• Name: Eric Fish (Erik Hecht)
• Plays: vocals, bag pipes, shawm, flutes, oboe
• Born: 28.05.1969 in Treuenbrietzen

1987
First tries as a songwriter, starting to climb the ladder through winning several newcomer contests, with the pinnacle being the DDR finals of the junior song writers (1988) in Berlin. After the bitter defeat and disenchanting critic from Gerhard Schöne and Barbara Thalheim giving up this course and turning towards Irish and Scottish folk music.

1988
Founding of the band 'CATRIONA' with Jan Klemm (Fiddle, Violin) and Marek Kalbus (Vocals, Guitar).
Categorized as folk art collective with the classification 'very good', which gave us the authorization to receive 15 East Mark (currency in the DDR) for one hour of music.
First bag pipes: Scottish Highlandpipe, selfmade, autodidactic learning how to play it.
Birth of my son Max.

1989
Marek Kalbus left the band, Tobias Unterberg (Cello) joined.
CATRIONA got very well known in the pub scene of Berlin.
Second bag pipes - Shepherd Pipes Bodo Schulz.
Bought my first car: Trabant 601, built 1970 - 10,000 East Mark.

1990
Recording of the first CATRIONA album 'Rightful King'
End of 1990 break up of the band because Jan (later "Herr Jeh" * phonetically resembles the German version of 'criminy!') and Tobias (later B. Deutung * phonetically resembles the German word for 'meaning') left the band for the newly founded Inchtabokatables.
Also finished studying engineering and registering as a freelance musician.
First western german car: Opel Kadett, built 1989, 3,000 Mark (west german currency)

1991/1992
Street music, pub gigs all over the east of Germany, eking out a living - tough school

1992
Invitation from Frau Schmitt, who I knew back from folk music times, to a session with her new band 'Subway to Sally'. After a great night with an ideal accordance and understanding between me and the other band members, I was in the band. My duties: wind instruments and background vocals.
First trip to Ireland.

1993
About 60 concerts, booked by us.

1994
Recording of the first 'Subway to Sally' - LP
Starting to perform concerts in the western parts of Germany

1995
More than 100 concerts all over Germany. First tour - 32 days without off days. 50 people in the audience on average. Emergence of the legendary fertility dance and the 'SCREAM'. I came to be the front man, survived several jumps off the stage, played some concerts with a leg in a cast, even in a talent contest on tv in which we made first place (maybe also because of the sympathy bonus) and won a trip to Sweden. That evening Reinhard Mey got beer for us. Because of limited time we never took the trip to Sweden.
Second LP: 'MCMXCV'.
Also Irish pub concerts with Ingo Hampf to raise some more money.
No vacation.

1996
111 concerts, noticeably more people in the audience.
Next LP 'Foppt den Dämon' (Tease the Deamon).
Again no vacation.

1997
More excessive touring (more than 100 concerts). I meet the first male person who is a head smaller than I am - Peter Maffay, back then boss of our record company.

1998
LP 'Bannkreis', first time in the charts. Lots of acceptance from the print media, huge interest from the fans, sold out concerts, total rejection from the radios.
Because of a very embarrassing performance on my part on the 31st of December in Erfurt under the influence of alcohol I swear to never perform on new years eve again.

1999
Caught my first pike, 86 cm, 8 pounds.
Alongside the recording for the LP 'Hochzeit' I play my first small solo concerts for self-discovery.
I change my vocal coach and take guitar lessons for half a year. I'm asked for autographs in the suburban train in Berlin and on street crossings. I start to get the feeling of being famous.

2000
Subway to Sally keeps me busy day and night, but I do take some time off for solo concerts, this time arranging the encores with the help of my friend Rainer Michalek. Uwe Nordwig starts working as a backliner for Subway to Sally and gets involved in the solo project.

2001
Time for the next record, 'Herzblut' (Life Blood) is what it's called and what is in it. I play in Mexico, an incredible experience and the realization that there are millions of people worse off than the sissies over here.
First solo gigs with three people, a nice balance to the loud and violent Rock'n Roll business.

2002
Subway to Sally get nominated for the Echo (big German music award), but don't get it. I feel so uncomfortable on the event that I am fighting a constant nausea. The production for 'Engelskrieger' (Angel Warrior) starts and completely fills the year from August on. I meet my new vocal guru: Gudi Laos. Awesome cooperation. It's the first time that I am content with the recordings of the vocal parts for the album.

2003
'Engelskrieger' is released and makes it to place 9 in the german charts. Wow! Proud and happy. Inspired by an experience I start writing own songs again, music and lyrics.

2004
First solo record, a live recording, is released: 'Live! - Auge in Auge'