Interview: Chris Dowd & Walter Kibby, Fishbone

Chris Dowd

When the US Supreme Court took the decision to desegregate schools in the States, the young kids who now make up FISHBONE found themselves wrenched from their downtown South Central LA neighborhood and deposited in the more affluent San Francisco Valley. Alone in a new territory, but aware of a new culture, the boys didn't take long to tune into the sounds on the other side, and were soon found listening to the likes of RUSH and FLOYD, as well as trusted favourites like PARLIAMENT and FUNKADELIC.

Maybe that's why today Fishbone are a band with a heavily individual style that has gone way beyond the roots and boundaries of the average American touring attraction. Some might call them a strange brew of HENDRIX and ZAPPA, with elements of funky JAMES BROWN thrown in. But all comparisons are futile, because Fishbone simply do what they do. And by mixing rock, funk, ska, and hardcore in their own decisive style, they've become, over the years, one of the most respected acts around; live, they're a must, and after their recent Astoria show (Mind-blowing ~ Ed), I met up with keyboardsman Chris Dowd and trumpet player Dirty Walter Kibby II. Vocalist Angelo [Moore] was meant to say his bit but was stuck in bed after some excessive stage-diving during the tour which had left him incapacitated.

Chris fills me in:

"Angelo is paying the price, he's in bad shape man, he's fucked his knees right up. He's just laying in bed squealing."

Dirty continues:

"He got us banned from the Town and Country Club by jumping off the balcony when we played here last. He hasn't changed. Angelo spends half his time throwing himself 20 foot into the air and landing somewhere in the middle of the audience. To be honest, I'm amazed he's still functioning. He's one bad man."

Forgetting Angelo, I wonder if the European tour has been a success and if the Fishbone name has been expanded a bit further around the globe.

Angelo Moore and Kendall Jones (pic Phil Kehoe)

Dirty continues:

"It's been a great success. Our audiences are very select. We're what you call a 'special taste act.' We don't get radio, so people can only catch us through our records and our performances. Gone are the days when we played before crowds of 20. We're making things happen over here, and I'm pleased about that."

Being what I call a 'real live act,' do you ever find it hard generating that atmosphere on record?

Chris takes over:

"We always did until we recorded our last record, Reality of My Surroundings. Adding a lot of live tracks from shows also gave it a better feel."

The production is a lot rawer than earlier recordings. Was that deliberate?

"Yeah, it was. This is the first time we've produced ourselves, and we wanted to get the 'big gig thing' across. I'd never knock anything we've done before, because I'm proud of everything we've ever made. But this is the one record that really captures the atmosphere of a Fishbone gig."

Dirty intervenes:

"When you're at a gig, you can get to see the anger. You get to feel everything. It's a real challenge to put that across when you make a record. But I think we've achieved it with this record."

Looking at the song-writing credits, I see all the band members putting in their bit. Is there a lot of confliction and hassle over contributions?

"With the exception of John Bigham, who joined recently, the band has always consisted of six people writing together in different combinations. We get a fusion of ideas, plenty of arguments, lots of hassle, but eventually something that works. There are no secrets between us. We like to keep things open. It's the best way to let things run. I guess we all get frustrated at times, but it's better to have an oversupply of ideas than none at all."

Chris agrees:

"We could bring out stuff every day of the week. I guess that's the problem with a lot of input. Unfortunately, a lot of good songs get lost, but there's a limit to how much you can keep. Six different writers means six different sets of ideas."

That could explain the wild array of fusions.

"That's right. We're just into music. We don't have any particular set of influences. We just get it together and let it rip. Music is either good or bad. The most important thing is energy and life. Without those, you've got a recipe of nothing."

Dirty carries on:

"People and critics always try and explain you away. Why bother trying to categorise? Everyone expects me to be into MILES DAVIS just because I play the trumpet. When I tell them I ain't, it kind of throws them. People like to put you in a pigeonhole. I don't want it to happen to us because we're not a band following any style. We just play our stuff. Some of the press say we've got a Frank Zappa style, but try and explain Frank Zappa and it would take a week. Mind you, I wouldn't knock Frank. He's got good ideas. He'd make a good President if he got the chance."

Talking of comparisons, have you found that you've spawned any copy acts?

Chris comes back in:

"I'd say there's been a lot of people making a success by blatantly ripping us off. It's sick as hell, but there's nothing we can do. We get the respect, but not the credit."

Without airplay, aren't you forced into a corner of constant gigging to reach your audience?

Dirty replies:

"Yeah, that's true and it's frustrating. There are some places back in the States that have never heard of us. Some states we just don't touch."

Chris continues:

"We don't try our thing where we know we won't be wanted. We give the redneck places a miss and won't do Arizona because they refuse to celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday."

The racism thing still continues then?

"Absolutely, there are still towns and places you just don't play. That's something I like about Europe. You get none of that shit here."

Any down points on the tour?

Dirty has just one complaint:

"Just the food. European food is just too bad, man. Your meats look like fish, your fish looks like meat, and I don't know what it tastes like. You serve up all kinds of things I've never seen. If it hadn't been for McDonalds I would have starved."

Chris agrees and soon the conversation becomes food-based and very much in praise of the 'great American burger.' So much for French cuisine, Fishbone have got their Big Mac.

Mike Harris
Riff raff
January 1992

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