Down With Disease
Encyclopedia
"Down with Disease" is a song by the band Phish
that appeared on their 1994 album Hoist
. The song was written by Phish lead singer Trey Anastasio
and the band's frequent songwriter, Tom Marshall
; its lyrics were based on a bout with infectious mononucleosis
suffered by Marshall.
"Down with Disease" reached #33 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It was first played live December 31, 1993, as a jam without lyrics.
A music video
was created for the song, directed by Phish bassist
Mike Gordon
, that showed the members of the band scuba diving
through an aquarium
. The music video is the only one that has been produced by the band during its nearly 30-year career. The video appeared a few times on MTV
, including an abbreviated version on Beavis and Butt-head
.
In concert, "Down With Disease" has spanned from three, to ten, to over twenty minutes, often featuring full band improvisation. The longest standalone rendition of this song was the December 12th 1995 performance, which clocked in at 31 minutes and 20 seconds before segueing into "The Lizards".
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
that appeared on their 1994 album Hoist
Hoist (album)
Hoist is the fifth official studio album by the American rock band Phish, released on March 29, 1994, by Elektra Records. At the time of its release, Hoist was Phish's best selling album to date....
. The song was written by Phish lead singer Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
and the band's frequent songwriter, Tom Marshall
Tom Marshall (singer)
Tom Marshall is a lyricist, keyboardist and singer/songwriter best known for his association with Trey Anastasio and the rock band Phish...
; its lyrics were based on a bout with infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis is an infectious, widespread viral...
suffered by Marshall.
"Down with Disease" reached #33 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It was first played live December 31, 1993, as a jam without lyrics.
A music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was created for the song, directed by Phish bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
, that showed the members of the band scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
through an aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
. The music video is the only one that has been produced by the band during its nearly 30-year career. The video appeared a few times on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, including an abbreviated version on Beavis and Butt-head
Beavis and Butt-Head
Beavis and Butt-head is an American animated television series created by Mike Judge. The series originated from Frog Baseball, a 1992 short film by Judge. After seeing the short, MTV signed Judge to develop the concept. Beavis and Butt-head originally aired from March 8, 1993 to November 28, 1997...
.
In concert, "Down With Disease" has spanned from three, to ten, to over twenty minutes, often featuring full band improvisation. The longest standalone rendition of this song was the December 12th 1995 performance, which clocked in at 31 minutes and 20 seconds before segueing into "The Lizards".
External links
- Down with Disease, PhantasyTour.com
- Down with Disease video on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- http://www.phish.net/setlists/?d=1995-12-12, Phish.net - Setlists