Hubbry Logo
Pat FishPat FishMain
Open search
Pat Fish
Community hub
Pat Fish
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Pat Fish
Pat Fish
Pat Fish
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Pat Fish in 2013

Patrick Huntrods (20 December 1957 – 5 October 2021),[1] known as Pat Fish, was an English musician best known for his work as a member of the band The Jazz Butcher.[2] (The name "Jazz Butcher" has been applied ambiguously both to Fish and the whole band.)

Early career

[edit]

Fish was born in London, England but moved early in his life to Northampton; there he attended Great Houghton Preparatory School and later Uppingham; he later read Lit. Hum. at Merton College, Oxford, graduating in 1980.[3] From the evidence of an interview given in 1989, it would seem that he found academic life at Oxford uninspiring, and that he was soon drawn to making music.[4] His bands in the early period included one known as Nightshift, and the Institution, which featured Max Eider (Peter Millson) on guitar, Rolo McGinty (later of The Woodentops), and Jonathan Stephenson.[5] The Sonic Tonix became The Tonix, who released a single, "Strangers / Talk to Me" on the independent 109 Product label (STEG 002) in 1981.

The persona of the "Jazz Butcher" was devised soon after, and Fish's first gig under this guise was in Oxford on 20 February 1982. The band included Alice Thompson, later keyboardist in The Woodentops, and later still a novelist, and Owen Jones, who was to become the Jazz Butcher's drummer for much of the 1980s. Max Eider, a crucial element in the early Butcher sound, joined for a gig in June of that year.

In 1985, Fish took on production duties on the recording of the Black Mischief EP for fellow Northampton musicians, The Love Ambassadeux.[6]

The next significant phase of Fish's career began on 27 November 1986 when musical and personal tensions between him and Eider, exacerbated by long touring and drinking, led to Eider's departure in Zürich. Fish rebuilt the Jazz Butcher band, recruiting Kizzy O'Callaghan as guitarist; saxophonist Alex Green was the only other element of continuity with the earlier band. Around this time his contract with Glass Records ended, and he signed to Alan McGee's Creation Records, at that time one of the foremost indie labels in Britain.

In 1989, Fish hosted an indie music show called Transmission, which was produced by Music Box Ltd. for ITV and pan-European British station Super Channel.

1990s and beyond

[edit]

The Jazz Butcher continued to gig regularly in the early 1990s and to record for Creation until 1995, but by the late 1990s Fish was feeling restricted both by the "Jazz Butcher" name (McGee had persuaded him to keep it on joining Creation), and by guitar pop. Creation's success with My Bloody Valentine's Glider EP created an opportunity to develop his interest in dance music. His first foray was the Jazz Butcher Conspiracy's cover version of The Rolling Stones' "We Love You", was released under the name "JBC" in 1990 (CRE083T), and later included in the Creation dance compilation "Keeping the Faith" (CRECD 081) (1991). Soon afterwards the somewhat mysterious "Black Eg" project began: an album of ambient dance music built around synthesizers and samples, purporting to be the work of one Karel von Dammerung of Vienna, was released by Creation in 1991. The Black Eg themselves made their live debut on 1 June 1994 at Soundshaft in London.

In the early 1990s Fish diversified his activities in other ways. He produced at least one record, the single "Lost at Sea" by 13 Frightened Girls (recorded in 1990 and released in 1991). He appeared on recordings by other bands, contributing a flute solo to "I Love You" on Spacemen 3's Recurring (1991), and guitar and organ on The Blue Aeroplanes' Rough Music (1995).

By 1996, Fish had formed a new band with other Northampton-based musicians, eventually settling on the name Sumosonic. One of the other names he had considered, "Audio-Aquatic", surfaces in the lyrics to their debut single, "Come, Friendly Spacemen", released by Creation on 5 December 1996 (CRESCD 242). The band had their live debut in London 11 March 1997. Though the band included Fish as a guitarist, their sound was built far more around sequencers, and the rhythms were more dance-orientated. The lyrics, however, displayed Fish's customary wit, political awareness, and sense of melancholy absurdity. Much of their first and only album, This is Sumo, had been recorded in demo form by September 1996; the studio version was released on 26 January 1998 (CRECD 204). The vocal melodies, even when sung by other members of the band, have many of the characteristics of Jazz Butcher tunes. There are also clear continuities with the Black Eg material: "Destroy All Monsters", a song about French nuclear arms testing the Pacific, borrows melodic elements from the earlier outfit's "Bel Air."

Sumosonic were not well supported by Creation, and were dropped after their first album. The last gig noted on the band's website was 19 September 1998. However, members of the band continued to work with Fish as the band Wilson, whose live debut, on 1 March 2001, included the previous band's "God's Green Earth." Wilson have continued to gig regularly in Northampton, Oxford, and London.

Death

[edit]

According to a post on Fish's official Facebook page on 6 October 2021, he "died suddenly but peacefully yesterday evening."[7][8] On 3 October, Fish was scheduled to perform a web concert, however at show time, Fish appeared live to inform his audience he was not feeling well and would be rescheduling the performance for the following week. By means of explanation for his ill health, he offered that he had been suffering from sleep apnea.

