R.I.P. Daevid Allen
January 13, 1938 — March 13, 2015
January 13, 1938 — March 13, 2015
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| Photo courtesy of Sergio Amadori |
Late last winter, on March 13, 2015, guitarist, vocalist, & pataphysical icon Daevid Allen
died after an extended fight with cancer. A creative musical catalyst, Daevid was a key figure in the founding of some of the 20th century's most innovative rock bands, including Soft Machine and Gong. His music pushed the boundaries of pop music, psychedelia and art, and he expanded the technical possibilities of his instruments, inventing the "glissando guitar" technique and experimenting with tape loops and musique concrete.
Cuneiform worked with Daevid on the 2004 release of Jet Propelled Photographs by University of Errors, one of his last bands. The album featured University of Errors performing new versions of songs that Daevid played on when he was a member of Soft Machine in 1966-67. All Music Guide noted that “There's nothing musty and quaint about any of the music on this
CD. It's still strangely compelling 40 years later, and for this, Allen
certainly deserves some major credit.” Daevid was a creative genius, continually, ceaselessly transforming what existed into what it could be, into something new.
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| University of Errors Jet Propelled Photographs Cuneiform 2004 |
Daevid also performed on a bonus track (#8) on another Cuneiform album, The Gift Of Purpose by the trio Bone, released by Cuneiform in 2010 as a benefit album for Hugh Hopper's family following Hugh's death. http://cuneiformrecords.com/bandshtml/hopper.html In 2014, Daevid did a brief interview, which Cuneiform arranged, with the curator of a William Burroughs exhibit. Daevid remained involved with edgy, creative music until the end, performing with his beloved Gong until shortly before his death. He is missed by countless fans, friends, and fellow musicians, worldwide.
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More Daevid Allen information
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daevid_Allen
Daevid Allen’s website: http://www.daevidallen.net/daevidallen/index.html
May 2015 Gong News Update:
In May 2015, Daevid's band Gong confirmed that they would continue in his absence, as he had desired, with guitarist Kavus Torabi (member of Cuneiform band Guapo, and leader of Knifeworld) as Daevid's designated frontman. Gong announced a 5-date UK for October 2015. See "Gong 2015 are 'exactly what Daevid wanted'. Frontman Kavus Torabi explains current lineup's determination to continue"– Martin Kielty, Classic Rock Magazine, 18 May 2015. https://classicrock.teamrock.com/news/2015-05-18/gong-2015-are-exactly-what-daevid-wanted
Gong: You Can’t Kill Me 2015 UK tour dates
Oct 20: Bilston Robin 2
Oct 21: London Dingwalls
Oct 22: Leicester Musician
Oct 23: Glasgow Audio
Oct 24: Manchester Band On The Wall
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Daevid Allen Obituaries/Memorials: a Brief Sampling
“Daevid Allen: The original
anti-establishment hippie remembered.” Everett True. The Guardian. 13 March 2015. http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/mar/13/daevid-allen-gong-soft-machine-remembered
“Gong, Soft Machine Founder
Daevid Allen Dead at 77.” Daniel Kreps. RollingStone. 13 March 2015. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/gong-soft-parade-founder-daevid-allen-dead-at-77-20150313
“Daevid Allen, Founder of
Gong and Soft Machine, Dead at 77.” Evan Minsker. Pitchfork. 13 March 2015. http://pitchfork.com/news/58386-daevid-allen-founder-of-gong-and-soft-machine-dead-at-77/
“Daevid Allen, Guitarist,
Singer and Founder of Gong and Soft Machine, Dies at 77.” Peter Keepnews. The
New York Times. 16 March 2015. http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/mar/13/daevid-allen-gong-soft-machine-remembered
“Remembering Daevid Allen,
co-founder of Soft Machine and Gong.” Randall Roberts. Los Angeles Times. 13 March 2015. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-daevid-allen-cofounder-soft-machine-gong-dies-20150313-column.html
“Daevid Allen Dead at 77.”
Martin Kielty. Prog. 13 March
2015. http://prog.teamrock.com/news/2015-03-13/daevid-allen-gong-dead-at-77
“Daevid Allen dies aged 77.”
The Wire.18 March 2015. http://www.thewire.co.uk/news/35891/daevid-allen-dies-aged-77
“Daevid Allen: 1938-2015.”
Phil Alexander. MOJO Magazine. 13
March 2015. http://www.mojo4music.com/19359/daevid-allen-1938-2015/
“Daevid Allen dies aged 77.”
Michael Bonner. Uncut Magazine. 13
March 2015. http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/daevid-allen-dies-aged-77-67103
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