Trey Anastasio Caricature

Trey Anastasio Caricature, illustrated here age 30, in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral (NYC) in April, 1994 with his Languedoc #1 “Old Reliable” Mar-Mar guitar.

Anastasio is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Phish, which he co-founded in 1983. He is credited by name as composer of 152 Phish original songs, 141 of them as a solo credit, in addition to 41 credits attributed to the band as a whole.
In addition to his work with Phish, Anastasio has released 11 solo albums, and been part of several side projects including the Trey Anastasio Band, Oysterhead, Ghosts of the Forest, and Surrender to the Air.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, but grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, his mother Dina was a children’s book author and editor of Sesame Street Magazine.

Anastasio enrolled at University Of Vermont as a philosophy major, where he met original Phish bandmates Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon, and Jeff Holdsworth in 1983.

In 1985, Anastasio, along with Jon Fishman, transferred to Goddard College.

During this time he began a musical association and close friendship with composer Ernie Stires, who taught him composition, theory, and arranging. While at Goddard, he composed the song cycle “The Man Who Stepped into Yesterday” as his senior project. These songs became mainstays of the Phish catalog. He graduated from Goddard in 1988.

During 1985, Phish’s current lineup solidified; the band includes bassist and vocalist Mike Gordon; percussionist, vacuum player, and vocalist Jon Fishman; and keyboardist and vocalist Page McConnell.

Phish performed together for over 20 years, releasing 10 studio albums, before breaking up in August 2004. They reunited in March 2009 for a corresponding tour, released a reunion album Joy and have since resumed performing regularly.

Greatest hits: “Reba”, “The Divided Sky”, “Fluffhead/Fluff’s Travels”, “Harry Hood”, “Run Like An Antelope”, “You Enjoy Myself”, “Tweezer”, “Down With Disease”, “Farmhouse” and “Bathtub Gin” to name a few.

Arrested in 2006 for driving intoxicated, he was found with heroin and other drugs. He plead guilty and spent 14 months performing community service. He has maintained his sobriety since 2007.

He has publicly thanked the officer who arrested him for turning his life around.