It was later reported that Fish had died of a heart attack.[9]

Sources

[edit]
  • Cavanagh, David. The Creation Records Story (London: Virgin, 2001)
  • Green, Dominic, and Nick Johnson, 'The Jazz Butcher', Isis no.3 (Oxford), (Trinity Term 1989), p. 33.
  • Whiteside, William. "Who is The Jazz Butcher", The Independent (London) (8 Aug 2001).

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Pat Fish

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Pat Fish was an English musician, singer, and songwriter best known for founding and leading the indie rock project The Jazz Butcher. Born Patrick Huntrods in London in 1957, he formed The Jazz Butcher in 1982 with guitarist Max Eider in Northampton, where he had long been based. The project, which operated under varying names such as The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy, became his primary creative outlet and featured rotating line-ups over the decades. Fish released his debut album In Bath of Bacon on Glass Records in 1983, establishing an early presence in the UK indie scene. He signed to Creation Records in 1987 and became one of the label's key early artists, releasing acclaimed albums including Cult of the Basement, Condition Blue, and Illuminate through the early 1990s. His work was noted for its witty, intelligent, and often humorous lyrics, drawing comparisons to quintessentially English songwriters while incorporating elements of post-punk and indie rock. Fish also pursued side projects such as Black Eg and Sumosonic, collaborated with musicians including David J of Bauhaus and Sonic Boom of Spacemen 3, and hosted the indie music television program Transmission on ITV. In later years, Fish remained active in music, rehearsing with the Drones Club and releasing new material as late as the 2016 single "All the Saints" on Fire Records. His back catalogue saw renewed interest through reissues by Fire Records. Widely regarded as a generous and charismatic figure in the indie community, Fish died suddenly but peacefully on 5 October 2021 at the age of 64.

Early life

Childhood and education

Patrick Huntrods, professionally known as Pat Fish, was born on December 20, 1957, in London, England. He was also referred to as Patrick Guy Sibley Huntrods. Fish moved from London to Northampton as a child, where he spent much of his formative years. He attended school in the Northampton area, including a period at Great Houghton Preparatory School, and later attended Uppingham School. Fish later pursued university studies at Merton College, Oxford. Fish formed The Jazz Butcher in Northampton in 1982.

Musical career

Formation and early years of The Jazz Butcher

The Jazz Butcher was formed in Northampton, England, in 1982 by Pat Fish, who served as the project's lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter. The band began as a loose collective centered around Fish's idiosyncratic, melodic compositions following his relocation to Northampton after university studies in Oxford. Early collaborators included guitarist Max Eider, whose light jazz and blues-inflected playing became a defining element of the band's sound. Other contributors in the initial phase were Alice Thompson (who later achieved recognition with The Woodentops) and David J from Bauhaus. By the mid-1980s, the most consistent lineup featured Fish, Eider, bassist Felix Ray, and drummer O P Jones. The band's debut album, In Bath of Bacon, was released in 1983 on the independent Glass Records label, introducing their eclectic style that blended witty, literate lyrics with varied musical influences. Early material explored everyday traumas such as small-town life, alcohol, paranoia, love, and mundane activities, drawing clear inspiration from Lou Reed and Jonathan Richman. Subsequent releases in this period, including A Scandal in Bohemia and Distressed Gentlefolk, further showcased an unpredictable mix of pop, jazz elements, country, and dream pop, reinforcing their reputation for clever, humorous, and intelligent songwriting. Through these works on independent labels, The Jazz Butcher established a cult following in the 1980s UK indie scene, known for refusing rigid genre boundaries and delivering quotable, observational lyrics. The early phase remained relatively stable until a significant lineup change in 1987 with Max Eider's departure.

1980s and 1990s output

The late 1980s and 1990s marked The Jazz Butcher's most prolific and musically adventurous phase, as Pat Fish shifted from the band's early lo-fi whimsy toward broader stylistic experimentation on Creation Records after departing Glass Records. Fishcotheque (1988) and Big Planet Scarey Planet (1989) further showcased variety, incorporating Merseybeat, country-rock, rap, calypso, and catchy pop alongside dance novelties and folk parodies. Entering the 1990s, Cult of the Basement (1990) stood out for its more sincere tone, highlighted by strong instrumentals such as the surf- and detective-style title track, alongside sharp social observations in songs like "She's On Drugs." Condition Blue (1991) retained a keen ear for melody with tracks including "Harlan" and "Girls Say Yes," drawing comparisons to Robyn Hitchcock while navigating some dance-pop and shoegaze influences. Later 1990s releases Waiting for the Love Bus (1993) and Illuminate (1995) moved into a more romantic and subdued phase, preserving occasional moments of quality amid a soporific drift. Throughout this period, Fish's witty, quotable lyrics—often referencing obscure cultural touchstones, everyday absurdities, and sharp social commentary—earned acclaim for their cleverness and refusal to take themselves too seriously, cementing the band's reputation for smart, eclectic indie pop. Lineup changes reflected ongoing evolution, with guitarist Max Eider departing in the late 1980s and subsequent members including Kizzy, Felix, and Pascal joining various configurations. The band supported its releases with extensive touring, including a major US tour in 1992 and additional shows into the late 1990s. Despite consistent praise for their inventive lyricism and genre fusion, The Jazz Butcher remained criminally underrated, cultivating a dedicated cult following within indie and college-radio circles rather than mainstream breakthrough.

