Reel Big Fish

**Reel Big Fish** is a ska punk band that started in 1992 in California. They have only ever played ska/rock music but moved more to a pop sound during the album "Cheer Up!" They have had many different members since the start of the band, including two different singers and over 10 different horn players. They mainly got successful from the album _Turn The Radio Off_, which had the single "Sell Out," in 1997, their most famous song.

### Current Members

- Aaron Barrett - guitar, lead vocals (1992–present)
- Derek Gibbs - bass guitar (2007–present)
- Matt Appleton - saxophone (2011–present)
- John Christianson - trumpet, backing vocals (2004–present)
- Ed "Smokey Beach" Larsen - drums, percussion (2014-present)

### Former Members

- Ben Guzman - vocals (1992–1994)
- Zach Gilltrap - keyboards/synthesizers (1992–1994)
- Lisa Smith - guitar (1992–1994)
- Eric Vismantes - trumpet (1994)
- Stephan Reed - saxophone (1994)
- Robert Quimby - trombone (1994–1995)
- Adam Polakoff - saxophone (1994–1995)
- Grant Barry - trombone (1995–1998)
- Andrew Gonzales - drums (1992–1998)
- Tavis Werts - trumpet (1994–2002)
- Carlos de la Garza - drums (1999–2003)
- Tyler Jones - trumpet (2002–2004)
- Justin Ferreira - drums (2003–2005)
- Matt Wong - bass, backing vocals (1992–2007)
- Dan Regan - trombone, backing vocals (1994–2013)
- Ryland Steen - drums (2005–2014)

## Albums

- _Everything Sucks_ (1995)
- _Turn The Radio Off_ (1996)
- _Why Do They Rock So Hard_ (1998)
- _Cheer Up!_ (2002)
- _We're Not Happy Til' You're Not Happy_ (2005)
- _Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album_ (2006) (Live Album)
- _Duet All Night Long_ (2007) (With "Zolof The Rock And Roll Destroyer")
- _Monkeys For Nothing And The Chimps For Free_ (2007)
- _Fame, Fortune And Fornication_ (2009) (Cover Album)
- Skacoustic (2010)
- Candy Coated Fury (2012)
- Life Sucks... Let's Dance! (2018)

## Record Companies

A common theme throughout some of their songs (such as "Don't Start A Band" and "Sell Out") is their disapproval of big record companies.  Reel Big Fish was signed onto Jive Records, but after their short-lived success, the record company neglected them and did not advertise their albums.  In their 2005 album, We're Not Happy Til' You're Not Happy, Reel Big Fish directly and indirectly expresses their anger towards their record company in several of their songs.

During 2006, Reel Big Fish was dropped from Jive Records.  The band formed their own label and released a 3-disc live performance CD/DVD set, Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album. This package became available on July 18, 2006 on the Internet and in retail stores on August 22. Jive later released a Reel Big Fish greatest hits album, Greatest Hit...And More, because they owned the rights to all previous songs. The band did not approve of, or make any money from the album, and have spoken out against it.

## Infobox (musical artist)

- **name**: Reel Big Fish
- **img**: Reel Big Fish live in Santa Cruz.jpg
- **img capt**: Reel Big Fish performing at The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, California on March 27, 2008.
- **img size**: 250
- **landscape**: yes
- **background**: group_or_band
- **origin**: Huntington Beach, California, United States
- **genre**: Ska punk, alternative rock, third wave ska
- **years active**: 1992–present
- **label**: Mojo Records, Mojo, Jive Records, Jive, Rock Ridge Music
- **associated acts**: The Littlest Man Band, The Forces of Evil, The Scholars (band), The Scholars, Jeffries Fan Club, Spring Heeled Jack USA, Suburban Rhythm, Nuckle Brothers, Zebrahead, Goldfinger (band), Goldfinger
- **current members**: Aaron Barrett
Matt Appleton
Derek Gibbs
Dan Regan
Ryland Steen
John Christianson (musician), John Christianson
- **past members**: Ben Guzman
Zach Gilltrap
Lisa Smith
Robert Quimby
Adam Polakoff
Andrew Gonzales
Grant Barry
Tavis Werts
Carlos de la Garza
Tyler Jones
Justin Ferreira
Matt Wong
Scott Klopfenstein