They Have All Abandoned Their Hopes

They All Have Abandoned Their Hopes
By: Pete Crigler

         This is the story of Fishbone, one of the most kickass woefully underappreciated bands ever! It’s an often confusing and disheartening story but it needs to be told because this band has had such an impact on other bands that their impact has been completely overshadowed and largely forgotten.
         In 1979, Fishbone formed in California as a rockin’ six-piece with Angelo Moore on vocals and saxophone, Norwood Fisher on bass, Chris Dowd on vocals, keyboards and trombone, Kendall Jones on guitar, Philip ‘Fish’ Fisher on drums and ‘Dirty’ Walter Kibby on vocals and trumpet. From the beginning, the band blended elements of soul, gospel, R&B, funk, rock and ska together to create one hell of a sound. They became known all over California for an intense live show which included insane mosh pits and Angelo regularly stage diving while carrying a sixty pound sax.
         By the early eighties, the band was becoming known in the underground punk scene. Then in 1984, they released a 7 inch EP which contained the legendary “Skankin’ to the Beat” which was later used in the film “Say Anything.” Not long afterward, the band signed to Columbia Records and began working on their self-titled EP, which was released in 1985. The first single was the chaotic and immortal “Party at Ground Zero” which also became their first video, a weird and now painfully dated mix of animation, masks and the apocalypse. The EP also contained the second single “(?) Modern Industry” which was nothing but radio station call letters. This song showed that whatever they could think of to write about, they did. It also contained the classic, if just for the title “V.T.T.L.O.T.F.D.G.F.” which allegedly stood for “Voyage to the Land of the Freeze-Dried Godzilla Farts” as well as one of their best songs ever, “Lyin’ Ass Bitch.”
         In 1986, they came back with their first full-length record, In Your Face. This record began to explore the various elements of their sound. Songs like “Cholly” and “When Problems Arise” were hard and funky while others like “Turn the Other Way” and “Give It Up” showed the soul that lay underneath the funky exterior. “When Problems Arise” was the only single released from the record and ironically, problems began arising not long after the record was released. The band began to feel stifled by producer David Kahne’s involvement in their work, which included adding additional guitar and keyboards and co-writing “When Problems Arise,” “A Selection,” “Knock It,” “In the Air” and “Give It Up.” Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of the band’s problems.
         While recording their next album, guitarist Kendall Jones’ mother passed away. This was an extremely traumatic event in Kendall’s life and what some people say was the start of a long downward spiral that would top out a few years later. The resulting album, Truth and Soul was released in 1988 and was dedicated to his mother. Truth and Soul was critically hailed as a triumph upon its release with songs like “Change” enabling the band to explore their sound even further. The record peaked at #153 on the Billboard chart but I believe Columbia botched it. The first single was a sub par metal redo of Curtis Mayfield’s “Freddie’s Dead” and the second single was “Ma and Pa.” If you ask me, the first single should’ve been Chris Dowd’s “Pouring Rain,” a beautiful piece of soulful funk and the second single should’ve been “Slow Bus Movin’ (Howard Beach Party)” a slammin’ piece of funky spoken-word which had been recorded and performed by the band in the film “Tapeheads” also released in 1988. The record also spawned one of the band’s most notorious songs, “Bonin’ in the Boneyard,” which was later released as an EP along with outtakes. The band toured for over a year, receiving tons of raves before settling down to start working on a new record.
         During this time, the band added John Bigham, a former sideman to Miles Davis to the lineup as a second guitarist. It was also during this time the band’s long-standing feud with David Kahne finally came to an end as the band began producing themselves. Kahne wound up with an executive producer credit as well as a co-producing credit on three songs. When The Reality of My Surroundings was released in the spring of 1991, it was a chaotic, bizarre and brilliant masterpiece. Styles ranged from R&B-gospel (“Everyday Sunshine,”) punk (“Pressure”) and funk (“Housework.”) Then there was some of the strangest stuff the band had done, including the rambling four-part spoken word “If I Were A…I’d” and Walter Kibby’s bizarre “Babyhead.” Videos for “Everyday Sunshine” and “Sunless Saturday” launched the album to #49 on the chart and an appearance on “Saturday Night Live” should’ve pushed the band over the top. But the band would never be this huge again. Promotion for the record stalled and a video for the third single “Fight the Youth” was never made.
