RZA Celebrates 56th Birthday at Phish Show, Gets Shoutout from Band

RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan celebrated his 56th birthday in style, spending it at a Phish show in Boulder, Colorado.

Phish, who took the stage on Saturday, July 5th at Boulder’s Folsom Field after a rain delay, were playing a cover of Talking Heads’ “Crosseyed and Painless” when drummer Jon Fishman shouted out the Wu-Tang leader with a hearty “Happy birthday, RZA!”

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Trey Anastasio added to the festive mood by playing a quick rendition of “Happy Birthday” on his guitar, calling out “Wu-Tang forever” in celebration of RZA’s big day.

RZA received the VIP treatment after the show, going backstage to spend time with Phish, where he got to check out Anastasio’s guitar up close and take a photo with the band. See the Instagram shots (including Anastasio quoting Wu-Tang’s “7th Chamber – Pt. II” for the caption) and a fan-shot video of Phish wishing RZA a happy birthday below. The birthday shoutouts kick in around the 4:15 mark.

Phish are currently on a run of US tour dates (get tickets here), which picks up again on July 9th in Columbus, Ohio, going on to hit such cities as Philadelphia, Chicago, and Louisville before wrapping up in Hampton, Virginia.

Meanwhile, Wu-Tang Clan are amid their “Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber” farewell tour (get tickets here), with upcoming shows in Boston, New York City, and more before calling it in Philadelphia on July 18th. Read our review of their recent concert in Phoenix.

Phish 2025 Tour Dates:
07/09 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
07/11 – North Charleston, SC @ North Charleston Coliseum
07/12 – North Charleston, SC @ Coliseum at North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center – Complex
07/13 – North Charleston, SC @ Coliseum at North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center – Complex
07/15 – Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavilion at the Mann
07/16 – Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavilion at the Mann
07/18 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/19 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/20 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/22 – Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
07/23 – Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
07/25 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Broadview Stage at SPAC
07/26 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Broadview Stage at SPAC
07/27 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Broadview Stage at SPAC
09/12 – Louisville, KY @ Bourbon & Beyond Festival
09/13 – Birmingham, AL @ Birmingham Amphitheater
09/14 – Birmingham, AL @ Birmingham Amphitheater
09/16 – Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
09/17 – Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
09/19 – Hampton, VA @ Hampton Coliseum
09/20 – Hampton, VA @ Hampton Coliseum
09/21 – Hampton, VA @ Hampton Coliseum

Wu-Tang Clan 2025 Tour Dates:
07/07 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/08 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
07/09 – Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
07/11 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
07/13 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell
07/14 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
07/16 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
07/17 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
07/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center