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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →In a July 2024 Rolling Stone interview, Trey Anastasio said he welcomed turning 60, hoped Phish would keep playing into its members’ nineties, and named “You Enjoy Myself,” with its vocal jam, as the song he would most likely want as the band’s last. He also spoke about the making of Phish’s album Evolve, about the Grateful Dead, and about his own sobriety. These are his recollections and opinions as he gave them in 2024, not current statements about his plans or the band’s.
What the interview is and when it ran
The interview was conducted by Andy Greene and published by Rolling Stone on July 11, 2024. Rolling Stone describes it as an hourlong conversation held during Anastasio’s downtime from rehearsals for a solo performance with the Boston Pops at Tanglewood. It moves across several subjects: aging, creative work, Phish’s 2004–2009 hiatus, the Grateful Dead’s 50th-anniversary shows in 2015, addiction and recovery, relationships inside the band, and Evolve. Rolling Stone Canada’s page reproduces the same conversation.
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Two dates frame everything that follows. The interview ran as Anastasio approached his 60th birthday, and Evolve was released on July 12, 2024, a day after the interview’s publication. JamBase’s July 9, 2024 report identified it as Phish’s sixteenth full-length studio album, released through JEMP Records. In this article, “new LP” means that 2024 release.
Turning 60
Asked how he felt about the birthday, Anastasio said: “Maybe this is going to sound strange, but I really like it.” He described the change as a chance to observe and enjoy, rather than keep “scrambling,” and to share what he had learned. He also invoked the Jimi Hendrix song “Room Full of Mirrors” in his answer. That reference is his, and the piece uses it as his framing rather than as a claim about Hendrix.
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Phish’s future and the last song
Asked whether he still hoped Phish would play into its members’ eighties, Anastasio answered: “Now, I hope it’s nineties. I want to do a Willie [Nelson].” He also described the band’s pre-show ritual of checking in with one another, confirming that everyone is healthy and present.
Asked what Phish should play at its last concert, he said: “I would say probably ‘You Enjoy Myself,’ with the vocal jam. That’s got to be the last song.” He tied the choice to the band’s early identity and to keyboardist Page McConnell’s enthusiasm when Anastasio brought the song’s charts to the group. This is a personal preference stated in an interview, not a plan the band has announced.
How Evolve was made
Anastasio described two goals for the record. The first was to play each song live two or three times before recording, because he believes songs improve through performance. The second was to hear from fans in the Phish and Trey Anastasio Band communities before settling the final track list. JamBase’s July 9 report, drawing on David Fricke’s reporting, adds the production side:
- Test on the road. The material was played in front of audiences before the sessions, according to the JamBase report.
- Record fast at The Barn in Vermont. The band recorded quickly at The Barn, aiming to capture the energy of its live shows.
- Keep the takes loose. JamBase quotes Anastasio: “This is where Phish sounds best – when the takes are fast, when we’re not thinking.” The report says separation between instruments was minimal and that most songs got no more than two or three takes.
The studio-first and performance-first approaches are different ways of working, and Anastasio’s account describes the second. The interview does not argue that one method is better for all bands.
Sobriety, drugs, and the crowd
Asked whether it felt strange, as a sober musician, to look out at crowds where many people might be using drugs, Anastasio said it did not. He compared differing choices to friends who are vegan and friends who eat meat, and said: “I’m not here to sit in judgment and say, ‘One life choice is better than another.'” He added: “what I can add to the conversation is that there’s a way out.”
These remarks are his account of his own experience and outlook. They are not clinical guidance, and they do not describe what treatment works for anyone else. Readers who are dealing with substance use should consult a qualified medical or addiction professional.
Rolling Stone Canada reported on July 24, 2024 that Divided Sky was planned as a residential recovery program in Vermont. That report describes the plan at the time it was published. It does not establish whether the program operates now.
The Grateful Dead reference
The Dead discussion in the interview looks back at the Grateful Dead’s 50th-anniversary shows in 2015. It does not describe any current musical lineup or project, and nothing in the 2024 conversation should be read as a statement about future Dead performances.
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What the 2024 interview does and does not establish
- It is a historical interview. Anastasio’s views on aging, the band’s future, and sobriety were stated in July 2024 and may have changed since.
- The production details of Evolve come from the July 2024 reporting. The album’s recording and release are historical facts; availability today should be checked directly with the label or retailer.
- Anastasio’s personal opinions about crowds, drugs, and recovery are his own. They are not general claims about addiction or about any particular person’s choices.
For the album itself, search for “Phish Evolve” on a retailer or the JEMP Records catalogue to confirm which formats are currently offered.
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