         Then the band parted ways with David Kahne once and for all and hooked up with Pantera producer Terry Date and began working on a new record. During this time, Kendall began falling apart. Stories from other bandmembers had him trying to baptize their instruments and there were also reports from various sources that said he’d tried to baptize his girlfriend. They also said he was becoming extremely depressed over an ex-fiancée and an increasing drinking problem wasn’t helping matters. Desperate, the band said he turned to his father, who had become involved with a cult. Discussions with his father led Kendall to believe he was doing the ‘devil’s work’ and at one point called the band, its music and everything it had ever stood for as ‘demonic.’ After finishing the record, Kendall took a leave of absence as John Bigham stepped into the main guitarist role for the band’s slot on Lollapalooza in the summer of 1993.
         Then around July of 1993, Norwood decided to try and help Kendall. He recruited Kendall’s brother and ex-girlfriend and attempted to kidnap him off an L.A. street to try and get him into an institution. Apparently, Norwood approached Kendall and told him they were going to take him somewhere to get help. Then he and the brother picked Kendall up and attempted to stuff him into a van. Kendall began crying and screaming “help me, help me!” Ultimately, Kendall’s cries for help brought attention so Norwood and his associates left Kendall behind as well as evidence like duct tape and a stun gun. Kendall’s father then pressed attempted kidnapping charges against the trio. But when the case was brought to court, Kendall’s mental stability was brought into question. While testifying, he told the jury he was perfectly sane but had undergone some emotional problems. In the end, Norwood and his associates were acquitted and Kendall’s family didn’t pursue the case further. Norwood later said in an interview, “You know what got us the full acquittal in the courtroom, though? Kendall got on the stand, and under examination and cross-examination, he went bug wild!” Kendall subsequently left the band and dropped out of sight.
         When the new record, oddly titled Give a Monkey a Brain and He’ll Swear He’s the Center of the Universe was released in the summer of 1993, it tanked, only reaching #99 on the chart. The reason it didn’t do very well is because Fishbone’s time had passed and I believe they knew this which was why the record was so much harder than its predecessor. Also, songs like “Warmth of Your Breath” and “Drunk Schizo” didn’t jump out and scream, “I’m radio-friendly. Please play me!” Although “Swim” was on the “Last Action Hero” soundtrack, neither “Unyielding Conditioning” nor “Lemon Meringue” succeeded and the band began slowing down.
         After promoting the record, Chris Dowd departed (or was fired depending on which band member is speaking) because of rampant infighting and the loss of Kendall. Chris and Kendall were partners in singing and writing and without Kendall, Chris had no one to help him battle the other five when it came to various decisions, both musical and financial. Also, there were various stories spread all over Fishbone’s official message board that said Walter wanted Chris to leave so he could become more of a frontman, an opportunity that became smaller and smaller the bigger they got because Chris was more soulful and Walter was more goofy and rough and that wouldn’t work if they became successful.
Finally what sealed Chris’ fate I think was his behavior while promoting Give a Monkey a Brain. During the tour, he would often throw temper tantrums and would be hateful towards the audience if they didn’t give him enough respect. Chris then formed a band called the Seedy Arkhestra which released one record, Puzzle, which included a diss track aimed at the band called “Flogging Your Dead Horse.” Then just as Chris left, Columbia dropped the band. Now a band that three years earlier had been on top of the world would spend many more years trying to crawl back from the abyss.
         Then starting around the end of 1994, they began touring in order to make ends meet. Finally in late 1995-early 1996, they were signed to Rowdy, a new subsidiary of Arista formed by Dallas Austin, the producer who crafted many of TLC’s hits. Immediately afterward, they started recording a new record. In the summer of 1996, Chim Chim’s Badass Revenge was released. It peaked at #158 on the chart for a week and then disappeared. Apparently, in order to try and sell the record, the label attempted to get the first single played at urban radio. That ploy failed because one listen to the record would’ve told them that songs like the concert staple “Alcoholic” and the ten minute “Nuttmeg” were far too hard for urban radio to play. The hardness was undoubtedly a result of all the shit the band had gone through over the past four years. By the end of the year, Rowdy had closed down and the band was reduced to supporting bands like 311 in the summer of 1997 in order to get their name out in the public.
