Kenny Chesney performs at the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field in Downtown Nashville Sunday, June 14 during the 2009 CMA Music Festival. Photo courtesy of the Country Music Association.
July 14, 2009 — When Kenny Chesney added the Wailers’ Drummie Zeb to his band this year, it seemed enormously appropriate. Long before Drummie joined them, the Wailers were the backing band for reggae legend Bob Marley. And, as many of Kenny’s fans know, his stage has featured a fish named Marley for several years.
The fish was a 235-pound blue marlin that Kenny caught back in 2003. He decided to have it stuffed and annually transports it to his shows to add a little of the Caribbean character that’s a signature of his concerts.
"He's got his own road case," Kenny told The San Francisco Chronicle. "He serves no purpose whatsoever. It's just a thing to have out there that reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously. Whenever I get down, I can look up and there's this 235-pound blue marlin at the side of the stage. Why? Just because we can."
Not that Marley’s always been associated with good news.
"Sammy Hagar gave me this awesome, beautiful sombrero when we were at Cabo Wabo for his birthday, and I put that sombrero on top of Marley, just to give more attitude," Kenny recounted. "And somebody stole it. That's the maddest I've been on tour. I'll never get it back."
Kenny, Marley, Drummie Zeb and the entire crew are slated to play AT&T Park in San Francisco on Saturday. Also on the bill: Sugarland, Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert.