Friday, April 10, 1998
By ED CONDRAN
Special to The Record

It's getting so you need a scorecard to know who's in the Fishbone lineup.
During the last three years, guitarist John Bigham, keyboardist-trombonist
Chris Dowd, and Dowd's replacement, Anthony Brewster, left the band. 

"I could live with a lot of the defections, but nothing could have prepared me
for what just happened," vocalist-saxophonist Angelo Moore said by phone from
Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

Moore was alluding to original drummer Philip "Fish" Fisher, who departed just
before the group's current tour began three weeks ago.

"This is turning into the black 'Spinal Tap,'" said Moore. "Our drummer
spontaneously combusted. In all seriousness, I was really hurt when Fish left.
I thought he was one of us, but he left to join [rhythm-and-blues act] Divina.
He left for the big-money gig. But you've got to pay the price for that. He's
going to be playing mediocre garbage when he could be playing the intelligent
and challenging stuff that we play. Where's the integrity in that?"

The band's future appeared promising in the mid-Eighties when Fishbone signed
a deal with Columbia Records. Coming from the same Los Angeles scene that
produced the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane's Addiction, the group
distinguished itself with music boasting fat grooves, metallic guitar lines,
and heavy brass solos. But despite a couple of excellent releases (1985's
self-titled EP and 1988's "Truth and Soul"), Fishbone remained a cult
sensation.

The lack of commercial success led to some finger-pointing and lineup changes,
but Fishbone persevered.

"The core of the band stayed with it no matter what," Moore said. "Me, Norwood
[Fisher, bass], and Walt [Kibby, trumpet and backup vocals] never gave up the
fight. Whenever we've had to add new soldiers, we've done it."

According to the flamboyant Moore, a number of labels are interested in
signing the group, which includes guitarist Tracey Singleton and drummer
Cameron Clinton. "But the bottom line is dollars and cents. I'm talking about
the right deal and we haven't seen that yet."

Until the right deal comes along, Fishbone will continue to take its act on
the road. On Thursday, Fishbone will open for sax legend Maceo Parker at
Manhattan's Roseland.

"It beats opening for a puppet show," Moore said, again referring to "Spinal
Tap." "It should give us some exposure."

Given what the band has been through, would Moore ever consider pulling the
plug?

"If Norwood or Walt quit, I don't know if I could go on with it. The three of
us are real tight. But you know what I realized recently? Fishbone is not
about me or one of the guys in the band. The music is bigger than any of us.
We might not be the biggest band in the world, but I know we mean a great deal
to a lot of people. Over the years, people have come up to me and told me that
we changed their lives. Those kind of people help me keep going."