Fish
25-4-58 Derek William Dick. As songwriter and singer of Marillion
he impressed a lot of people by his length and his charisma.
He painted his face, like Peter Gabriel did, as his start of his career and besides this painting Fish does know how he can play with the audience. Script for Jester Tear was Marillions debut-album and one of the best debut albums ever.
In '88 he left the band. An amazing cooperation with Tony Banks (Genesis) leads to the single Shortcut to Somewhere of the album Soundtracks ('86).Later he on he will work with Tony again (Still; '91).
Virgil in a wilderness of Mirrors ('90) is his first solo-effort, with:
John Giblin - bass,(he worked with Brand X, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Phil Collins, Simple Minds, e.o.)
Luis Jardim - percussion, (he worked with almost everybody; Peter Gabriel, Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks, David Gilmour and and and...)
Tessa Niles- vocals,
Carol Kenyon - vocals too,
Frank Usher- guitar,
Mark Brzezicki- drums (ex The Cult and Big Country) &
Mickey Simmonds- keyboards.
The cd is strong and live he and his band are impressive, songs as I like to watch are really nice visualized. Internal Exile ('91) let us show that Fish can swim alone:
Simmonds,
Usher,
Robin Boult- guitar (now in Tilt '09), ,
David Paton- bass (another Scott) &
Kevin Wilkinson.
Songs from the Mirror ('93) is an album of covers from Fish his childhood. It is nice to hear for example Questions/ Moody Blues perfectly digital recorded instead of the old version of your elpee. Fearless of Pink Floyd is another track.
Funny Farm Project he made with Steve Howe. The next single Lady let it Lie is token from the album Suits ('94):
David Paton,
Frank Usher (now in Tilt '09), &
Robin Boult- guitar (now in Tilt '09),
Foss Paterson
(David Knopfler, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke, John Martyr, Sam Brown & Yethro Tull), &
James Cassidy- keys,
Kevin Wilkinson- drums e.a..
Ushi is an official release, but there coming out a lot of bootlegs: Derek Dick & his amazing electric Bear, The Reality of Surroundings etc.. Yin & Yan ('95) is a best of , The single Just good Friends is mixed and recorded again, this time with Sam Brown (who expecting a baby at that time and just finished her tour with Pink Floyd). 
Live in Dortmund for the fond of War Child with Frank Usher and Robin Boult- guitar, Trick Dave Stewart- drum, U.Bemel- bass (from Glasgow) and keyboards Foster Patterson ('96). In '97 with Sunset on Empire, with a tour in the smaller theaters. Steve Wilson (Porcupine Tree) plays guitar en Mickey Simmonds plays again keyboards.
End '98 Kettle of Fish is in the stores, a collection of new and old songs with a cd-rom. Miles Copeland, manager of Sting, asked a few fellows to come to a castle in France, and write some songs; Fish@Haddington Convention.
Raingods with Zippo's ('99), must us do believe that Fish is in the big ocean again. Steve Wilson is responsible for a big piece of 25 minutes music, but our Fish is swimming in circles. Genesis was looking for a new singer, for me he was the guy. De cover The Faithhealer (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band) is one of my favorite tracks of this album:
Robin Boult,
Steve Wilson,
Til Paulman,
Bruce Watson all guitars en mandolins,
Mickey Simmonds
Tony Turrel - keyboard, piano en harmonica (he plays now at The Positive Light),
Steve Vantsis- bass (now in Tilt '09),
Dave Stewart- drums (he owns a store with... tomtom's),
Elisabeth Antwi, Nicola & Tony King- vocals,
Dave Haswell- percussion,
Dave Crichton- fiddle, violins en strings, Pierre Meier en Mo Warden- spoken words &
Elliot Ness- producer.
Robin Boult takes a job at Marillion's Akronopolis tour. John Westly, a support act of Marrilion in the 90-ies, takes over in the aquarium of our gold-Fish. He made one solo-album too, a little ambient, new age with smoothly and fine guitar playing.
Fellini Days is his new album, isn't the strongest album of Fish.
Jong Young plays keyboards and co-wrote the album.
On 11 may 2002 they gave a concert in Paradiso (Amsterdam): Fellini Night with John Young and John Wesley.
In the small Belgian town Vervies he did a nice, a really nice, gig (050601). About 300 fishy-fans had fun in The Spirit of 66. He told stories, talk with a bold John Bovie Fan and more. And as reprise we got "The Flower of Scottland" sung by Fish. His band was new, except the guitarist;
John Wesly, the small nice American guy,
John Marter - drums
Steve "Bungle" Barnacle - bass,
and a new guy, Jim Hayden on keyboards who replaced John Young.
