Fishbone will celebrate their belated 40th anniversary with the release of a new self-titled EP on May 26, and the ska legends have released a new single to accompany the announcement, titled “Estranged Fruit,” in collaboration with NOFX.
The track offers the best of both bands, with Fishbone providing the horn-laden backbone of the arrangement, while NOFX injects some uptempo pop-punk, most evident during Race to the End’s coda. Fat Mike of NOFX also produced the song and EP.
“‘Estranged Fruit’ is a timeless piece that blends past and present, ironically repeating what should be in the rearview mirror of a so-called evolutionary society, but still a long way off,” Chris Dowd of Fishbone commented that he returned to join the band in 2018 (one of four original members to fill out the sextet on the new EP) after leaving in 1994.
According to a press release, “Estranged Fruit” is “Fat Mike’s update to one of the greatest hits on the country anthology Abel Meeropol and Billie Holiday’s 1939 ‘Strange Fruit’.”
Work on the EP began as early as 2019, though it was stymied by the number of current and former Fishbone members who wanted to take part in the recording. Co-founder Norwood Fisher called it “one of the difficulties of being in a band that’s exhausted and everyone’s a little crazy”.
“Creating something beautiful can sometimes be the thing creating barriers,” he said in the release.
As for Fat Mike, the five-song EP fulfilled aspirations sparked by the NOFX and Fishbone tour in 1992.
“Fishbone is a band I’ve always wanted to work on since NOFX started touring with them in 1992,” says Fat Mike. “When I got my chance two years ago… I gave it my fucking all! I fucking love this band as much as friends and musicians, but I probably love this record even more! I thank all of them for giving me Chance.”
Due to the pandemic, Fishbone never properly celebrated their 40th anniversary. The ska heroes hit a milestone with their new EP, which comes nearly 38 years after their vaunted 1985 debut — also a self-titled EP. “Estranged Fruit” is the second track we hear from the Fat Mike produced EP, following the previously released single “All We Have Is Now.”
Next week, Fishbone will support the opening date of the Fearless Flying Frog Brigade reunion tour at Les Claypool. Their game starts next Tuesday (May 16) in Stateline, Nevada and runs through May 24 in Denver. They will also be at this year’s Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival in Las Vegas on May 27-28.Buy tickets for Fishbone’s upcoming concerts here.
Upcoming fish bone EP will be released through Fat Mike’s imprint bottle falling, though no pre-order information was available at the time of writing. You can play Alienated Fruit below.