Jon Fishman

Drummer and founding member of Phish

What is Jon Fishman known for?

Jon Fishman, born February 19, 1965, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is best known as the American drummer and co-founder of the band Phish, which was partially named after him. Music had been a part of Fishman's life from a young age. As a teen, he found great inspiration in the work of drummers John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, Bill Bruford of Yes and King Crimson, and Keith Moon of The Who.

Raised in Syracuse, New York, Fishman attended Jamesville-DeWitt High School. His musical journey led him to the University of Vermont to study engineering, where he met Mike Gordon and Trey Anastasio, and together they founded Phish. Choosing music over engineering, Fishman and Anastasio later transferred to Goddard College.

In addition to his drumming contributions, Fishman has also lent his voice to numerous Phish songs. He has been known to take on lead vocals for numerous cover songs, many of which have a humorous twist, such as Prince's "Purple Rain" and Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It". Some of his more serious vocal efforts include leading Phish's cover of the Talking Heads song "Crosseyed and Painless", and vocal contributions to Phish originals, "The Moma Dance", "Taste", and "Ghost".

Fishman's presence on stage is just as notable as his musical contributions – often playing while wearing a donut-printed muumuu dress or performing vacuum cleaner solos. This love of performance and music has led to a long-lasting career since the band's formation in 1983, making him an integral part of the band's identity and success.

Besides Phish, Fishman has been a member of several other musical groups, including Pork Tornado, Jazz Mandolin Project, and Ghosts of the Forest. He has also performed with Surrender to the Air, Everyone Orchestra, J. Willis Pratt and We're Bionic, Touchpants, The Mallett Brothers Band, and Phil and Friends.

For more information about Jon Fishman, you can visit his profile on Phish's official website and listen to his music on Spotify.