Phish Rumours?

[kung]

I'd never seen this hoaxy looking piece about a Vegas stage show:

Phish will play Caesars Palace in Vegas five nights a week for one year

for a reported $100 million. Will other rock stars follow suit?

By GEOFF BOUCHER, Times Staff Writer

___________________________________________________________

Phish says they were inspired to create an extravagant show after seeing

a performance of Cirque du Soleil's "O" at Las Vegas' Bellagio Hotel.

"It changed my life and my entire way of thinking about performances on

stage." Trey Anastasio, whisking along last week in a limousine en route

to a recording session, was not talking about the upcoming solo album or

the power trio "Oysterhead" that he formed with bassist extraordinaire, Les

Claypool and former Police drummer, Stuart Copeland. Instead, the epiphany

arrived two years ago as fellow bandmates sat in a Las Vegas casino.

And, it turns out, the moment may also reshape the life of the evolving

entertainment scene in the high-rolling desert city.

Phish, who stepped away from the public concert stage in October of 2000

to begin an indefinite hiatus, has agreed to an unprecedented pact that

will see them perform five nights a week for 40 weeks a year over three years

at Caesars Palace. The deal is worth a reported $100 million and will also

see the casino resort build a $95-million, 4,000-seat theater to house the

production. The shows, scheduled to begin next March, will mix the

band's music and an elaborate theatrical production on a vast,

22,000-square-foot stage.

Phish becomes the only contemporary rock band to make such a lengthy commitment

to any venue. For Las Vegas, it may lead to an era of rock

stars in residence, the way country singers have become house acts in Branson,

Mo. The path to this unlikely commitment and destination began when Trey

Anastasio, Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman, sat captivated in the audience

of "O" at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. "O" is the production that channels

1.5 million gallons of water and six dozen performers into the trademark

surrealism and acrobatics of Cirque du Soleil, the French Canadian

theater company. Phish saw in the show a way to create a backdrop to match

their own often epic music.

"I knew I wanted to perform and have a visual show like this and have,

like, 60 performers on stage with us and make every song look like a visual

experience," Gordon said during a cell phone interview from the car.

"It's kind of impossible to travel with a show like this; the effects and the

décor and the whole thing makes it technically impossible. We would have

to have a base. And we found that in Las Vegas."

More alarming was this one:

I just heard from a reliable source that Coventry will be the last Phish show. Done. Disbanded. They are aware that thier last 3-4 albums were shit, and they ain't feelin it no more.

[chase23]

"It's kind of impossible to travel with a show like this; the effects and the

décor and the whole thing makes it technically impossible. We would have

to have a base. And we found that in Las Vegas."

Not to mention a ton of cash. I just don't see a band like Phish doing this. I am far from their biggest fan but isn't this selling out. Just a thought.

[secondtube]

never seen the first quote...but i can DEFINATELY believe it!

the second quote has been rumored EVERYWHERE for about a week now....i've yet to see a rumor so heavily agree'd with.

I guess we'll see.

[colinw]

Both of those sound like crap to me.

If the Vegas one was true it would be great. Checking out a week of Phish a couple of times a year would be a good time.

I can't see them breaking up after Coventry. They are just releasing an album, they are back on tour and playing well. This new touring model is good for the band and families, as well as side projects, so why call it quits now? If they were going to quit they would have done so during hiatus, not after an amazing year like 2003! Even if they did quit, it wouldn't be because of the lack of success or quality of their albums. Since when did album sales or quality have anything to do with what we know as Phish?

Colin

[secondtube]

many people, including the band, dont think 2003 'was an amazing year'.

not to mention, from the three tracks i've heard from their new album, they could easily shelf the touring, and get some cash from radio play. that was obviously the purpose of the album.

[secondtube]

told you the second one was a real credible rumor!

DONT DISCOUNT THE FIRST ONE EITHER!

[Ms.Huxtable]

[color:"purple"] I hope Celine's show doesn't suffer attendance.

[\/\/illy]

====================================================

P H I S H U P D A T E

** MAY 25, 2004 **

http://www.phish.com

====================================================

Last Friday night, I got together with Mike, Page and Fish to talk openly about the strong feelings I've been having that Phish has run its course and that we should end it now while it's still on a high note.

Once we started talking, it quickly became apparent that the other guys'

feelings, while not all the same as mine, were similar in many ways -- most importantly, that we all love and respect Phish and the Phish audience far too much to stand by and allow it to drag on beyond the point of vibrancy and health. We don't want to become caricatures of ourselves, or worse yet, a nostalgia act. By the end of the meeting, we realized that after almost twenty-one years together we were faced with the opportunity to graciously step away in unison, as a group, united in our friendship and our feelings of gratitude.

So Coventry will be the final Phish show. We are proud and thrilled that it will be in our home state of Vermont. We're also excited for the June and August shows, our last tour together. For the sake of clarity, I should say that this is not like the hiatus, which was our last attempt to revitalize ourselves. We're done. It's been an amazing and incredible journey. We thank you all for the love and support that you've shown us.

-- Trey Anastasio