Features

H.O.R.D.E. Stories: Mike Gordon and Page McConnell

The current issue of Relix looks back 20 years to the inaugural H.O.R.D.E. tour in 1992 which featured Blues Traveler, Phish, Widespread Panic, Spin Doctors, Col. Bruce Hampton and Aquarium Rescue Unit and Bela Fleck & The Flecktones. Here Phish’s Mike Gordon and Page McConnell recall the 1992 tour. To view all of our special H.O.R.D.E. content, visit www.relix.com/HORDE .

Photo by Steve Eichner

While other band sent representatives, all four members of Phish attended the initial meeting in New York City

Page McConnell: I couldn’t tell you exactly how that came about but it doesn’t surprise me because it’s kind of how we operate. Rarely does one of us speak for the band. I imagine that none of us would have felt comfortable taking the responsibility of speaking for the band and then coming back and telling the other three this is what’s going to be. It was simpler to have all four of us. It wasn’t that we were trying to attain leverage or anything like that it’s really just more of the way we function in our decision-making.

No managers allowed (and a veto)

Mike Gordon: I remember managers weren’t allowed in the meeting although there were a couple hovering outside. I also remember that one of the ideas was the bands would be paid equally no matter what. Then when the mangers heard about all the ideas that was the one that they absolutely shot own. They were very concerned that bands had a certain market value were compensated accordingly.

Some of the managers weren’t so sure that Col. Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit should be on the tour but the other musicians wouldn’t relent on that point.

Mike Gordon: I guess what it came down to was we all loved the aquarium rescue unit, musically and personally and everything about Bruce and there was no way we were doing to have them part of it we were all inspired by them in some ways.

Joining The Team

Page McConnell: We weren’t looking to create anything and as it is now, it was the: we like to do things by ourselves a lot of times. There certainly were some conversations as to whether we should go this route but in the end we’re glad we did it. It was a lot of fun and I was good friends with the Widespread guys and eventually the Unit too. I still am. I love hanging out with those guys, it was a blast.