Watch Argent Perform Phish Drummer Jon Fishman’s Least Favorite Song On ‘Midnight Special’

Most Phish fans have only fond memories when keyboardist Page McConnell breaks into the opening organ strains of Argent’s “Hold Your Head Up” (usually at breakneck speed) and guitarist Trey Anastasio takes drummer Jon Fishman’s throne. It means shenanigans are afoot… of the Fish variety.

Consummate showman that he is, Fish (or Henrietta) always gives the people what they want — whether it be a ride on the Electrolux (vacuum), a song from Neil Diamond or Prince, or something completely unexpected. But although he’s possibly warmed up to it over the years, consummate showman that he is, historically, Fish’s relationship with the Argent rocker is one of distaste and disdain. According to Phish.net historian Mark Toscano:

Though the band has never actually played [“Hold Your Head Up”] in full, it remains a staple of their live repertoire. It all started during band practice early on in Phish’s career. Knowing that Fishman hated this Argent song, Trey, Mike, and Page would start playing it just when they were about to get down to some serious practicing. Although the three of them found it hilariously funny, Fish apparently did not, and he would often storm out of band practice. In a live context, the song first appeared during the “Mike’s Song” jam on 8/21/87, and then again on 5/14/88. The following year, on 10/1/89, the band performed the first official Argent torment of Fish as he took center stage to perform “If I Only Had a Brain.” Fish hated it, the band started doing it regularly, and the rest is history. The song was briefly replaced by a similarly arranged version of Foreigner’s “Cold As Ice” during part of 1992, but the Argent tune eventually returned, apparently the winner of the “Fishman’s Most Hated Song” award. Actually, the version of “Hold Your Head Up” they play is usually nothing more than a few bars of the original tune’s verse and chorus on organ, bass, and Trey on drums. Sometimes it has been jammed out like the aforementioned 8/21/87, but most memorably so on 5/7/94, during which Trey turned the drums back over to Fish after “Purple Rain” without ever letting the beat drop.

The classic 1970s music program Midnight Special recently launched a YouTube channel where this gem popped up. Watch Argent deliver “Fishman’s Most Hated Song” on Midnight Special in 1972 below:

Phish’s summer tour resumes with two concerts at SPAC to raise funds for flood relief in Vermont and Upstate New York followed by their traditional tour closing run at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Denver. Livestreams are available for Dick’s via LivePhish.

Phish just wrapped their seven-night residency at Madison Square Garden. Check out what went down below: