Trey Anastasio's Unexpected Job At A New York Fairground

Musician Trey Anastasio, from the band Phish, once worked at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Greenwich, NY. We aren't talking about his first job out of high school, this is something he did at the height of his celebrity in 2007.

Why would the lead singer and guitarist of one of the world's most popular jam bands step away from the stage and take a job cleaning toilets and parking cars at the Washington County Fairgrounds? He had no choice.

Get our free mobile app

In the early morning hours of December 15, 2006, Trey Anastasio was arrested in Whitehall, NY, for 3rd Degree Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, 7th Degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Driving While Intoxicated.

Anastasio pleaded guilty to a reduced felony drug charge and spent 14 months participating in a long-term Drug Court treatment program with court supervision as opposed to a jail sentence.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by The Small Bow (@smallbownewsletter)

In an interview shared by smallbownewsletter on Instagram, Trey Anastasio reveals that he spent 14 months in Drug Court and part of the deal was to hold a job at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Greenwich, NY. While there Anastasio cleaned toilets, parked cars and other manual labor jobs. He was even recognized a few times.

While I was parking cars at the fairgrounds people would come in and be like, oh my god I saw you at SPAC, and I was like park over there. - Trey Anastasio

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PHILM (@phishonphilm)

Trey Anastasio also shared that the first time he played in sobriety was with the Dave Matthews Band at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Trey was escorted in and out of the venue, was allowed to play 1 song and was back in jail the next morning.