Reel Big Fish
Reel Big Fish is a ska punk band that started in 1992 in California. They have only ever played ska/rock music but moved more to a pop sound during the album "Cheer Up!" They have had many different members since the start of the band, including two different singers and over 10 different horn players. They mainly got successful from the album Turn The Radio Off, which had the single "Sell Out," in 1997, their most famous song.
Reel Big Fish | |
|---|---|
 Reel Big Fish performing at The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, California on March 27, 2008. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Huntington Beach, California, United States |
| Genres | Ska punk, alternative rock, third wave ska |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | Mojo, Jive, Rock Ridge Music |
| Associated acts | The Littlest Man Band, The Forces of Evil, The Scholars, Jeffries Fan Club, Spring Heeled Jack USA, Suburban Rhythm, Nuckle Brothers, Zebrahead, Goldfinger |
| Website | reel-big-fish |
| Members | Aaron Barrett Matt Appleton Derek Gibbs Dan Regan Ryland Steen John Christianson |
| Past members | Ben Guzman Zach Gilltrap Lisa Smith Robert Quimby Adam Polakoff Andrew Gonzales Grant Barry Tavis Werts Carlos de la Garza Tyler Jones Justin Ferreira Matt Wong Scott Klopfenstein |
Influences
Reel Big Fish stated artists like Desmond Dekker, NOFX, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Specials, The Untouchables, Madness, Operation Ivy, The Selecter and The Toasters as influences.
Members
Current Members
Former Members
- Ben Guzman - vocals (1992–1994)
- Zach Gilltrap - keyboards/synthesizers (1992–1994)
- Lisa Smith - guitar (1992–1994)
- Eric Vismantes - trumpet (1994)
- Stephan Reed - saxophone (1994)
- Robert Quimby - trombone (1994–1995)
- Adam Polakoff - saxophone (1994–1995)
- Grant Barry - trombone (1995–1998)
- Andrew Gonzales - drums (1992–1998)
- Tavis Werts - trumpet (1994–2002)
- Carlos de la Garza - drums (1999–2003)
- Tyler Jones - trumpet (2002–2004)
- Justin Ferreira - drums (2003–2005)
- Matt Wong - bass, backing vocals (1992–2007)
Albums
- Everything Sucks (1995)
- Turn The Radio Off (1996)
- Why Do They Rock So Hard (1998)
- Cheer Up! (2002)
- We're Not Happy Til' You're Not Happy (2005)
- Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album (2006) (Live Album)
- Duet All Night Long (2007) (With "Zolof The Rock And Roll Destroyer")
- Monkeys For Nothing And The Chimps For Free (2007)
- Fame, Fortune And Fornication (2009) (Cover Album)
- Skacoustic (2010)
- Candy Coated Fury (2012)
- Life Sucks... Let's Dance! (2018)
Record Companies
A common theme throughout some of their songs (such as "Don't Start A Band" and "Sell Out") is their disapproval of big record companies. Reel Big Fish was signed onto Jive Records, but after their short-lived success, the record company neglected them and did not advertise their albums. In their 2005 album, We're Not Happy Til' You're Not Happy, Reel Big Fish directly and indirectly expresses their anger towards their record company in several of their songs.
During 2006, Reel Big Fish was dropped from Jive Records. The band formed their own label and released a 3-disc live performance CD/DVD set, Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album. This package became available on July 18, 2006 on the Internet and in retail stores on August 22. Jive later released a Reel Big Fish greatest hits album, Greatest Hit...And More, because they owned the rights to all previous songs. The band did not approve of, or make any money from the album, and have spoken out against it.