Phish Reunion? Mike Gordon Is "Optimistic," Says Band Met With Lillywhite

Last month, Trey Anastasio set off a flurry of Phish mania when he told Rolling Stone, "At this point in time I would give my left nut to play ['You Enjoy Myself'] five times in a row every day." Last week speculation that one of the world's biggest jam bands — who split in 2004 — would reunite was stoked by rumors that Steve Lillywhite has been tapped to record a new Phish disc (he produced their 1996 album Billy Breathes). So we checked in with Phish bassist Mike Gordon — whose solo disc, The Green Sparrow, hits stores August 5th and features collaborations with Anastasio and Phish keyboardist Page McConnell — to see what's true. "The band has had a couple of dinners and they've just been great," Gordon tells Rolling Stone. "We're all just excited about the idea of doing something sometime. I can't guarantee it, but I'm optimistic."

As for Lillywhite, Gordon says, "We talked to him, actually. [The rumor] stemmed from reality. We love Steve Lillywhite. He would bring out some great things in us. But we don't have specific plans to work with him. It was an idea and hopefully it's something that if we rev things up, it could happen some day. We don't know if we would tour first or make an album first. We have no idea."

This afternoon, McConnell added his two cents in a post on Phish's Website. "The prospect of Phish reuniting is something I consider very seriously, and I think about it a lot," he writes, noting that all four bandmates are busy with other projects but "Later this year we hope to spend some time together and take a look at what possible futures we might enjoy."

Check back tomorrow for a Q&A with Gordon.

Related Stories:
• Trey Anatasio Hints at Phish Reunion
• Trey, Mike Talk Phish Split
• Cover Story: Phish Resurface

• 
  MUSIC The Top 25 Teen Idol Breakout Moments
• 
  MOVIES & TV 'Game of Thrones': The Show Vs. the Books
• 
  POLITICS Matt Taibbi: Facebook IPO vs. Shareholders
• 
  VIDEOS Exclusive: Garbage Rip Through 'I Think I'm Paranoid'

Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter