School of Fish

For the grouping of fish, see Shoaling and schooling.
School of Fish
School of Fish, 1991. L-R: Michael Ward, Dominic Nardini, Michael Petrak, and Josh Clayton-Felt.
School of Fish, 1991. L-R: Michael Ward, Dominic Nardini, Michael Petrak, and Josh Clayton-Felt.
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California
GenresAlternative rock, jangle pop, rock and roll
Years active1989–1994, 2020
LabelsCapitol Records

School of Fish was an alternative rock band which formed in 1989 and disbanded in 1994. The core members were Josh Clayton-Felt (lead vocals and guitar) and Michael Ward (guitar). School of Fish released two albums and are remembered for the hit single "3 Strange Days" (1991).

History

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Clayton-Felt and Ward started as a duo who would play club dates in Los Angeles, California, accompanied by programmed drums and bass.[1]

Recruiting drummer Michael Petrak and bassist David Lipson the band signed with Capitol Records in 1990, and released their first single in that same year on 7-inch vinyl. Their self-titled debut was released in March 1991, followed by their first single, "3 Strange Days." Also during the same year, they appeared on a KROQ-FM concert disc called the Acoustic Christmas.

After the release of the first album, the rhythm section changed from Michael Petrak and Dominic Nardini to Chad Fischer and Chris MacDonald respectively.[2][3] However the new members did not play on the band's second album, which featured session musicians Josh Freese and John Pierce. Nevertheless, Chad Fischer stayed with the band to play live.

School of Fish's second album, Human Cannonball, was released in 1993. The album did not sell well and was not as successful as the self-titled album. Shortly thereafter, the band broke up.

Aftermath

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Members’ careers

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Singer Josh Clayton-Felt embarked on a solo career and released two studio albums and one live album before he was diagnosed with cancer in 1999. He died on January 19, 2000, at the age of 32. His estate has since overseen three posthumous releases.

Guitarist Michael Ward went on to play with John Hiatt and eventually became a member of The Wallflowers. After The Wallflowers split, Ward spent many years as a member of Ben Harper's band, The Innocent Criminals. He was also a sought-after session guitarist in LA, and the author of the children's books 'Mike and the Bike' and 'Mike and the Bike Meet Lucille The Wheel.' Ward died on April 1, 2024.[4]

Chad Fischer went on to form the band Lazlo Bane, known for original theme song of the TV show Scrubs. He also established himself as a record producer and composer.

Christopher MacDonald, who played bass with the band on tour, but did not play on any School of Fish recordings, records synthesizer space music under the name Telomere.

Releases

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Two previously unreleased songs were released as downloads circa 2007. "Broken Arm" (recorded before the Human Cannonball sessions) and "Goodbye Green World" (recorded before the self-titled album sessions).

The idea of releasing a rarities compilation was in talks with surviving past members but was aborted completely.[citation needed]

Two songs, "Goodbye Green World" and "Who Am I Today", performed by Josh-Clayton Felt and Michael Ward were issued on Josh's third posthumous release, the EP The Spirit Shines Through.[5]

In 2020 Chad Fischer reunited with the original members of School of Fish to record a new version of the song "3 Strange Days" which was released as a video.[6] The track was later included on the Lazlo Bane album Someday We'll Be Together.

Members

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  • Josh Clayton-Felt – vocals, guitars (1989-1994: died 2000)
  • Michael Ward – guitars, vocals (1989-1994, 2020: died 2024)
  • David Lipson – bass (1989)
  • Craig Aaronson – drums (1989)
  • Dominic Nardini – bass, tambourine (1990-1991, 2020)
  • Michael Petrak (aka M.P.) – drums (1990-1991, 2020)
  • John Pierce – bass, cello (1992-1994)
  • Josh Freese – drums (1992-1993, appears on Human Cannonball only)
  • Chad Fischer – live drums (1991-1994) vocals, guitar (2020)
  • Chris MacDonald – live bass (1991-1992)

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album Chart peaks
US
[7] 		US Heat
1991 School of Fish 142 5[8]
1993 Human Cannonball - 16

Singles

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Year Title Chart peaks Album
US Mod US Main
1991 "3 Strange Days" 6 12[9] School of Fish
1993 "Take Me Anywhere" 5[10] - Human Cannonball
Promotional Singles
Year Single Album
1991 "Wrong" School of Fish
"King of the Dollar"
1993 "Jump Off the World" Human Cannonball
"Everyword"

Promotional EPs

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Year Title Content
1991 The Wrong Sampler The five-track EP features 4 previously unreleased songs, 3 originals by Josh Clayton-Felt and Michael Ward ("The Greatest Living Englishman", "The Turtle Song", "Disconnected") and The Kinks cover "This is Where I Belong". The fifth track is radio edit of "Wrong" from School of Fish.
Live in L.A. The six-track EP features 5 exclusive live songs and the song "King of the Dollar" from School of Fish.

Other appearances

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Year Title Album
2021 "3 Strange Days"
(with Lazlo Bane) 		Someday We'll Be Together

Music videos

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Year Song Director(s) Album
1991 "3 Strange Days" School of Fish
1993 "Take Me Anywhere" Human Cannonball

In media

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References

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  1. ^ Tom Popson (October 11, 1991). "PRANKS AND PERSPECTIVE: ON THE ROAD WITH SCHOOL OF FISH". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  2. ^ "Some Strange Things About School Of Fish". seattletimes.nwsource.com. April 9, 1993. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  3. ^ "Things Are Going Swimmingly". dailypress.com. July 30, 1993. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  4. ^ Yee, Lawrence. "Michael Ward, Former Guitarist for The Wallflowers, Dead at 57". People. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  5. ^ "The Spirit Shines Through". joshclayton.com. January 19, 2013. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  6. ^ "3 Strange Days (2020)". youtube.com. May 20, 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  7. ^ "Billboard 200 week of September 21, 1991". billboard.com. September 21, 1991. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  8. ^ "Heatseekers Albums Week of February 1, 1992". billboard.com. February 1, 1992. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  9. ^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay Week of October 5, 1991". billboard.com. October 5, 1991. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  10. ^ Whitburn, Joel (September 23, 2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780898201741 – via Google Books.
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