Fishbone

Fishbone are a rock band from Los Angeles, United States, formed in 1979. Their music combines funk, funk rock, rock and ska, and also draws on punk, heavy metal, reggae and soul. The group develops a distinctive alternative rock sound built on fast-paced arrangements, mixed styles and socially aware lyrics.

Formation and early lineup

The band first comes together with John Norwood Fisher on bass, his brother Philip “Fish” Fisher on drums, Angelo Moore on vocals, saxophones and theremin, Kendall Jones on guitar, “Dirty” Walter A. Kibby II on vocals and trumpet, and Christopher Dowd on keyboards, trombone and vocals. Angelo Moore and John Norwood Fisher remain central members through later periods of the band, and the line-up changes repeatedly after the group’s early success.

Style and reception

Fishbone is known for an eclectic approach that combines humour, high-energy performance and sharp social commentary. The band builds a cult following, and its reputation rests on being one of the more distinctive alternative rock acts of the late 1980s, even though it does not break through to a large mainstream audience.

Career and personnel changes

The group achieves its strongest commercial and critical impact in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After that period, the membership changes many times. From 2003 to 2010, John Norwood Fisher and Angelo Moore are the only original members still in the band. In the 2010s, the other original members return for reunions and anniversary events, with Kendall Jones remaining the exception.