Something Phishy, eh?
I’m not sure that I believe that Phish bassman Mike Gordon’s intentions were entirely honorable when he whisked off to a dimly lit boathouse behind the Jones Beach stage at a recent Dead concert to take “Art photos” of a 9 year old girl, but I’m quite sure he was using really bad judgement considering the fact she was the daughter of two Hell’s Angels. My favourite news quote on the issue: “Several Hell’s Angel’s members exacted an unspecified punishment before police arrived”. Leaves much to the imagination, I love it! Related online news items: E Online article , Rolling Stone article
Personally I have always liked Phish, and really dug the fact that in addition to allowing folks to freely tape their concerts and distribute copies thereof (just like the Dead always did), they just started selling clean digital copies of their concerts in MP3 format over the internet essentially cutting out the record label middle man parasites. Right on brothers!
Hopefully Mike really had no evil intent, I’d hate to think I was even partially subsidizing the depravaties of a paedophile.
[ed added: pics of jones beach]
Comment posted on 8-20-2003
Mike is an artist that holds his degree in film. Unless there is some reasonable information regarding some misconduct on his part I\’d appreciate it if you gave him the benefit of doubt. He\’s always working on film and photography projects (go look at phish.com right now, he has a video/music release just out). Mike is a sweet kind, lover of bluegrass first and jam rock second, and I\’m pretty sure he\’s happily married.
As far as I know, there is no \"bath house\" backstage at Jones Beach, unless it\’s a swimming area, given that the stage does stick out into the middle of the great south bay.
Hells Angels? They probably just wanted to kick his ass for some reason.
Comment posted on 8-21-2003
I\’m certainly not judging the guy without the facts, and I\’m willing to believe that his photography mission was innocent but the whole story seems wierd to me, from his not asking the parents permission to Hell\’s Angels roughing him up (the Hells Angel parent involved is a chapter leader and they are not pressing charges last I heard).
Your assertion that \"there is no boathouse behind Jones Beach\" is not consistent with my experience since we both know that the Jones Beach stage is an outdoor theater which sticks out into Zach\’s Bay and I have seen boats floating there tied up alongside the stage (right) personally.
Comment posted on 8-21-2003
OOPS I didn\’t read that correctly… You said Bathhouse. Is that from the article I linked to? I thought I read Boathouse in another article, my bad.
Comment posted on 8-21-2003
Truth be told, I threw in the “please give him the benefit…” comment just to be a bit provacative. I love when we actually debate on comments and not just waft our thoughts around.
Anyway, The stage & back stage of Jones Beach is small and I’d guess the “Bath HOUSE” is an area where you can get in some salt water. Like a room.
In any case, all involved parties have publically stated that it was a misunderstanding, so it’s basically over, other than a judge throwing it out.
I like Mike
, I have for a long time. I think I’ll buy his movie/cd found here:
http://www.ropeadope.com/
Comment posted on 8-21-2003
oooo, sorry. If it\’s boathouse then my brain just freudianly substituted Massage Parlor for Ice Cream Parlor. My aplologies.