A new album is in progress and a double live ceedee recorded in Amsterdam:
Fish,
John Martyr,
Steve Barnacle,
John Wesly,
John Young with additional vocals by:
Susie Webb &
Zoe Nicholas.
The Scott has found a second youth a new home and a new girlfriend.
A dvd from a live set in Poland is out.
Field of Crows ('04) is his latest great neo progressive rock album.
Fish - lead vocals,
Bruce Watson - guitars and e-bow,
Frank Usher - guitars, slide guitar,
Steve Vantsis - bass (now in Tilt '09),
Mark Brzezicki - drums and percussion,
Tony Turrell - keyboards,
Dave Haswell - percussion,
Danny Gillan - backing vocals,
Richard Sidwell - trumpet and flugel horn,
Steve Hamilton - saxophone,
Yatta, Lars K. Lande - "crowd" vocal,
Irvin Duguid - clavinet.
Mark Wilkinson did again the cover-art; an impression of two of Van Gogh’s paintings,
Wheat Field and Wheat Field With Crows.
DPRP Review of Field
of Crows.
Fish live band in 2005/ 06 was:
Frank Usher - guitar,
Andy Trill - guitar,
Steve Vantsis - bass,
Tony Turrell - keys &
Dave Innes - drums.
A Live Review
NightTown, Rotterdam 7th of May.
Fish had a gig in Belgium, just one small hour drive from my home, but no I had to see
Odin Dragonfly too.
So I went to Rotterdam, picked up my dear friend from the West; Thijs and we arrived at the NightTown.
Angela of Odin Dragonfly waiting at the door... how nice x.
Inside; "Arnold Layne" coming out of the speakers, meting the rest of the Mostly Autumn
clan enjoying a beer
and Fish's good taste of music, Yes ("Round-a-bout") the old, old, Genesis ("Get Them Out by Friday!"), Led Zepplin &
some new songs; "On an Island"... the night started very good.
"Odin Dragonfly" did an excellent job as support act. Angela and Heather are a wonderful couple, lovely
harmonies and good playing on acoustic guitar, flute and keyboard.
Fish... saw him often in the 80-ies, Saw him in "BosPop" (the Amfitheater '92), with a great show,
lost contact, and again in the new century in the famous "Spirit of 66". And finally again in a venue he
deserves NightTown.
He's still the showmaster with his charisma and his fantastic Scottish body.
The band arround him was Top, there was time for fooling but always concentrated and welcrafted.
Highlights? "Credo", I loved that song with the rolling bass of David Paton, Steve Vantsis did it excellent.
Of course I was very pleased with the whole "Misplaced Childhood" album and the encores; "Incommunicado",
"Markett Square Heroes" &
"Fugazzi".
Excellent show, again he made me clear why he has such a large amount of loyal fans;
"I like to watch" this man.
And I'm afraid I gonna see him more often in the future.
Return to Childhood Live CD ('06).
To cellebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Misplaced Childhood. A double live album with the whole Childhood album played live.
Lead Vocals - Fish
Lead Guitar - Frank Usher
Guitar - Andy Trill
Keyboards - Tony Turrell
Bass - Steve Vantsis
Drums - John Tonks
Backing Vocalist - Deborah French
Communion ('07).
Recorded live at St Mary's Church, Haddington, 26th August 2006 (fan club convention)
CD1
01. The Field [Dick/Watson] (8.19)
02. Jumpsuit City [Dick/Boult/Cassidy] (5.30)
03. Favourite Stranger [Dick/Usher] (5.50)
04. Shot the Craw [Dick/Watson/Duguid] (5.28)
05. State of Mind [Dick/Simmonds/Lindes] (7.32)
06. Tilted Cross [Dick/Jackson/Johnson] (4.22)
07. Fortunes of War [Dick/Cassidy/Boult] (6.37)
08. Just Good Friends [Dick/Usher/Boult/Simmonds] (6.03)
09. Incomplete [Dick/Antwi/Milett] (4.06)
10. Change of Heart [Dick/Boult] (3.44)
11. Lady Let It Lie [Dick/Paton/Cassidy] (5.55)
12. A Gentleman's Excuse Me [Dick/Simmonds] (4.19)
CD2
13. Rites of Passage [Dick/Simmonds] (6.00)
14. The Lost Plot [Dick/Turrell] (4.53)
15. Slainthe Mhath [Dick/Rothery/Mosley/Kelly/Trewavas] (5.13)
16. Chelsea Monday [Dick/Kelly/Pointer/Rothery/Trewavas] (6.11)
17. Scattering Crows [Dick/Watson/Turrell/Duguid] (5.22)
18. Tara [Dick/Paterson] (5.29)
19. Raw Meat [Dick/Paterson] (7.01)
All songs published by Fishy Music Ltd/ EMI (Music) Publishing Ltd.
