But among rock lovers Fish, is and he is appearing in concert at Buxton Opera House on Wednesday November 26.

The Scottish singer, who leapt salmon-like to fame with rock band Marillion will be performing songs from a long career eked out with that band plus tracks from his ensuing solo career.

Big hits with Marillion were Kayleigh and Lavender. His latest solo album is 'Thirteenth Star.'

He'll be making sure he reflects his 30 years musical journey with his selection of songs for Buxton.

"People don't necessarily just come to hear you perform your latest songs, which are unfamiliar to them. The bottom line is that people buy tickets for gigs to be entertained. A gig isn't just a promotional tool for a new album. You have to find a balance. It's important to creatively move forward but at the same time you have to acknowledge your journey," he reasoned.

"So how did you get that name, Fish?"

"Well I always stayed in the bath for far too long, it's as simple as that. Somebody called me Fish and it stuck," he replied.
"Oh yes, and my real name is Derek William Dick so I suppose I needed a change of name," he laughs.

The singer will have clocked-up 125 dates by the time he completes his current tour and then he plans a year off.

"The country will be in recession then so it will be a good time to duck and get on with a few things.

"I like to diversify and I have plans to write a book – an autobiographical one on a trip to Vietnam I took not so long ago."

The rock singer also puts his energies into theatre and broadcasting and the latter – on Planet Rock – won him a Silver Sony.

"It's great, I get to play tracks to half a million people instead of just enjoying a bottle of wine and playing tracks to just a few mates."

Fish says he values his "very strong fan base" and says that he wouldn't just put out an album to fill an empty space.

"I try to look after my fans by having high quality control. I respect them and don't have this sausage factory mentality whereby there must be some product out all the time," he says.

He still lives and works in Scotland and that's where he will spend his recessional 'sabbatical' making sure he keeps his fans tuned in to activities on his website.

Fish's band on the tour will feature the musicians who worked on the studio recordings namely principal co-writer and bass player Steve Vantsis, Frank Usher- guitars, Chris Johnson- guitars, Foss Paterson- keyboards and Gavin Griffiths - drums