Phish fans devastated at news popular jam band will dissolve May 25, 2004 - Portland Press Herald By Staff Aroostook County was happy to host this group's many well-behaved followers. The popular jam band Phish, which last year drew 75,000 fans to northern Maine for a concert at the former Limestone Air Force Base in Aroostook County, is soon to be no more. The surprise announcement came as the experimental, genre-mixing band prepared to release a new album, "Undermind," on June 15. It will then embark on a summer tour two days later, beginning at Brooklyn's Coney Island amusement park. Band leader Trey Anastasio made the announcement on the group's Web site, saying he and the other members felt Phish had "run its course." Not since the death of Jerry Garcia took away the guiding spirit of the Grateful Dead has there been news like this for rock fans, many of whom expressed their grief in calls and e-mails to music magazines and related Web sites. The three concerts the Burlington, Vt.,-based group held in Aroostook in 1997, 1998 and 2003 attracted an estimated total of 200,000 peaceful, happy fans to Presque Isle, Caribou and Limestone. So, there's probably some grief being expressed in chambers of commerce there as well. Phish is closing out its farewell tour Aug. 14-15 at Coventry, Vt., in the group's home state. Its many fans will miss it, as will the people who will miss the fans. Article Copyright © 2004 Portland Press Herald