Chris Kuroda

Chris Kuroda lighting Phish at Alpine Valley in July 2003

Chris Kuroda is the lighting designer/operator for Phish. His lighting experiments were so unusual and diverse that a group of Phish fans lobbied to have Kuroda recognized as an official band member, which led to his nickname of 'CK5' (CK, his initials, and 5, as in the 5th member of the band). Other nicknames include "Toph" or "Topher," usually uttered by Trey Anastasio when requesting he turn off the lights, perhaps most notably during the song "Harry Hood." He attended Wilbraham and Monson Academy High School in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. Kuroda first worked with Phish in April 1989 and remained with the band until their breakup in 2004. He resumed his role as Phish's lighting designer at Hampton Coliseum reunion shows in March 2009.

"The two things I value the most from this experience are the opportunity given to me by Phish to be a self-taught lighting designer with no pressure or influence coming from the band themselves and I'm also thankful just to be given the opportunity in the first place ten years ago to stretch out artistically without knowing that I was an artist." ^[1]

Kuroda specializes in improvisation and synchronization with the music. After Phish's breakup, he was hired by The Black Crowes, Aerosmith, R. Kelly, VH1, and several music festivals.

References

1. ^ http://www.phish.com/tmiph/index.php?year=1989&month=3

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