Phatfish

The band was formed by Dave Fellingham in Brighton in January 1994, under the name 'Purple Phatfish'. The name was taken from a keyring belonging to one of the band members, of a small fat purple fish which blew air out when squeezed.[1]

The band started life as a jazz-funk/rap group, and spent the first year performing their own songs in music clubs, mainly in the Brighton area. Most of their early songs were not overtly Christian in content. Rapper Rachel Head left the band at the end of 1994, and the band was renamed as 'Phatfish'.

In 1997, the band moved towards more explicitly worship-orientated songs, and released their first album, We Know the Story.

In mid-1998, guitarist Mike Blow and percussionist Adrian Watts left Phatfish. Guitarist Alan Rose joined, and the band started writing again, moving away from jazz-funk towards rock. They made demos with producer Alan Shacklock, and subsequently signed with US label Pamplin, recording their next album, Purple Through the Fishtank, in Nashville in spring 1999. The album increased their profile, and they began touring in Canada, the US and Europe. In 2000, Phatfish released an album of their older music, entitled An Audience With God.

In 2001, they released the album Heavenbound, touring the UK in Autumn 2001 in support of the album.

They recorded three unplugged gigs in the UK in January 2002 for the Hope album, with guests Stuart Townend, Kate Simmonds and Brian Houston; the gigs and album raised money for Hope HIV, a charity supporting AIDS orphans in Africa.

Nothing But the Truth was released in May 2003. Guitarist Alan Rose departed in August 2003, and the band went on hiatus for a year.

Faithful – The Worship Songs featured studio arrangements of many of the band's more 'congregational' worship songs. "The Faithful Tour" took them across England and Scotland, supported by guitarist Dan Wheeler.

The album Trinity was released in 2006, a compilation of tracks from many artists including Phatfish.

The band appeared several times on the BBC's Songs of Praise during 2006 and 2007.[2][3] They also supported lead singer Lou Fellingham and Stuart Townend on the 'Stu + Lou tour' of the UK.

At the end of 2006, Phatfish released an instruction CD called Working as a band, with advice for aspiring church worship musicians intending to start a band. There Is A Day – The Video Collection was also released at the end of 2006, incorporating music videos, an unplugged concert and interview footage.

In July 2007 Phatfish released Guaranteed, their first studio album since 2003.[4]

In December 2008, the band released a double-CD greatest hits compilation, 15, to celebrate their 15-year anniversary.

In January 2009, guitarists Ben Hall and Jos Wintermeyer joined Phatfish, and the band returned to the studio to record their album In Jesus, released that summer.

In December 2010, Phatfish released a new compilation album, Anthems for Worship, a collection of their most popular worship songs for congregational use. The album featured remastered tracks and some new recordings.

Recorded in their own studio during summer 2011, Higher featured more pop-orientated songs and intimate tracks such as the hymn "And Can It Be". Phatfish toured the album around the UK through 2011 and 2012 and accompanied Lou Fellingham on her solo tour in Autumn 2012.

In January 2014, Phatfish announced two final farewell concerts after 20 years together.[5] On 14 and 15 March, they played at Wessex Christian Centre. They were joined on stage for some songs by former guitarists Mike Blow and Alan Rose. The shows were recorded for their final double album Phatfish LIVE.