Fishman's Vacuum

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Origin: A baby blue Electrolux vacuum cleaner (a.k.a. the vac or 'lux) has been in the repertoire (played as an instrument by Fishman) since circa 1989. An earlier, 1967 model was donated to the Hard Rock Cafe 1/29/93. The currently in-use model is from circa 1965.

How Played: The end of the hose is pressed firm against Henrietta's mouth, and small crack is made to permit variable amounts of suction. The larger the crack, the lower the pitch of the squeel; the smaller, the higher.

Dual Appearances: Fish has used the vac twice in the same show a handful of times, inc. 2-20-93, 4-10-94 (Didn't Know I and I Wanna be Like You II), 7-11-96 (Didn't Know I and Terrapin II), and 8-10-96 (Didn't Know I and Whipping post II).

Dual Instruments: And during March 1992 (the same time the band played "Cold as Ice" instead of "Hold Your Head Up"), Fishman also played the bagpipes, with a special attachment so that he didn't have to blow the bagpipes *or* funnel the vacuum air through his mouth, creating the "Bag-vac".

Electrolux, reportedly "the world's largest appliance maker", laid off 2700 in 1/04.