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This week on In Defense of Ska, Fishbone bassist Norwood Fisher discuss the band’s wild career. Listen above, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Fisher gets into the nitty-gritty of Fishbone’s surreal career with moments like opening for Gallagher, hanging out with Karate Kid star William Zabka, and having Dave Grohl’s original band Scream open for them. Apparently, Grohl politely asked if Fishbone drummer Philip “Fish” Fisher could strike his kit after soundcheck so Scream could use the drum riser.
“I already knew the likelihood was a no answer, but I went and asked Fish. And Fish was like, ‘Hell no,’” recalls Fisher. “Decades and decades later, I was at Foo Fighters at the Forum backstage talking to dudes like Alice in Chains… Lemmy was there too. Me and Dave Grohl had a moment when we just talked a little bit, and that moment flashed — I was embarrassed! I was like, ‘Damn, my brother was like, ‘Hell no,’ and look at Dave Grohl now.’”
Fisher also discusses the band’s connection to hip-hop (including name-drops of Run-DMC, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and more) and how it relates to their recent fall tour with GZA. Elsewhere, he admits that he initially thought Fishbone had invented a new genre, fast reggae, after being inspired by Funkadelic’s rhythm section, only to realize it was actually ska.
Listen to Fisher go deep on Fishbone’s storied history on the latest episode of In Defense of Ska, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don’t forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.