Phish Leads Rock Hall Fan Vote With Less Than a Week to Go: A Win for the Jam Band Community
It’s a big year for the Phish faithful. With the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame fan vote closing in just a few days on April 21, Phish is leading the pack — and by a wide margin. As of April 16, the Vermont jam band has racked up a commanding 310,457 votes, outpacing second-place Bad Company (254,758) and Billy Idol (237,289).
This is Phish’s first-ever Rock Hall nomination, despite being eligible since 2014. And if the current pace continues, they could win the fan vote outright — something they’ve been doing since Day One of this year’s campaign.
For frontman Trey Anastasio, the nomination itself was less about industry recognition and more about community celebration. “It’s an honor and a thrill,” Anastasio told GQ. “A recognition of our whole scene, of our community… That was the first thing we all talked about — that it’s a celebration of this community.”
Phish has spent decades cultivating one of the most devoted and enduring fan bases in music. From their multi-night residency blowouts to spontaneous improvisational sets, the band’s grassroots legacy has thrived on a different kind of stardom — one that lives on stage, not in the headlines.
Should Phish be inducted, Anastasio already has a vision for how he’d like it to go. “I would be honored if Ezra Koenig [of Vampire Weekend] wanted to do it,” he said, noting Koenig’s intellect, New York roots, and genuine connection to the Phish ethos. “It would be nice if someone could do it who wasn’t a star that was just assigned, someone who doesn’t understand Phish.”
Voting fans can still cast their ballot once a day at vote.rockhall.com, selecting up to seven nominees per session. While the fan vote represents just one voice in the overall Rock Hall decision, the winner of the public ballot is guaranteed to have their vote count added alongside the official committee.
With six days left and momentum on their side, Phish may be heading for a historic first: bringing jam band culture to the Rock Hall main stage.
