fishman feature
Fishman Returns
At a time when 12-volt was all about booming bass and powerful sound systems, Dave Rivera brought flash in the form of a fish tank. Now, the legendary “Fishman” wants to give his knowledge to a new generation of innovators in hopes of generating fresh excitement for car audio. WORDS BY TED GOSLIN
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here are lots of fish in the sea. Millions, in fact. Of those millions, there are three distinct classes: those without jaws, those with cartilage and those with bones. Only the bone class have flexible spines. Those fish include the penguin tetra and zebra danio. But there is another fish that has a spine and is also known for being named after another animal: the catfish. For over two decades, Dave "Fishman" Rivera has been building show cars using parts donated from manufacturers in exchange for a partnership and stake in the future of 12-volt. As a self-proclaimed "catfish," Rivera claims his struggles maintaining both personal and professional relationships have proven he must have nine lives to have survived this long in the industry. If his continued work and current reputation are any indication, Rivera likely has plenty of lives left, of which he hopes to use to help bring the 12-volt industry back to the heyday he helped create.
14 Mobile Electronics November 2015
Fresh off of being awarded the first Mobile Electronics Career Achievement award at the 2015 Industry Awards, Fishman is hard at work on what he considers to be his biggest goal: to unite the industry in a common goal. That goal is to help stave off the ongoing threat of the OEM automakers and their infringement in the realm of in-car tech that aftermarket retailers and manufacturers use to make their livings. "I realize there are a bunch of new guys in industry. It feels so good to me to be back. I'm building something for SEMA," Rivera said. "I'll be putting the Career Achievement award in a fish tank to show appreciation of what it means to me." The build Rivera referenced is unique not just due to the use of a fish tank that includes his career achievement award, but because the vehicle he is using is his own 2003 Ford Expedition, which he's used three separate times for unique show builds. "This year is my 25th anniversary. I've had the expedition for 10 years and have
done three builds on it previously. It's been in every major city in the U.S., it's gone international to Mexico, Canada, been on the front cover of Car Audio Magazine, and celebs have sat in the vehicle," he said. "Once I finish showing off this latest build, I want to create a certificate of authenticity and sell it to someone in the industry to have and enjoy. I want to build a Dodge RAM next year for my next project." Rivera's goal with the vehicle was to re-establish relationships with some of the manufacturers he's lost touch with over the years by proving he still has the right stuff.
Todo o Nada The story of Dave Rivera plays like something out of a Hollywood underdog film. The hero comes from humble beginnings in a far away land. He struggles with a less-than-desirable job, yearning for something more. He finds his calling when randomly crossing paths with it. He