This entry contains legacy content from the earler Phish.net's FAQ file and/or from earlier editions of The Phish Companion. It may be incomplete and/or out-of-date, but we hope to update it soon.

He is the fifth member of the band. His instrument is the light board. He is a wizard.

At Chris's wedding 9/4/99 in Stowe, Vermont,. Phish played together semi-publicly for the only time during their five-year breakup, performing a set of music including "Yamar", "Water in the Sky" and "Possum" among others; Kuroda sang on the latter. House band The Chrome Cowboys included Russ Lawton, Gordon Stone, Brett Hughes, Marc Ransom, Bill Mullins and Marc Spencer.

Like Brad Sands, Chris has also worked with other bands, particularly during the "breakup"; both, for example, were part of the Gov't Mule tour in Spring 2005.

Chris Kuroda (aka Topher; listen to 11-20-94 Axilla or 12-30-97 Harry Hood; large graphic profile) started with Phish as a roadie after taking guitar lessons from Trey, and has become a lighting genius! He is assisted by many -- including roadies, stagehands, and designers -- but is regarded by some as a "fifth member" of Phish . A group of fans started CK5, initially with the aim of making that designation official.

See also, March 1989 in "This Month in Phish History", which notes that Chris was hired after this ad ran in local newspapers and the March 1989 Phish Newsletter:

"WANTED: Creative light person to run new light show for Phish on a salaried, permanent basis. This very valuable partner will travel with the band as a 5th member. We are looking for someone from the New England area -- no need to live in Burlington. Call (802) XXX-XXXX."

Kuroda has run lights for some other events. He once mentioned in an interview running lights for Santana at some South American () show, and how the other technicians there were blown away by his sweeps and fades. And he reportedly ran lights for the Black Crowes on 3-26-99. (Reported by Bob Silver 3/27/99)

Chris Kuroda (aka Topher; listen to 11-20-94 Axilla or 12-30-97 Harry Hood; large graphic profile) started with Phish as a roadie after taking guitar lessons from Trey, and has become a lighting genius! He is assisted by many -- including roadies, stagehands, and designers -- but is regarded by some as a "fifth member" of Phish . A group of fans started CK5, initially with the aim of making that designation official.

See also, March 1989 in "This Month in Phish History", which notes that Chris was hired after this ad ran in local newspapers and the March 1989 Phish Newsletter:

"WANTED: Creative light person to run new light show for Phish on a salaried, permanent basis. This very valuable partner will travel with the band as a 5th member. We are looking for someone from the New England area -- no need to live in Burlington. Call (802) XXX-XXXX."

Kuroda has run lights for some other events. He once mentioned in an interview running lights for Santana at some South American () show, and how the other technicians there were blown away by his sweeps and fades. And he reportedly ran lights for the Black Crowes on 3-26-99. (Reported by Bob Silver 3/27/99)