Latest news from Fish, on the lineup for the forthcoming album “Thirteenth Star” and tour.
After much consideration I decided to take Chris Johnson on board as second guitarist to Frank. Chris has been playing in a similar position with ‘Mostly Autumn’ backing up Brian Josh on acoustic and electric guitars as well as keys and vocals. He’s a great all rounder and I have not only seen him with ‘MA’ but also in his own covers band ‘Hazard County’ that’s been playing in the Old White Swan in York on Friday nights, impressing me on both counts. Chris has also written material on the last ‘MA’ album “Heart Full of Sky”, and with his other band ‘The Evernauts’ so his appointment at this juncture in time when we are still in writing mode is fortuitous.
But where does that leave MA?
With Gavin Griffiths out on loan playing drums for ‘MA’ and Heather and Angela working with me as backing vocalists on the “13th Star” and the supporting tour, Chris’s appointment takes us up to 4 out of 7 active members of ‘Mostly Autumn’ in my outfit this year. Obviously the question is raised as to when ‘MA’ go out on tour next year, what do I do for a band? I think we may have come up with the perfect solution
I am planning to go back to mainland Europe in Spring next year after the South American tour and with that in mind I have suggested to Brian Josh that his band come out and work with us on that leg giving him a great window on Europe, me a great support and a working band, the fans a great bill and the promoters something to get their teeth into. Everyone is very positive about this idea and if it comes off I think it will be an exciting and very positive project.
Could well be a tour worth hopping over the channel for. I’ve always thought MA should try to build an audience in places like Germany, which seem to be a more receptive market for proper rock music than fashion-obsessed Britain.
I hope there will still be a window towards the end of December for the traditional Mostly Autumn Christmas shows.
Update: Bryan Josh (whose name Fish seems to have trouble spelling) posted this on the official Mostly Autumn forum
Bryan here. Sorry guys, statements regarding the possibility of me doing a solo album and Mostly Autumn tour matters seem to have leaked out prematurely, an accurate statement is due to be posted very soon regarding future MA plans e.t.c and I can assure you there are many and all will be very positive.
Oops. Bad Fish
Whatever happens next year, the ‘Mostly Fish’ tour is going to be worth seeing. I wonder if we’re going to hear any of Angie’s flute playing enhancing some of Fish’s back catalogue; I sure it would enhance songs like ‘Brother 52′.
Fish? Premature announcement? Surely not!
Fish has referred to Heather Findlay as ‘my fiancee’ on the Fish On Friday show he does for Planet Rock.
Barbara – Fish and Heather’s engagement was announced back in February.