Except tracks 15 and 16 Charisma Music Publishing Ltd/EMI (Music) Publishing Ltd.
Copyright Chocolate Frog Record Company Ltd. P and C 2007
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Calum Malcolm.
Produced by Calum Malcolm.
Musicians:
Fish - lead vocals
Frank Usher - guitar
Andy Trill - guitar
Steve Vantsis - bass
Tony Turrell - keyboards
Gavin Griffiths - drums
Dave Haswell - percussion
Heather Findlay - backing vocals, bodhran, low whistle
Angela Gordon - backing vocals, flute, penny whistle
Anne Marie Helder - backing vocals
Tara Dick - backing vocals
Production manager Kelvin "Yatta" Boys Yates
Event coordinator and Fish's personal assistant Elspeth Laidlaw
Sound engineers Steve Rispin (Out front), Paul Kennedy (Monitors)
Back line technicians Mark Tomlinson, Angus Fearful
Lights Chris Brown, Andy "Tosh" McIntosh video projections
Cover design Mark Wilkinson from a fishy concept
Assistant production manager Gregor Millar
Web site management and technical co-ordination Mo Warden and Pete Oram (Grafixation)
13th Star ('07).
Released after he splitt up with Heather Findlay apperently a dramatic period.
Chocolate Frog Record Company Limited.
The first 10,000 are a limited edition CD in a 3 panel digipak together with a bonus DVD of "The Making of 13th Star" (64 mins). The digipak is provided in a slipcase packaging with a spot-varnished Fish logo and a 20 page full colour booklet all featuring original artwork by Mark Wilkinson.
Release date 6th September 2007.
01. Circle Line [Dick/Vantsis] (6.04)
02. Square Go [Dick/Vantsis] (5.31)
03. Miles de Besos [Dick/Paterson] (4.22)
04. Zöe 25 [Dick/Vantsis] (5.19)
05. Arc of the Curve [Dick/Vantsis] (4.29)
06. Manchmal [Dick/Vantsis] (5.42)
07. Openwater [Dick/Usher] (5.07)
08. Dark Star [Dick/Vantsis] (6.48)
09. Where in the World? [Dick/Vantsis] (6.05)
10. 13th Star [Dick/Vantsis] (5.41)
Fish - Voice
Steve Vantsis - Bass, drum loop and programming, samples, upright bass (3), electric guitar (2/4/6/7/8), acoustic guitar (1/4/10), keys (1/2/4/6/8/9/10), clavinet (2)
Frank Usher - Electric guitars, acoustic guitar (3/4/5/9/10), loop guitar (1), lap steel (5)
Foss Paterson - Piano (1/3/4/5), keys (1/2/3/4/6/7/8/9), organ (1/2/3/4/6/7/8/9/10), strings (1/2/3/4/5/8/9/10) music box (4), dulcimer and accordian, samples (10)
Gavin Griffiths - Drums (from Panic Room, Karnataka, Mostly Autumn.
Chris Johnson - Electric guitars, acoustic guitars (4/5/9)(Mostly Autumn)
Lorna Bannon - Backing vocals (3/4/5/6/9/10)
Dave Haswell - Percussion (1/3/4/5/10)
Engineered, mixed and produced by Calum Malcolm
During writing stage:
Engineered by Steve Vantsis
Additional keyboard ideas on 'Circle Line' and 'Arc of the Curve' by Max Hunt
Recorded at The Studio, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland
Mastered by Calum Malcolm.
A very personal album and a highlight again. Fish is singing about about his break up with Heather Findlay
and about real life.
Nice vibe and good rhythms all the way.
Recommended!
Try to catch him live. Dates you can find here.
In November he 'll touring with The Reasoning
as support act (and other bands so now and then ;-).
A good reason to have a gret evening!
The Fish Convention 2009 will be held at Leamington Spa Assembly Rooms on the weekend
of August 8th and 9th.
Confirmed band are the
Reasoning &
Mickey Simmonds, probably Chris Johnson (ex-Mostly Autumn)
will come along too.
Session for:
Eloy (live in Fish's homeland),
Peter Hammill (The Fall of the House of Usher '89),
Tony Banks (Soundtracks; '86, Still '91),
Jeff Wayne (Spartacus; '97)
SAS-band (a Queen tribute),
Ayreon; Into the electric Castle; '98 (Arjan is a dutch symfo-wizzard and he likes The Wall and wants David to do play guitar on his new project...),
Mostly Autumn live,
he sung "Kayleigh" & "Just Good Friends" with Heather (December 23 2005).
March 2006 again with the Mostlies; Just good Friends & Lucky.
Heather & William Derek Dick,
March 2006.
More pictures at:
www.the-company.com.
Updated July 2009 by Nick.
Symfo-Index.