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Closeup of Norwood Fisher

S

SouthTunnel

Jun 9, 2013
36
19
www.jacksutherland.com
#1
When I was a kid Norwood Fisher was the guy who inspired me to play more than anyone else. His versatile blend of slap, rock, ska, etc together with Fishbone's high energy and unique style, blew me away.

I saw them recently. They are much older than when I was a kid, but they've hardly lost a step. I positioned myself at the front of the stage directly in front of Norwood, and took this video of him playing his famous bassline to Bonin in the Boneyard.

Here's the video if anyone's interested...
 
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#6
SouthTunnel said:
I found the Everyday Sunshine documentary a bit depressing. They're the band that many greats looked up to, but that never became great themselves. Then 30 years later a bitter Angleo Moore still lives with his Mom to make ends meet. sigh
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No doubt, it's crazy how they ended up where they ended up. Lots of good lessons in that movie, and in their story. Last saw them live around 20 years ago and it was a great show.
 
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#9
pgolliher said:
Truth and Soul should be required listening for bass players. There is deep grooves all the way to mind blowing slap. It's solid all the way through.
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Agreed, Truth and Soul is killer! However, I've really learned to love The Reality of My Surroundings. One of my favorite songs of all time is on that record ("So Many Millions"). Insane bassline!
 
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#10
I think I saw them 5 times between 1987 and 1993.

I was not into what was happening musically at all in the mid eighties, especially bands that said nothing and had root note chugging basslines. (I'm looking at you hairmetal)


A friend gave me a cassette tape he made with the first EP and album on it. I was instantly hooked. Easily my favorite band of the 80's.


My most distinct memory of Norwood was the show where he came out in just a towel, with his head totally shaved except for a smiley face in the back, kinda like this,except for just two round puffs for eyes and a smaller smile.


The-Smiley-Face-Haircut.jpg








Those shows were always full of energy and the band always played their hearts out. You just couldn't coast in that band.
 
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#11
The good news about Fishbone now is that 5 of the original 6 are in the band again, plus John Bigham (second guitar, joined before Reality). Fish and Dowd came back in the past couple years. The only holdout is Jones.

I saw a couple fun, high-energy shows of theirs about five years ago, so I'd bet this reformed unit brings it live. They are one of the opening bands for George Clinton's farewell tour with P Funk starting in May, so hopefully I'll get a chance to see them.
 
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#12
GregC said:
The good news about Fishbone now is that 5 of the original 6 are in the band again, plus John Bigham (second guitar, joined before Reality). Fish and Dowd came back in the past couple years. The only holdout is Jones.
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Really? Did not know that Chris Dowd was back. Hope he's not as big an a-hole anymore as he was when I met him at one of their shows in like 91 or 92.
 
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#13
GregC said:
The good news about Fishbone now is that 5 of the original 6 are in the band again, plus John Bigham (second guitar, joined before Reality). Fish and Dowd came back in the past couple years. The only holdout is Jones.
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Yeah, I was able to check them out about a year ago in Malibu. It was the first real concert I had ever been to (where I live, there is no music scene whatsoever), and they nailed every song. It was like a studio recording except the entire room was shaking. I honestly couldn't tell whether they were 50+ or 17 :D!
Unfortunately, I doubt Kendall is ever going to return to Fishbone. They are on friendly terms, though.
 
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#14
Kendall has been known to sit in with them when they are in the SF Bay Area since he lives in Marin. There is some footage of him sitting in in the documentary "Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone".

Is Rocky George from Suicidal Tendencies still playing with them?

C/S,
Rev J
 
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#15
Rev J said:
Is Rocky George from Suicidal Tendencies still playing with them?
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Last time I saw them, John Bigham was playing guitar.
Rev J said:
Kendall has been known to sit in with them when they are in the SF Bay Area since he lives in Marin.
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That's cool! It's always great to see these guys forgive and forget. I saw that clip in "Everyday Sunshine", but I thought that was just a one-time thing. Seeing Fishbone live with Kendall again would be a sight to behold.
 
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#16
I used to have a working relationship with Kendall`s family, when I lived in Marin. Met him a few times, nicest, coolest dude ever. Happy to talk about music.

His father, the alleged perpetrator of the "incident" once told me that the RHCP had asked him to join their band in the 80s and he turned them down.
 
#17
CBass079 said:
Last time I saw them, John Bigham was playing guitar.

That's cool! It's always great to see these guys forgive and forget. I saw that clip in "Everyday Sunshine", but I thought that was just a one-time thing. Seeing Fishbone live with Kendall again would be a sight to behold.
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I thought that they were doing a 2 guitar thing again with Bingham and George. The last time I saw a picture of Rocky I almost didn't recognize him as I was used to seeing him in the Pirates hat and not with the big natural.

C/S,
Rev J
 

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