In a new interview with Syracuse.com, Phish drummer Jon Fishman talks about his upcoming Syracuse Music Lifetime Achievement Award, and takes the opportunity to reflect on his career with Phish and in music.

He starts by admitting that he played the tambourine in the middle school band, saying “I was the worst drummer in my school band.” He continues, “There were five kids in the percussion section and I was the bottom of the barrel. Three kids would get to play the drum set and the other two were relegated to tambourine and bass drum. I was the tambourine kid.” 

However, things changed for Fishman when he heard “Visions of the Emerald Beyond” by the Mahavishnu Orchestra and began to take jazz drum lessons. Through the local community, he studied briefly under local legend Dave Hanlon, and knew that he wanted to pursue music full time.

The rest, as they say, is history. It wasn’t until 1994, however, when Fishman’s dad realized jsut how successful Phish had become. “There’s the marquee that says ‘Madison Square Garden welcomes Phish,'” the drummer said. “It’s a big moment. After the concert he comes to me and goes, ‘I’m really glad you stuck to your guns.'”

The story continues, talking about the band’s hiatus from 2004-2009. He was pessimistic, saying, “I thought we were never coming back. How many bands have we seen come and go in a heartbeat?” The article ends with a reflection from Fishman, who said: “No one expected that Phish would last 33 years and that this band would still be going now… but that moment with my dad [at Madison Square Garden]…I’m going to remember that as a father with my kids. It’s good to hear that.”

Read the full interview at Syracuse.com.