2000s to final recordings

In the 2000s and 2010s, The Jazz Butcher's output grew increasingly sporadic, with long gaps between new releases as Pat Fish focused on occasional songwriting amid a reduced recording schedule. The decade began with two albums in 2000: Rotten Soul on Vinyl Japan and Glorious & Idiotic on ROIR. After that, new studio material remained scarce until Last of the Gentleman Adventurers, self-released in 2012. Earlier albums were reissued by Fire Records starting around 2015, reviving interest in the catalog and providing context for Fish's continued work. Preparations for a new album began roughly around the reissue period, reuniting Fish with longtime collaborators including guitarist Max Eider. The final recordings took shape in summer 2021 at Dulcitone Studios in England, produced by Lee Russell, as Fish dealt with serious health issues including cancer treatment. Aware of his declining condition, Fish treated the sessions as a deliberate closing statement. The Highest in the Land was released posthumously on February 4, 2022, by Tapete Records, after Fish's death in October 2021. The nine-track album mixed spacious arrangements, surreal wordplay, political observations, and meditations on mortality, underscoring Fish's persistent lyrical density and melodic invention even in his final phase. Despite the limited new output in later decades, The Jazz Butcher retained a dedicated cult following in the indie scene, where Fish was respected as an irascible, original voice whose work defied easy categorization.

Film and television work

Appearances and acting roles

Pat Fish's on-screen appearances and acting roles were limited in number and scope, reflecting his primary focus on music rather than performance in film or television. His credits consist mainly of small parts and appearances connected to his artistic circle or independent productions. He played the role of Man in Cafe in the short film Bittersweet (2009), directed by Alexander Bakshaev. In 2020, he made a cameo appearance in the feature film The Show, directed by Mitch Jenkins and written by Alan Moore, where he portrayed the guitarist for the fictional group False Awakenings.

Television hosting

Fish hosted the indie music television program Transmission on ITV in the late 1980s. No additional major on-screen or composition credits for film or television projects have been prominently documented beyond these.

Personal life

Death and legacy

Circumstances of death

Pat Fish died suddenly but peacefully on the evening of October 5, 2021, at the age of 63 (though some sources reported his age as 64). The news was announced the following day via a post on the official Jazz Butcher Facebook page by his longtime collaborator Max Eider, who stated that Fish "died suddenly but peacefully yesterday evening" and described the profound personal impact of the loss. Fish had been dealing with poor health for an extended period prior to his passing. On October 3, 2021, he appeared briefly during a scheduled live web concert to inform fans that he was unwell and would need to reschedule, citing sleep apnea as a contributing factor to his condition at the time. He remained musically active almost until the end, rehearsing weekly on bass with his project the Drones Club. Reports connected to his final album indicate that he had undergone cancer treatment during the multi-year period in which its songs were written. The precise cause of death was not publicly disclosed in initial announcements.

Tributes and influence

Following his sudden death in October 2021, Pat Fish received widespread tributes from longtime collaborators, musicians, and industry figures who celebrated his artistry and personal generosity. Max Eider, his frequent musical partner, expressed profound grief, stating that Fish "rocked my world in every way" and that his passing left "a big hole in my life and in my memory." Alan McGee, founder of Creation Records where Fish was an early and important signing, described him as "such a good human being, such a true artist, such a great songwriter and such a nice bloke," crediting his involvement in helping establish the label's credibility during its formative years. Friends and fellow Northampton musicians emphasized Fish's central role in the city's 1980s music scene, particularly through his work with Glass Records and his collaborative spirit that fostered connections among local acts. Ian Clabburn of The Drones Club highlighted his "generous" expertise and lack of pretension, noting that Fish molded disparate musicians into cohesive bands with humor and determination, leaving a lasting impact on those who played alongside him. Broader appreciations portrayed him as witty and elegant, with acerbic yet intelligent lyrics that drew comparisons to figures like Robyn Hitchcock, Kevin Ayers, and Syd Barrett, while his wide stylistic range across pop, jazz, and indie rock earned him a reputation as an underrated yet influential figure in UK indie and post-punk circles. Musicians paid homage through dedicated songs, including David J's "Quelle Tristesse" and Peter Astor's "Fine & Dandy," while a memorial plaque at his gravesite references his song "Last of the Gentleman Adventurers" as a lasting symbol of his pride in his work. Recent reissues of his catalog have helped sustain appreciation of his output, and his final album was lauded as a vital capstone that captured his singular, irreducible songwriting—marked by quotable surrealism, charismatic melodies, and a fearless blend of politics and absurdity—affirming his status as a true eccentric original whose influence endures in indie music despite limited mainstream exposure.
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.