Derek William Dick, professionally known as Fish, was born as the firstborn child of Robert and Isabella Dick. His parents operated a garage and petrol station, where he worked as a pump attendant during his youth. He has a younger sister, Laura, who is three years his junior. Fish attended Kings Park Primary School and Dalkeith High School in his hometown of Dalkeith, situated just outside Edinburgh.
He left school with A-levels in History, Chemistry, English, Maths, and Biology, as well as B-levels in German and English Literature. In 1976, Fish began working as a forester, but he quit his job in 1980 to pursue a musical career. He joined the British rock band Marillion in 1981 and spent a year performing extensively in the UK before they were signed to EMI and released their debut album "Script for a Jester's Tear" in 1983.
The band's most popular singles included "Kayleigh" and "Lavender" in 1985, from the number one album "Misplaced Childhood," as well as "Incommunicado" in 1987. Other top 40 singles by the band included "Garden Party," "Sugar Mice," and "Warm Wet Circles." After touring their critically acclaimed fourth album "Clutching at Straws" in 1988, Fish left Marillion to begin a solo career.
In 1987, Fish married Tamara, a model from Berlin, whom he met during the recording of the album "Misplaced Childhood." She appeared in the music video for "Kayleigh" and later in the video for his solo single "A Gentleman's Excuse Me." The couple has a daughter, Tara Rowena Dick, born on January 1, 1991. However, Fish and Tamara separated in 2001.
Fish's first acting job was in the 1990 film Zorro. He continues to release albums and tour. In March 2003, he was working on a script and developing a new album.
