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RBF Homepage = Reel Big Fish, a ska-punk band that became popular in the
90's.
Band history
The band's debut album, Everything Sucks, was an underground hit and led to a
deal with Mojo Records, an indie label. Turn the Radio Off established the band
in the underground music scene, and they began touring throughout the US. After
the single "Sell Out" began breaking into the mainstream, including MTV, the
album made an appearance on the charts. The ska revival was short-lived,
however, and Why Do They Rock So Hard? (1998) did not lead the group to the
mainstream.
Why Do They Rock So Hard? was the last album for three members of RBF:
trombonist Grant Barry and trumpet player Tavis Werts were either fired or left
the band voluntarily, depending on the source, while drummer Andrew Gonzales
left the band to spend more time with family. Electing to replace only Werts and
Gonzales, Reel Big Fish opened the door for a rotating cast of drummers and
trumpeteers over the next six years.
By 2002 the group released Cheer Up!, which fared much better on the rock
charts, particularly because of the horn-less single "Where Have You Been".
Former Suburban Rhythm drummer Carlos de la Garza helmed the drum kit, with
ex-Spring Heeled Jack U.S.A. trumpeter Tyler Jones completing the line-up (Jones
actually played only two tracks on Cheer Up!, as Werts had already done the
majority of recording before his departure). De la Garza would leave the band to
pursue other career paths, with his last show on June 20, 2003 at the House of
Blues in Anaheim. That show was later released on DVD (The Show Must Go Off).
Jones was then fired in August 2004. [1] After a succession of fill-ins (at one
point, Barrett claimed online that Werts and Barry had rejoined the band and
left again without playing a single show), the band settled on John Christianson
(a.k.a Johnny Christmas) on trumpet and Justin Ferreira on drums. On April 5,
2005, Reel Big Fish released their fourth album on Mojo Records, titled We're
Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy. Shortly after the recording, Justin Ferreira
was fired from the band due to differences and replaced with Ryland Steen. Aaron
Barrett has often said in interviews that the current line up of the band is the
strongest ever and is not looking to change anytime soon.
In early 2006, Reel Big Fish parted ways with Jive Records. They formed their
own label, and were relieved to return to their DIY roots while straying away
from the major labels. The band recently released a 3-disc live performance CD /
DVD set entitled Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album. This package
became available on July 18th, 2006 through the internet in places such as Rock
Ridge Music and iTunes, and became available in retail stores on August 22nd.
Jive later released a Reel Big Fish Greatest Hits album as they owned the rights
to all previous songs, though the band does not make any money from this album,
and have actively spoken against it.
In 2006 the band made an agreement with independent comic book publisher The
Vicious Circle Project to create and publish a comic book anthology series about
the band. The comic will be released sometime in 2007.
Reel Big Fish has announced, on their MySpace, that they will be playing a
Summer 2007 tour with "a band whose name rhymes with Shmess than Shmake"
(presumably Less Than Jake). The rumours of a Summer '07 tour with Less Than
Jake were later cleared up in a succesion of live shows in which Aaron Barrett
as well as other members annouced to crowds that this tour would be happening
and that Less Than Jake would be their headlining partner.
Duet All Night Long was released on 20th February 2007. The CD is a split EP
with friends and tour mates Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer. The EP features 6
cover songs (3 from each band) with the vocalist from each band appearing on the
other bands tracks.
Also promised to fans at live shows was a new full length album in the month of
June. The album is titleless for now, however a song thought to be from this up
and coming album is available to listen to on the bands You Suck I Rule site.
The song is entitled Cannibal and has been on the website since around the
release of Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album. This song along with
new song So Much For Rock and Roll (which can be heard live on Our Live Album Is
Better Than Your Live Album) are the only songs currently in existence which may
be on the new CD.
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