Fishbone (A World Without The Beatles)
Fishbone is an American band formed in Los Angeles in 1982. It consists of lead vocalist Anthony Kiedis, guitarist Cliff Burton, bassist Michael Balzary, guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons.
Fishbone | |
|---|---|
 Fishbone in 2006; clockwise from top left: Cliff Burton, Anthony Kiedis, Hillel Slovak, Michael Balzary, Jack Irons | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, blues, ska, reggae, electric bluegrass, alternative blues rock |
| Years active | 1982-present |
| Labels |
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| Members |
Anthony Kiedis Cliff Burton Michael Balzary Hillel Slovak Jack Irons |
| Website | www.fishbone.com |
History
1982-1985: Formation and early years
Fishbone was formed in Los Angeles by singer Anthony Kiedis, guitarist Hillel Slovak, bassist Michael Balzary, and drummer Jack Irons, classmates at Fairfax High School. Their first performance was on December 16, 1982, at the Grandia Room club on Hollywood Boulevard to a crowd of approximately 30. Gary Allen, a friend of the band, was hosting a release party for his new EP and asked Kiedis and Balzary to put together an opening act.
At the time, Slovak and Irons were already committed to another group, What Is This?; however, the new band was asked to return the following week. In March, they changed their name to Fishbone, playing several shows at LA venues. Six songs from these shows were on the band's first demo tape. In November 1983, manager Lindy Goetz struck a seven-album deal with EMI America. At the same time, Balzary and Kiedis decided to recruit a young guitarist, Cliff Burton, a street performer who played the acoustic guitar and keyboard prior to being recruited.
The band released their debut album, Dirty Sponge, in August 1984. Airplay on college radio and ArtBeat helped build a fan base, and the album sold 300,000 copies. The band embarked on a gruelling tour, performing 60 shows in 64 days.
1985–1988: Building a following, drug abuse and near-death experience of Hillel Slovak
Discography
Studio albums
- Dirty Sponge (1984)
- Freaky Momma (1985)
- The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987)
- Mother's Milk (1989)
- Fishbone (1991)
- Imagine This, Imagine That (1994)
- One Hot Minute (1995)
- Hollywood Basement (1999)
- By the Way (2002)
- Stadium Arcadium (2006)
- Fishbone II (2009)
- The Getaway (2016)
- Love-a-meter (2022)
Live albums
Compilation albums
- Mr. No Mouth (1986)
- What Hits!? (1990)
- Sugar Bones (1993)
- Greatest Hits (1997)
- Fishbone 2000 (1999)
- Out of the Basement (2009)