The Jazz Butcher

The Jazz Butcher was the road running, galloping, well greased jalopy of prolific singer/songwriter Pat Fish, an exceptional British eccentric whose sharp observational wit and musical cleverness navigated the group through over a decade of constant lineup shifts, stylistic mutations, and even a series of name changes, which found the band performing variously — and apparently randomly — under such titles as the Jazz Butcher Conspiracy and the Jazz Butcher & His Sikkorskis from Hell. 

From the outset both an alias of and a group project led by Pat Fish. Until 1986 companions included Max Eider, David J, Owen “O.P.” Jones and Graham “Felix” Fudger and even David J. of Bauhaus before he left to join ‘Love and Rocket’. When signed to Creation Records from 1987/88 onwards, the ever changing JBC line-up consisted of Kizzy O’Callaghan, Laurence O’Keefe, Alex Green and Paul Mulreany to name but a few. In 1996 The Jazz Butcher Reformed for a series of live shows resulting in a reunion of sorts with the core members of the Band Pat Fish, Max Eider and Owen Jones reforming in the late 1990’s.

DRINK

My oh my
We can’t compete
It’s only heavy drinking that keeps us on our feet
My oh my
I can’t complain
If it weren’t for heavy drinking
We’d never play Sweet Jane (Reed)
My my my, oh my
The days go by
I never quite forget her
But goodness how I try
Believe me
Believe me
Falling apart in bars
I like to suffer for my art
Just one more before we part

Don’t want to think
About how much I drink
It’s a habit that’s out of control
Hope I never get dry before I get old.

Trombone (trombone solo)

Chorus

Don’t want to think
About how much I drink
It’s a habit that’s out of control
Hope I never get dry (before you get)
Hope I never get dry now (before you get)
Hope I never get dry before I get old… mmmmm… mmmm

Soul Happy Hour

The best things in life are free
But you can give them to the SDP
I want to go to Tesco’s store
And buy some drink and fall on the floor.

I don’t care for smart new clothes
I don’t care for reading books
I don’t care for
I don’t care for magazines

I don’t like lemonade
I think milk should not be made
I don’t like coffee and I don’t like tea
These are the things that mystify me

I don’t care for sport or swimming
I don’t care for all those nasty old bogeys
I don’t care what’s on TV
I just want to drink til I can’t see

I Wish I’d been born a tree
Someone’d come and make a barrel out of me
I get in a fury when
I’m not in a brewery

Chorus:
Whiskey, Vodka, Special Brew
All of this is good for you
Gin sling, Cointreau, brandy sour…
Blot right out! Soul happy hour!

According to a post on Fish’s official Facebook page on 6 October 2021, he “died suddenly but peacefully.
There was a rumour of a cancer diagnosis in 2019 and treatment and recovery and talk of sleep apnea. There was always speculation that his failing health was from years of alcohol or drug abuse which seemed to be part of his ethos and persona. I saw The Jazz Butcher in the 80’s when they were wildly popular on college radio. They were awesome live even though Pat Fish seemed obviously drunk throughout the show. He was funny. Fish was scheduled to perform a web concert last year, however at show time, Fish appeared live to inform his audience he was not feeling well and would be re-scheduling the performance for the following week.

It was later reported that Fish had died of a heart attack.

Rest in peace Mr. Fish.

His music won’t.

It still jangles, soothes, and rollicks and amuses.