An interview with Fish is surely a chance to listen and learn lots of interesting stuff. Now, if there is a new album and a concert of the artist –his first in Greece- things are getting far more intriguing for a music journalist. Our enemies to our humble efforts were time (as always…this time the interview was scheduled before the soundcheck) and the “invisible” forces of the promoter without ever knowing the reason why…

Nevertheless the interview was conducted by Dimitris Kazantzis

Rockpages.gr: This is your first time in Greece for business and a show, right?

Fish: Yes! But, I could live in Greece forever!

Rockpages.gr: How was your trip?

Fish: To be honest with you, I didn’t get to see much of the scenery because I was sleeping throughout the trip from Italy to Greece…at least most of the time.

Rockpages.gr: How did the two first dates in Italy go?

Fish: The Italian gigs have gone really well…great sets! It’s been really fun and the audience was great.

Rockpages.gr: Tell us a few things about your latest record, 13th Star…can you please explain to me the logic behind the move to have the c.d. distributed by you for a whole year and have it available in the stores in the past month?

Fish: It’s better for me to sell direct my albums to the fans. I mean…things have changed with the piracy and the decline of the music business. It’s really hitting us…If I had put out the album directly through a record company I wouldn’t make any money at all! You know what I mean? The album takes a lot of time and money to be ready…so, it just made sense to have the c.d. available through my website so I could cover my ass! (laughs) But, it’s so difficult to have your c.d. stand out in a record store with so many c.ds coming out everyday! So, what’s the point to have a c.d. in stores when nobody really pays attention? 

Rockpages.gr: What’s the new element that 13th Star offers in comparison with your previous albums?

Fish: It’s a different album…I mean…every album is different than the other that’s why it takes much time to record studio albums. It could be really easy to work on a formula and have my albums ready every a year or so…but I don’t want that. I’d like to do things differently! This time I needed a different approach and I think we achieved something really special with Steve Vantsis. I am really confident that the new album is a true Fish release.

Rockpages.gr: This is the first time that we do an interview together, so I want you to share with me some things from the past. You released four excellent albums with Marillion. Why did you leave the band?

Fish: I felt retained and personally I think that we were losing control…the band…the management was no good! We were just being used in order for some people to make money from us. I felt that we were treated as objects…you know what I mean? We were supposed to take a year off and then come back together…things just didn’t work out…the management was making a lot of money and that’s the bottom line. It was ridiculous! But to tell you the truth, the band would have broken up either way…even if I had stayed for another year or so. We were completely worn out…

Rockpages.gr: I must say that it was a wonderful idea to cover “Misplaced Childhood” with your group live in 2005 and release it officially a year later. Any comment?

Fish: Really…I was searching for inspiration at the time and I thought that it would be a great idea to cover this Marillion classic and present it to people for all those who didn’t have the chance to see that tour. I think that it turned out great.

Rockpages.gr: I want you to tell me what do you find so special on Federico Fellini? Is there something that binds you with him?

Fish: Federico is great…he had this knack of turning any ordinary situation into something really special…like it should be…he was not only a director but an observer of life, too.

Rockpages.gr: I gather from your website that you pay much attention to the whole downloading thing. Do you really believe that if someone has an album downloaded gets the full effect or sense of a record?

Fish: I think music is changing…now, people download tracks and not listen to the whole album…we’re trying to come up with something…to approach people and not make them download the whole thing through the net…we made a special package and I think that most of the labels are doing the same thing…it’s only natural…The music business is fucked up! It has nothing to do with the 80s and from my perspective is a matter of education…people should know about these things and not “steal” music but buy it. 

Rockpages.gr: Can you please remember for us the best and the worst moment of your career?

Fish: Oh…that’s too difficult to answer! How can you put aside a single best or worst moment in a 25-year career? I can’t! But there are many special moments in my career like recording my first solo album or touring the world with Marillion…too many to mention, though! On a negative note, I must say that the whole situation with EMI in the 90s where I stopped playing music for a couple of years was not the best time in my career.

Rockpages.gr: Are you planning anything when the tour ends?

Fish: Not really! I want to focus on my other projects…for instance I want to do something with acting once again…we’ll see! It’s a hard thing because when you are acting you have to go through auditions for at least three months or so…it takes time, you know! 

Rockpages.gr: Thanks for taking time Derek, See you tonight!

Fish: It was my pleasure man.