Rock Band Phish to Reunite in March 2009

Band Follows a Long Line of Reunion Tours

Phish, the famous Vermont-based rock group, has just announced that they will reunite for three shows in March 2009 after a four-year hiatus. The concerts will take place at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia on March 6, 7 and 8 and the band plans to announce additional 2009 tour dates early next year.

A limited amount of tickets will be available through the band's ticketing system, with the request period ending October 8. Tickets go on sale to the general public through Ticketmaster on October 18.

Phish has often been compared to the Grateful Dead due to their love of improvisation and their cult following, the "Phishheads." Described by their biographer Stephen Thomas Erlewine as the "de facto leaders of the neo-hippie jam band movement," Phish was started by guitarist Trey Anastasio and drummer Jon Fishman in the early 1980s. They were later joined by bassist Mike Gordon and keyboardist Page McConnell. After a successful 21-year career, the band broke up in 2004 with guitarist Trey Anastasio telling fans that he didn't want the band to become "caricatures or a nostalgia act."

As far as a reunion tour goes, Phish has reunited fairly quickly compared to most bands. Many bands go for several decades before deciding to play together again. However, Phish is following in a long line of beloved acts that have reunited this past year.

Last year was the return of the classics, with fans seeing the reunion tours of the Police, Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Van Halen, the Eagles and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. This fall, a great deal of reunion tours are coming around the end of their stints, but some will be performing into early 2009.

Classic '90s band, the Stone Temple Pilots are currently performing their first national tour since their 2002 breakup. They will be performing through October 30, with tickets running between $40-$70.

Despite their differences, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey have reunited as The Who for a mini-tour in the U.S. and Canada this fall. The tour dates will run from October 21-November 9, with tickets running between $50-$250.