Reel Big Fish Biography

Reel Big Fish, the 1990s ska-punk band that has nearly as many brass instruments as a symphony, is the product of frat music combined with funky post-grunge rock. Reel Big Fish graced the music scene in the mid-‘90s with juvenile humor and ska-sounding beats, but its Sublime-ish genre of music is one that will keep regenerating the band's songs for decades to come.The sextet from Huntington Beach, California started as a trio comprised of vocalist/guitarist Aaron Barrett, bassist Matt Wong and drummer Andrew Gonzales, their musical focus on pop/rock. After discovering ska, however, the band members decided to add horn players, and although it took several years for two trumpet players and two trombone players to stick with the band, Reel Big Fish eventually became a ‘reel' big success. Reel Big Fish (as it stands today) recorded their debut album Everything Sucks in 1995 and released it themselves, becoming an edgy hit among colleges nationwide. Soon thereafter, the band signed with indie label Mojo and released the debut album Turn the Radio Off in 1996. Garnering a thick fan base with relentless touring, 1997's single "Sell Out" earned a spot among modern rock radio stations across the country. The song went on to grace the charts, and the group's success only widened from here.1997's Keep Your Receipt EP contains quirky tracks that helped Reel Big Fish get the humorous reputation they continue to have, and the band released its Why Do They Rock So Hard album in 1998, with 2000's return of Everything Sucks following. Continuing down the path of success, Reel Big Fish released Cheer Up! in 2002, followed by two enormous tours and four more successful albums in the next four years.