Fish

Fish Name: Derek William Dick, better known as Fish. Date of Birth: 25th April 1958. Place of birth: Edinburgh, Scotland (Brought up in a small town named Dalkeith, east of Edinburgh and near Haddington). Education: King's Park primary school, Dalkeith. Dalkeith High school. Qualifications: 7 GCSE 'O' levels – History, Chemistry, English, Maths, Biology (grade A), German, English Lit (grade B). Family: Parents – Robert (Bert) and Isabella (Isa). Sister Laura, 3 years younger. Marital status: Married Tamara on the 25th July 1987, divorced 2003. Engaged to Heather Findlay February 14th 2007. Children: Tara Rowena, born 1st January 1991. Previous employment: Petrol pump attendant – Dick Bros Garage. Summer 1976: Gardener, Parks Dept, Loanhead. 1976/1977: Genetics Dept, Forestry Commission, NRS, Bush Estate. 1977/1978: Forestry worker, Speymouth Forest (nr. Fochabers), Morayshire. June 1978: 2 week visit to Germany (1st time in Berlin), Forestry Exchange. Acquired 'Fish' monicker. September 1978 to June 1979: Newtonrigg College near Penrith, Cumbria – OND course in Forestry. July 1979 to August 1980: Forestry worker at the Bow Hill Estate, near Selkirk (College middle year – practical. Quit college before 3rd and final year!). March 1981: Quality inspector, Hose Lock Ltd, checking water sprinklers. Fired after 2 weeks due to bad references from Bowhill. April to October(?) 1981: Counter clerk, Unemployment Benefit Office, Aylesbury. Musical/acting experience: First gig (as a punter): Yes, supported by Gryphon, at Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 1974. First audition (vocalist): March 1980 – Not Quite Red Fox, failed due to lack of experience. NQRF's bassist/vocalist had been approached by Marillion to replace Doug Irving. They met at a Battle of the Bands competition in Luton, but never followed it up and lost contact! First gig (as a vocalist): 1980 Golden Lion, Galashiels, vocalist with Blewitt (lead guitar, Frank Usher) Audition with Stranger (Kettering-based), failed due to "voice too quiet" Audition with Stone Dome Band (Retford-based), successful (bass player, Diz Minnit) November 1980 – rented a cottage in Dalkeith with Diz November 1980: Return to gigging with Blewitt December 1980: First contact with Steve Rothery and Marillion (Aylesbury), audition successful (including Diz) 15th March 1981: First gig with Marillion, Red Lion pub, Bicester 8th September 1982: Marillion signed to EMI Oct 1982: First single "Market Square Heroes" released March 1983: First album "Script For A Jester's Tear" released March 1984: "Fugazi" album released. April 1985: "Kayleigh" single released reaching number two in UK charts 1985: Appears on "The Old Grey Whistle Test" Episode #15.10 (date uncertain) June 1985: "Misplaced Childhood" album released, number one chart position in UK 12 September 1985: Appears on "Top of the Pops" 21 May 1987: Appears on "Top of the Pops" June 1987: "Clutching At Straws" album released 30 July 1987: Appears on "Top of the Pops" February 1988: Appears in "The Comic Strip Presents…" episode titled 'More Bad News' 11 June 1988: Appears at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute at Wembley Stadium November 1988: Left Marillion. Moved to Spittalrig Farm, Haddington 11th October 1989: First solo gig (Mickey Simmonds – keyboards, Frank Usher – guitar, Robin Boult – guitar, Mark Brzezicki – drums, Steve Brzezicki – bass) 11 January 1990: Appears on "Top of the Pops" Jan 1990: First solo album "Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors" released First acting role as a guest star in an episode of "Zorro" called "The Newcomers" Begins legal action against EMI to be freed from his contract, finally culminating in an acrimonious split April 1991 Signs to Polydor Records April 1991: Films "Jute City" for TV Oct 1991: "Internal Exile" album released Jan 1993: "Songs From The Mirror" album released March 1993: Dropped by Polydor and establishes Dick Bros Records to promote future releases and a small roster of bands 1994: Films widescreen acting debut as Angus Cameron in "Chasing The Deer" released 1994 March 1994: "Sushi", a live album (recorded, coincidentally, on the day he is dropped by Polydor) is the first Dick Bros release May 1994: "Suits" album released Tours continually during this time to fund the recording and promotion of the new album. This leads to greater international exposure in previously unexplored territories, culminating in the Yin & Yang albums, a retrospective collection of 26 songs (13 of which were re-recorded) released September 1995 13 June 1985: Appears on "Top of the Pops" May 1997: "Sunsets On Empire" album released March 1998: Appears in an episode of "The Bill" titled "Manhunt" November 1998: Appears as Derek Trout in Channel 4's 'The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star' Summer 1998: Signs to Roadrunner, heralding the end of Dick Bros Records November 1998: "Kettle Of Fish" greatest hits package released April 1999: "Raingods With Zippos" album released September 2000: More acting on TV, this time in "Taggart" episode "Skin Deep" April 2000: More TV, in "Rebus" episode "Black & Blue" April 2001: Appears on "Never Mind The Buzzcocks" TV show May 2001: "Fellini Days" album released (by mail order only) August 2001: "Fellini Days" released to retail outlets 29 August 2001: Appears on "Top of the Pops 2" November 2001: Sells the Spittalrig Farmhouse and moves into the Studio November 2001: Auditions for James Bond movie December 2001: Appears on the Christmas special "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" TV show January 2002: Appears in 2 episodes of "Snoddy" TV series (starring Gregor Fisher) April 2002: Appears on the BBC programme "Closure" to apologise to Kayleigh for putting her in song May 2002: Appears in 2 episodes of "Caledonian McBrains" quiz show for BBC Scotland May 2002: Records vocal parts for "Caledonia" on Frankie Miller's tribute album May 2002: "Nine Dead Gay Guys" is premiered at the Cannes Film Festival May 2002: BBC6 Music broadcast a live Fish gig January 2003: Offered the part of "the hippy" in Queen's musical "We Will Rock You" (being played at that time by Nigel Planer). Refused due to contract duration and location January 2003: Writing begins on "Field of Crows" November 2003: Appears on BBC's "Children in Need" programme from Aberdeen December 2003: "Field of Crows" released January 2004: Accepts a role in John Maybury's film "The Jacket" February 2004: Appears on "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" TV show May 2004: Appears in "Quite Ugly One Morning", a comedy film made for TV January 2005: Voted at number 18 in The List's "Best Scottish Band Of All Time" April 2005: Tours to celebrate the 20th anniversary of "Misplaced Childhood" December 2005: Hosts the Classic Rock Society awards and is presented with a special award for 25 years in the music industry December 2005: Appears in a celebrity version of "Weakest Link" winning £18,350 which he shared with the runner-up – Eggsy of Goldie Lookin' Chain December 2005: Successfully sues former employee Kim Waring at Haddington Sheriff Court for £68,000 in missing cash and £100,000 in damages April 2006: Interview with Radio 4 for a programme on the history of Progressive Rock September 2006: Appears on the BBC Radio 2 comedy show "Jammin'" November 2006: LX Jovem webcast a Fish gig from Lisbon watched by over 25,000 people January 2007: Writing begins for "The Thirteenth Star" album February 2007: Becomes engaged to be married with Heather Findlay (Odin Dragonfly/Mostly Autumn)