Each band member begins the year working on solo records. Mike begins tracking "Clone" with Leo Kottke in Burbank California, Trey mixes his self-titled debut album at Electric Ladyland Studios while Fish and Page stick close to home, editing and mixing the Pork Tornado and Vida Blue releases in Vermont at Archer Studios and The Barn respectively. February marks the announcement of the new Vida Blue and Trey Anastasio web sites along with spring tours for both bands with tickets available through the new online ticketing lottery. In March, Mike's documentary "Rising Low" debuts at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin while Page puts the finishing touches on his album at Bearsville Studios.

Phish's second unofficial appearance during the hiatus comes in animated form as the April 7 Simpsons episode, "Weekend at Burnsie's" features the band playing "Run Like An Antelope", complete with Simpsons secret language. Trey’s debut album “Trey Anastasio” and the next series of "Live Phish" (LP7 – LP12) are both released in April. Trey follows the release of his solo record with a short promotional tour of radio and television appearances. He adds Cyro Baptista on percussion and Peter Apfelbaum on saxophone and his band begins a continental tour in May including performances on The Carson Daly Show, The Jay Leno Show and Late Show with David Letterman. Trey's tour culminates at the first annual Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, TN. Guests on Trey's tour include Mike in Boston, Fish in Darien Lake, and Page in Las Vegas as well as Derek Trucks, a full marching band, Will Bernard, Michael Franti and others.

Mike screens "Rising Low" at the Newport International Film Festival and wins the Audience Award and ties for Best Documentary. Page's record, "Vida Blue" is released in June along with a free sampler containing remixes of three album tracks by various DJ's. Pork Tornado plays a residency at Metronome three out of four Wednesdays in June. Vida Blue tours in support of the album in July, sharing billing in Philadelphia with Jazz Mandolin Project featuring Jon Fishman. Fish continues to tour with JMP throughout July and August and performs as far away as Alaska and Japan.

September marks the debut art show of Phish artist Jim Pollock entitled "Phirst", which runs throughout September at the Sanctuary Artsite in Burlington. In November, Fish's solo offering, "Pork Tornado" is released after over two years in the making. Pork Tornado departs on a nationwide tour as Fish's compilation of his favorite Frank Zappa songs entitled "Zappa Picks by Jon Fishman of Phish" is released.

Meanwhile, Mike releases his documentary "Rising Low" on VHS and DVD shortly after he and Leo Kottke release their debut album, "Clone", followed by a short tour that garnered critical acclaim. Leo and Mike perform at the third annual "Jammy" Awards, where Phish wins the award for Archival Release of the Year for Live Phish 11 (11/17/97 Denver, CO) and Trey wins awards for Studio Album of the Year and Tour of the Year. Trey begins a short tour of the East Coast in Burlington where his show benefits Burlington City Arts.

The third series of Live Phish is released - four volumes of four discs each featuring the four Halloween "musical costume" shows from 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1998. A series of three listening and viewing parties to accompany the Halloween "Live Phish" and "Live in Vegas" DVD releases benefits the Waterwheel and Mockingbird Foundations and is hosted by Kevin Shapiro in Boston, Denver and San Francisco.

Trey and Fish finish their solo tours and get back together with Mike and Page to rehearse at The Barn for Phish’s upcoming hiatus-ending Holiday tour. The rehearsals quickly become full-blown recording sessions that lead to the December release of "Round Room", Phish's first studio album since 2000. Phish announces their first archival video release entitled "Live in Vegas". It is released in November on DVD with remixed 5.1 audio and captures the 9/30/00 Vegas show in its entirety along with bonus material from the next night in Arizona.

Phish also announces their break-through live download program called "Live Phish Downloads" which features complete unedited soundboard recordings of the four upcoming New Year's shows from New York and Hampton. They appear on Late Show with David Letterman and Saturday Night Live, performing songs from "Round Room". The year comes to an exuberant end at Madison Square Garden as the band takes the stage for the first time in over two years to a deafening crowd roar and a show punctuated with balloons and falling snow at midnight.