THE WORLD'S GREATEST FISHING BAND

Rob Ellen reels 'em in and gets 20 questions and more in the net......

I don't fish but I know a lot of musicians that do this is what Brad Paisley said about them..


"Fishing has been a punctuation mark to every period of my life. There's the mornings in a boat with my Dad and Grandad as a kid, buying my first bass boat with my first royalty check and a million other memories. It is a constant for me. It brings me back down to earth after any highpoint, closer to God and nature, and peace of mind. I'm not alone either. It seems like every other person I meet loves it just as much. So when I first heard these guys, I felt like I was listening to a soundtrack of my life. So grab a pole, your tackle, a cooler and headphones. Find a nice stump on a nice bank and re-live the best memories of your life. You're gonna love these records!"

I asked them some questions...

Where did WGFB come from a music session or a fishing trip?

I was asked to write a couple of fishing songs for a local fishing radio
show here in California. When the DJ played the songs on the air, he got
over 100 phone calls and e-mails from listeners asking where they could get
copies. Hence, the "fish band" was born.

Is WGFB just a one off project?

Probably not. I have folks come up to me all the time asking me when I'm
going to write a song about this fish and that. So, there's plenty left to
write about. In the meantime, I'm thinking about doing a traditional
bluegrass fishing CD next.

What would you like to see happen with the album?

I just want folks to have fun with it-For the most part, it's very
light-hearted and it demands little from the listener except enjoyment. I
think that's really important in the often stressful lives we lead today I
also hope it inspires families to take their kids out on the water-put a
little nature and fresh air back into their lives and lungs.

Do you play live and do you take the rods with you?

We have a great live band and, yes, we always have our fishing gear with
us. We're constantly getting offers from fans to go fishing with them. It's
a great way to get to know our fans and relax between shows (and , often,
catch dinner!)

These are our standard 20 questions

1. WHERE WERE YOU BORN, WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I was born in Port Jefferson, New York on Long Island. I grew up in East
Patchogue, Long Island, a small town about 60 miles east of New York City

2. WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MUSICAL MEMORY?

My father was (and still is at 82 years young) a DJ. His show, "Memories
and Melodies" is in it's 50th year on the air and he still spins the sounds
of the big bands, Frank Sinatra and Glenn Miller. So our house was always
filled with music and it wasn't uncommon for me to come home from school and
find Benny Goodman or Count Basie having a cip of coffee on the living room
couch.

3. WHAT WAS THE FIRST RECORD YOU OWNED?

When I was a boy, the record labels would send promo copies of all their
new releases to most radio stations with little regard for their particular
format. So, my father would come home many days with a stack of rock and
roll record that he couldn't play. It was thrilling to see and hear new
albums from the Beatles and Rolling Stones, etc. weeks before they were in
the stores.

I cant' remember specifically what the first album was that I owned-but I
do remember just being blown away by a Capital records sampler LP that had
"It Won't Be Long" by the Beatles on it. I must have played that song a
thousand times...

what is the first fishing trip you went on?

My family used to fish all the time together on an old abandoned barge at
the end of our road-bay fishing for snappers and blowfish.

4. WHEN AND WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST PERFORMANCE?

First show I ever did was at a club called Greene Street in New York City.

5. WHO IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST MUSICAL INFLUENCE ON YOUR WORK?

Well, I can honestly say that the Beatles were one of the greatest
influences on my life in general. I lived and died with them when I was a boy and I
can't imagine my life without their music.
For the WGFB, since I figured that a fishing album would have to be mostly
country,
I drew a lot of inspiration from the writing of Merle Haggard. I think he
is one of America's greatest songwriters.

As far as my "non-fishing stuff", I've always been inspired musically by
Todd Rundgren and Jackson Browne.

6. WHAT IS THE MOST MEMORABLE CONCERT YOU'VE ATTENDED?

Too many to list but a few come to mind-The New York Dolls at the Mercer
Arts Center in NYC in 1972 Prince at the Ritz in NYC in 1982 Rod Stewart and the Faces in 1972 Chicago Transit Authority at Carnegie Hall Many great Todd and Haggard
shows. Patty Loveless also puts on a great show. Most recently, I've gone to
a bunch of shows with my 17 year old daughter with Jimmy Eat World and Death
Cab for Cutie just blowing me away...

what's the biggest fish you've caught?

A 185lb. Striped Marlin

7. WHAT IS THE WORST JOB YOU'VE EVER HAD?

Telemarketing custom engraved pens and refrigerator magnets.

what's the worst fishing trip?

An overnight trip out of San Diego a few years back-imagine outakes from
"A Perfect Storm"

8. WHAT IS THE BEST JOB YOU'VE EVER HAD?

The one I have right now-singing songs about fishing for a living.

what's the best fishing trip?

I had a magical ocean trip a few years back down in Mexico-we were in
small panga about 25 miles off Ensenada when we came upon a kelp patty (sort of a
floating collection of seaweed-many fish congregate under them because of
the bait fish) We pulled up to the edge of the paddy, looked down and saw
waht can only be described as an underwater Fantasia- a sparkling canvas of
blues, golds and yellows. Turns out the paddy was filled with dorado and
yellowtail. Caught our limits in less than an hour-a amazing display of
color and life.

9. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE ARTIST (ALL MEDIA)?

Beatles

10. WHAT IS YOUR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE BOOK?

Anything by Edward Abbey

11. WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE INSTRUMENT?

piano

12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SONG YOU'VE WRITTEN?

Still working on it...

13. WHAT IS THE FAVOURITE SONG SOMEONE ELSE HAS WRITTEN?

There's just too many

14. HAVE YOU EVER COLLABORATED IN SONGWRITING?

Yes-Larry Robinson and I co-wrote a bunch of tunes on the fish record

15. CAN SONGWRITING BE TAUGHT OR IS IT A GOD-GIVEN TALENT?

I think if you feel passionate enough about something, you can write. I
also think that in order to be a good songwriter you have to be awake to the world.

Can fishing be taught or is it a god given talent?

One can never stop learning how to fish. That's why they call it fishing
instead of catching.

16. WHAT SINGLE THING HAS HELPED YOU MOST IN YOUR CAREER?

My family-they help keep me grounded while at the same time always
encouraging me to never to give up.

What lure has helped you catch more fish?
Hmmmm. At present, I'm really doing well with a plastic worm called a
Senko made by Gary Yamamoto. They're just great for largemouth bass. Also, if I feel
confident about what I'm throwing, I always catch fish. So much of it is a
mind game.

17. WHAT SINGLE THING HAS HINDERED YOUR CAREER?
Seventeen years ago when my daughter was born, I felt a sense of true
purpose for the first time in my life. I knew, at that moment, that for the next
18 years, my life would be devoted to raising her. Naturally, that decision
affected my career as I was not willing to miss any part of her growing up.
I don't believe you can do both jobs well. I chose to be a father first
and an artist second and I've never regretted that decision.

18. WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE DRINK?

An ice cold Coca-Cola

19. WHO'S YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICIAN?

You've got to be kidding!

20. ( THE ADVERT) IN LESS THAN 100 WORDS DESCRIBE YOUR LATEST DISC

All fish music. All the time.