Diane Ward, now working at the Franklin Institute Science Museum, scores The
Shades two nights work at the opening of the new Futures Center. Mike recruits a horn
section, and The Shades enjoy their finest
hour.
Citing artistic differences, both Kate and
Helen leave the band. Dave Mountain is brought on board to
take over vocal duties, despite a near-crippling lack of talent. Still, personality and desire can go a long way.
After a year of intensive rehearsals spent
refining the band's new, tougher sound, The Electric Fish
(mk. II) make their public debut at the "Life, Be
In It" Children's Party and Hosedown. Don't ask.
Mike and Diane hold the first of their now-legendary Halloween parties at their
house in Upper Darby. Mike pioneers the concept of Living Room
Rock.
At Dave's insistence that we "make it
in the music business", the Fish begin a grueling
tour schedule, playing three gigs in as many months.
Spent and weary from life on the road, the
band returns to the studio. Upon quiet reflection, it
becomes obvious that the non-Dave members of the Fish
simply don't want to make it in the music business.
Realizing that it would be best for all
concerned if he would go 'make it' someplace else, Dave
leaves the Fish, citing "artistic
differences" as the motivating factor. Dave forms
They Eat Their Young, an overly-loud alternative band
that met with some success in the Philadelphia area.
The Fish spend the year auditioning
singer after singer, many of whom would mysteriously
disappear after a week or two.
Mike and Diane stage the infamous "Star Trek Party," converting their
living room into to an impressive reproduction of the 'holodeck'.
Desperate to find a new vocalist, John Hagan
agrees to make Mike Ward an approved vendor for Penn's
networking group, but only on the condition that he sing in
the band. Mike agrees, and the third major iteration
of The Electric Fish is born.
Impressed with Mike's vocal song-stylings
and the positive, non-"making it" direction that
the band was now taking, Dan retracts his earlier "never again" statement, and rejoins the Fish as a full-time
member.
In between Electric Fish practices, Bradley finds time to record an 11-track
CD in a collaboration with Bill Sullivan
of Open Cage.
July 17th - John Hagan marries
his number one fan, Leslie Bohlen, in fabulous Las Vegas. As expected, the Electric Fish attend.
The always-entertaining John Bradley documents the adventure in a
somewhat-amusing
13-day, 450-picture 'photo-essay', a true tale of life on the road.
The Fish play their first public gig
in years when they get the opportunity to play at Mike's
25th High School Reunion. In a monumental 4-hour show (videotaped for
posterity), the band once again demonstrated
their commitment to the ideal of "popular, danceable
rock covers, played loudly."
John's daughter, Carolyn Sarah
Hagan, is
born on April 12th. With any luck, she'll be singing backup
in the band 10-15 years down the line.
August - the band plays the first of what
will hopefully be a long series of gigs at the fabulous
Peabody's Pub, in Havertown, PA.
