For a decade Citizen Fish has been touring the world: turning gatherings, benefits and gigs into an international never-ending weekend. These four dudes from the UK: Dick (vocals, motormouth, idealist, one set of clothes for each tour), Phil (guitar, facial hair, soccer, model for BEAR magazine), Jasper (bass, sweaters, cigarettes, ladies man) and Trotsky (drums, proprietor of a successful worm farm,... Read More.

For a decade Citizen Fish has been touring the world: turning gatherings, benefits and gigs into an international never-ending weekend. These four dudes from the UK: Dick (vocals, motormouth, idealist, one set of clothes for each tour), Phil (guitar, facial hair, soccer, model for BEAR magazine), Jasper (bass, sweaters, cigarettes, ladies man) and Trotsky (drums, proprietor of a successful worm farm, possibly the only member who can drive a van or bench his weight), have created a blend of Punk, Ska and straight up Rock?n?Roll that appeals to the sing-a-long music fans and even the "muso" musician types who typically dismiss Punks as not being able to play their instruments. But it?s not so much the fact that these dudes are the most talented musicians in England, it?s what they say and how they say it. In a fun loving, all inclusive way, Citizen Fish (and their previous outfits Culture Shock and the legendary Subhumans) have brought working class radical politics to generations of questioning minds. Leaving aside the typical screaming, black & white &angry rants of boring political Punk bands, the Fish offer a hopeful, danceable alternative.

Whereas other bands have fans, admirers and flavor-of-the-month teenyboppers hoarding to their concerts, Citizen Fish have established an open and always growing family. The idealistic unifying tone of Dick?s lyrics, coupled with the catchy driving riffs of the band, allow the Fish to appeal to a wide variety of folks. Heck, they are the only Punk band my whole immediate family has seen play live, twice! My mother still partially blames the band for my father?s unemployment. After hearing Dick?s ranting prelude to "Call in Sick" at a Philly gig, my father burst out applauding and shouting "Yeah now that?s a good one! Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!" and took another 6 months off. Touring the USA with the Fish is more like a good family vacation than working as a cog in the ugly and never-ending corporate world of Rock?n?Roll promotions. Roadies Richard, Karoline, Pete, Paula and the rotating AK Press bookseller roam the halls, dance up a storm and fill up floors on Punk houses ranging from the grimy squat in Etters to the hot tubbed palaces of Los Angeles. Everywhere the Fish goes, a bottle, a smoke and a friendly conversation is sure to follow. Familiar dancing faces in every town, beers and vegetarian meals, and local activists filling the gig halls with information, ideas and inspiration for positive change is what Citizen Fish are all about.

Craig O'Hara Author, The Philosophy of Punk