         Then in late 1997, John Bigham left because of musical differences. After he left he played with Everlast for a while and then started his own band The Soul of John Black. In the meantime, Fishbone continued with new members and kept on touring.
         Then in 1998, Phil Fisher left. He had been extremely unhappy with the band and was pissed at being in a good band but not getting any money and had often taken his frustrations out on the band and producer David Kahne. During his last few months in the band, Phil was so disappointed with the band’s situation that he would play with his back to the crowd. Apparently the final straw was an argument he had with Norwood. As a result, he immediately quit and he and Norwood ceased speaking for a time though apparently tempers have cooled since then. Since he left the band, Phil has played with Hootie & the Blowfish, Justin Timberlake and is now the drummer in Jada Pinkett-Smith’s metal band Wicked Wisdom. The band replaced him with Deion Murdock, then Clinton Cameron and finally John Steward. A short time later, they found a permanent replacement for Chris in John McKnight who’s been with the band ever since.
         After the seemingly unending fiasco, the band continued touring and occasionally making demos to send to record companies. After getting a new guitarist, Spacey T, in 1997, the band was able to hook up with Hollywood Records sometime in 1999 and began recording a new album. Around this time, Walter released a solo album on the indie Triple X. It didn’t do anything but Walter’s creative juices started flowing again and he believed the band could be reinvigorated as well. That summer, Santana had a comeback with a cameo-fueled album and Hollywood believed they could do the same thing with Fishbone. Once the band was informed of what could happen, they began bringing in all of their well-known friends like Rick James, Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, George Clinton, Gwen Stefani of No Doubt, H.R. of Bad Brains, Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction and Donny Osmond, whom they’d met when they performed on the “Donny & Marie” talk show in 1999.
         In April of 2000, the band released Fishbone and the Familyhood Nextperience Presents: The Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx. The first single, “The Suffering” bombed and the record didn’t even chart. After the single died, the label lost interest in the album and a second single was never released. By the end of the year, the band had been dropped and went back to touring.
         During this time, Norwood more or less took over the direction of the band and as a result, they relentlessly continued touring. In 2002, they released a live album Live at the Temple Bar and More but other than that, nothing new was forthcoming.
As a result of this and other things, tensions began to grow once again and Walter and Spacey T were becoming upset at the lack of motivation in the band as well as the fact that the band had new songs to record but just chose not to. Then sometime in 2004, the band announced that Walter and Spacey had both departed. The shock of the announcement was almost a deathblow to the band and surprised all the fans. According to an insider who posted on the band’s message board, Angelo thought the band would most likely disband after their departure. But being the stubborn optimists they are, they continued on and brought in a few new guys to replace them. Spacey and Walter then announced they would reform Spacey’s old eighties metal band Sound Barrier but then announced they’d formed a new band called Year of the Dragon.
         In late 2005, Fishbone made their first video in five years for a cover of Sublime’s “Date Rape,” which they’d recorded for a tribute album. The song was good but Angelo’s vocal problems were painfully obvious. Fifteen years ago, he could scream, wail and croon with no problem at all but now he sounds like he can barely sing above a loud croak. He still has the dynamic stage presence that has made a Fishbone live show so exciting but whether he can carry on in the studio remains to be seen. But rest assure, he will continue singing no matter what ends up happening.
         2006 has been a busy year for the band. They still tour, playing all sorts of venues from clubs in America to marijuana festivals in Amsterdam. In October, the band released a new album called Still Stuck in Your Throat, produced by of all people, David Kahne. Initially, the album was only released in Europe but it was released in April of 2007 in America with “Party with Saddam” being the first single. They also had a part in the long-awaited but ill-advised Outkast movie “Idlewild” and Angelo led the spoken-word tent at this year’s Warped tour as his alter-ego for spoken-word performances Dr. Madd Vibe.
         Throughout their career, Fishbone has been through so much shit it’s amazing they didn’t finally break up when Spacey and Walter left. But because the band knows nothing else other than the music, they will continue to bring down the house at any venue they play for however long they plan on being around. One could only hope if the band ever gets inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (they’ll be up in 2010) that a massive reunion including Chris, Phil, Walter and Kendall will finally take place. Until then, one can only dream.