WILL MARILLION CONQUER AMERICA?

It seemed strange that Capitol Records would spend lots of money to send me and other American journalists to England in early February to see Fish. After all, we have an aquarium full of ’em here in the CREEM office which J., Joanne and I feed each and every day. And speaking of food, fish fries are a popular topic of discussion around here. J. claims to be quite a fisherman, and while he never eats what he catches, he does say that beer batter makes for a tasty treat. Our comptroller Amira (who practices orthodox Judaism) says she’s never eaten shellfish, and I can’t imagine anyone going through life without sampling the joys of shrimp in its many different varieties. But I didn’t go to England to eat fish, although Fish and I did have dinner together (and I had shrimp for an entree!).

Of course, one might immediately wonder why a person would call himself Fish. Did his parents have a cruel sense of humor? Does he drink like a fish? (Fish says it stems from staying in a bathtub too long.) And won’t it be comical if he someday has small children who ask their mother what’s for dinner, and she replies “Fish”?