Seattle? Singer/songwriter and wilderness bad boy Phil Fischer

has walked away from his first album, which is about to go

Gold to record Christian music.

Seattle hippie/wilderness guru, and songwriter Phil Fischer,

best known for his hard hitting, Janice Joplin style concert

performances in the Northwest during the late 90's and the

early part of the decade, and a Bear attack that almost took

his life in the Yukon finally got what he wanted; A hit album.

Problem is; he has walked away from it. For God.

Unable to get distribution or radio play in the states for

his first album ?Wounded Soul? , Fischer signed a deal with

Papa Lopez Records, Inc. in Santiago Chile in December of 2003.

During 2004 Fischer sold almost 387,900.00 copies of ?Wounded

Soul? in South America and sold an additional 122,000 cd's from

his website www.philfischer.com.

Turns out Papa Lopez was not the good honest and wholesome

record label like we have here in the states. Fischer received

one check for $80,000.00 and the rest is history. Not only did

Fischer lose 2.9 million owed to him by the label, but so did a

slew of other artists and the lawsuits flew around Santiago but

none has stuck.

Fischer filed suit against Lopez but in the end Lopez fled

Chile, and has not been heard or scene since. Given the jungle

atmosphere, and the lack of cooperation by South American

officials, it is doubtful justice will ever be served to Lopez,

and the other artists he signed and turned into South American

Rock Stars.

With sale numbers soon to break Gold, Fischer was bombarded in

2005 with label offers from labels in Buenos Aires and as far

away as Japan but the rocker failed to take any of the offers

up. Who can blame him? After obtaining the sacred Gold and

getting the shaft who knows what state of mind he was in.

The album that he tracked and recorded under the direction of

Grammy Nominee Paul Speer will probably never see store shelved

here in the states, and that's a pity.

Fischer was quoted by Northwest Musician a week ago on the

subject and when asked what he is going to do now the rocker

replied ?Well, what can you do. You put your heart and soul

into an album and pray that it sells and then discover it sold

big time but you never get paid. How would you feel? Right now

I am just going to concentrate on my Christian album. Maybe

this was a message from the man above to use my talents

elsewhere?.

Who can blame Fischer for embracing Christ? With tragedy like

that anyone would start attending church.

?Wounded Soul? featuring the Smash singles: "Cobblestone

Streets", "Windey Road", and "Fool for Love". Produced by

Grammy Nominated Producer Paul Speer, "Wounded Soul" is a set

ofp pop/rock ballads that are accentuated by bursts of

instrumental virtuosity and tight, catchy

songwriting.It's a must hear and his songwriting style reminds

you of early Bruce and an older Seal.

Fischer is currently tracking his Christian work at Robert Lang

Studios where Dave Mathews also records.

When asked if he expected to receive the same treatment in the

Christian arena Fischer had this to say; ?Well, I hope not! I

just hope and pray I am accepted. I'm trying to do something

that has never been done before in the Christian market. I am

going backwards. Most Christian artists make it and then hop

over to the secular market. I am releasing an album in the

Christian market. We will see what happens. It's my best work,

and God gave me each one of the eleven songs.?

Fischer's dim hopes and fears about the Christian market may

be real.

While Fischer is well known for his in your face rock shows,

that kind of showmanship don't play well for the conservative

Christian crew.

Even with his 8 top ten hits he co-wrote, slews of awards, and

just flat out talent, word has it in the Christian world that

Fischer cannot even lead Worship at his own Church. Apparently

that's not a good sign in the Christian world.

What is probably working against him is his 29 arrests on

record for everything from bar fights and public drunkenness

too driving his Hummer over three Honda Motorcycles parked in

front of the Central Tavern in Pike Street in the summer of

2000(the old area of Seattle) just because they were parked

next to Harley Davidson's.

Bouncer Adam Jenkins told police ?Phil asked them to move the

bikes because in Phil's opinion they were not worthy to be

parked next to a Harley. When they failed to move them, Phil

hoped in his H1 and drove over all three of the bikes crushing

them into the pavement! It was crazy; everyone was just

standing there with mouths open. As a bouncer, I've seen a lot

of things in my time, but that was a one of a kind thing. He

likes Harleys, and he is always welcome here for a drink any

time he wants!?

That kind of track record does not fly with the Jesus types,

and it will be interesting to see just if his Christian album

fares as well as his first. Word is from my Christian contacts

is that he cannot even get a venue because the Jesus types

are afraid of him. Its probably talent shock, but paddling

uphill seems to be something Fischer has to live with, and

something that he seems to be good at.

?Wounded Soul?, Fischer's first and only world album may never

see the light of day on store shelves here in the states, but

there just may be hope for his Christian album. As of this

writing his website is receiving 20,000 hits a week and

counting; not to mention a growing underground of Christians

emailing Fischer anticipating his album.

?New Believer?, Fischer's first Christian album is expected

Christmas of 2006.