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What does 420 have to do with Phish?

Whatever the origin, the number appears frequently...

  • The official logo includes 4 gills and 20 bubbles ("Gringo" 11/12/98).
  • Lawnboy is 420megs of memory. Patrick Walker
  • "The Vibration of Life" underlies a whirling loop with Seven Beats per second (which makes 420 beats per minute.)
  • An uproar at 12/31/96 can be heard on tape during the 2001, in response to an enormous digital clock (which was counting down to midnight) reaching 11:55:40 and reading "-4:20". (Yoda)
  • At the fall '94 Olympia show, there was a big clock tower with three sides giving the correct time and one stuck on 4:20.
  • For the summer 1997 tour, TicketMaster service charges were $4.20.
  • As of 6/15/97, including covers and originals, Phish had performed a total of 420 songs (thought its 486 by 4/24/98). (David Steinberg).
  • The first day of the Great Went started at 4:20 (with Makisupa Policeman. (The second day started late, at 4:37.) Noah Cole
  • Loring Air Force base (home of Lemonwheel and The Great Went) is 420 miles from Boston (former home of Phish).
  • In the Fall 1997 Doniac Schvice Dry Goods section, a limited edition Pollack poster printed on 100% hemp is order number 420P.
  • The first single from Slip Stitch and Pass was played on WBCN 10/14/97 at 4:20 pm.
  • Some mail order tickets for the 1997 New Year's run were in section 420.
  • Trey has used the altered line "woke up at 4:20" in "Makisupa Policeman", which also often indirectly celebrates 420ing, e.g. by mention of goo balls.
  • The first Mass Pike toll leaving Oswego was $4.20. (Camille Heath )
  • During the "2001" on 9-12-00, Trey hits the first riff right at 4:20 into the intro jam. (Cal 2/25/01)
  • Standard shipping for The Phish Companion through Amazon was originally $4.20.
  • The Rolling Stone with Phish on the cover (2/03) cost $4.20 in PA. (Linzee)
  • One of the funniest shirts around takes light jabs at both the 4:20 phenomenon and the rumored evolution (collapse?) of the Phish.Net (especially rec.music.phish) from being Gamehendge to Flamehendge, and beyond.
  • The title track for Trey's "solo" album Plasma clocks it at 4:20. (Russ Devore)

420 Shows: Phish performed on April 20 in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1994. The first day of the Great Went started at 4:20, although that was called a soundcheck by Trey after three songs. The Jazzfest Harry Hood 4-26-96 started at about 4:20 reported by Trevor. At Big Cypress, "David Bowie" was playing at 4:20 a.m. And the one event during the "hiatus" (10/8/00 - ?) featuring all four members - for Jason Colton's wedding - was 12/1/01, 420 days after the hiatus began. (Todd Pascoe)

420 FAQ: Circa 2002, the Phish.Net FAQ file had 420 files: 249 HTML files, 115 graphics, 45 text files, 4 CDF files, and 5 sounds; though it's closer to 520 now.

Related FAQ pages:

"Phish: a beacon of hope in a world of dope."
- Phil Nazzaro

This page last updated February 06, 2008. All contents © 1992-2007 Ellis Godard. All rights reserved.

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