You can't have everything. Where would you put it?”—Steven Wright
On today’s afternoon with Fish live on Facebook, Fish made mince & tatties live in his kitchen while talking music. Mince & Tatties is a Scottish delight. A real fun 2 hours with a fella thats like hanging out with a friend (who lives in Scotland).
_________________ "Every day a little sadder, A little madder, Someone get me a ladder."
ELP
“You can't have everything. Where would you put it?”—Steven Wright
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