When Brad Fish first came to DeKalb, he arrived here for orientation in hopes of becoming a guitar student. That was in the summer of 1988.

What Fish did not expect of his travels to DeKalb was to become employed as a teacher by NIU’s College of Continuing Education in 1990.

Fish decided to take this year off from school so he could play and write full time without having to meet departmental requirements. In order to make ends meet, he began teaching guitar lessons to 35 students in his home. When word got out that his lessons were so popular, Fish was approached by Al O’Conner, dean of the music school, to teach for NIU.

Fish came to DeKalb from Champaign. He knew of NIU’s music school reputation. He heard the music school at NIU would allow him more artistic freedom than the University of Illinois in Champaign.

Brad Fish is a modern day minstrel who has let his love of music guide his travels. Although he came to NIU to be a guitar student, he specializes in world music. He writes using the mountain dulcimer, tablas, talking drums and a host of homemade instruments.

Unlike most freshmen on orientation day, Fish toted around a backpack with his clothing and effects, his musical instruments and a tent—his temporary shelter.

The weather was fair, so Fish thought he could simply pitch a tent somewhere in DeKalb. He slept in his tent by the West Lagoon at the end of the day, but was awakened at about 10 a.m. by the University Police. He had to move on—but where to?

He found a more durable residence for the upcoming semester—a room in a house. Now that living arrangements were taken care of for the fall semester, Fish could continue following his love of music unburdened.

Fish first headed up to Alpine Valley for the five days which the Grateful Dead was playing there. Fish thought he could play for some quick cash and catch some shows before he moved on.

Complete with his “I need a miracle everyday” sign, Fish managed to get tickets. (Dead fans use this sign to ask for free tickets. Many are successful.) He even left the five-day trip with “way more money” than he came with, he said.

His next stop—Boulder, Colorado. Fish heard of folk artist Steve Tibbits who was teaching at the Naropa Institute in Boulder. He went there with plans of studying with him.

With no place to stay, Fish pitched a tent alongside a pavilion which the institute used for outdoor lectures. As in DeKalb, he was asked to leave.

However, the institute’s misfortune turned out to be Fish’s lucky break. According to Fish, one night some drunks got into the pavilion and vandalized it. The institute then allowed Fish to camp next to it in exchange for his watching it.

While in Boulder, Fish met beatnik poet Allen Ginsberg and surrealist filmmaker Harry Smith. Both were teaching at the Naropa Institute.

While playing street music and coffeehouses in Boulder, Fish was noticed by Smith, who took a special interest in his music. He consequently made films of Fish performing in his apartment, which he shared with Ginsberg. The films are now in the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institute.

While in Boulder for the summer, Fish met “about a dozen” people from DeKalb, he said. “It was like all the hippies from DeKalb were there.”

From playing in Boulder, Fish met percussionist Dean Langston. Langston was a former percussion major at NIU. It turned out that the room Fish was to rent for the upcoming semester was last rented by Langston.

Fish and Langston have moved back to DeKalb where they now collaborate. Billing themselves as “The Brad and Dean Experience,” they play every Thursday night at the DeKalb Coffeehouse, 131 E. Lincoln.

If you are interested in learning guitar, mountain dulcimer, african drumming or electric bass, give Fish a call at 748-4791.