Latest news with #RocketFromtheTombs
New York Times
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
David Thomas, Who Led the ‘Avant-Garage' Band Pere Ubu, Dies at 71
David Thomas, the singer and songwriter who led Pere Ubu and other bands that stretched the parameters of punk and art-rock, died on Wednesday in Brighton and Hove, England. He was 71. Mr. Thomas had suffered from kidney disease, but the announcement of his death, on Pere Ubu's Facebook and Instagram sites, did not specify a cause, citing only 'a long illness.' He lived in Brighton and Hove, but the announcement did not say if he died at home. Through five decades of recordings and performances, Mr. Thomas maintained an audacious, unpredictable, ornery and ambitious spirit. He perpetually defied and upended structures and expectations, and he reveled in dissonance and unsprung sounds. In the mid-1970s, at the dawn of punk rock, Pere Ubu described itself as 'avant-garage.' And as punk developed its own constraints and conventions, Mr. Thomas purposefully warped or ignored them. When late-'70s punk bands sported T-shirts, leather and ripped jeans, he performed in a suit and tie. And while much of his music stayed grounded in rock, he also delved into chamber music, cabaret, electronics and improvisation. His voice was always distinctive: a liquid, androgynous tenor that he pushed to its limits and beyond — crooning, chanting, whooping, muttering, barking, burbling, yelling. His lyrics could be apocalyptic, free-associative, mocking, euphoric, cryptic or startlingly direct. Onstage, gesticulating vehemently, he veered between endearing and irascible. Mr. Thomas was big-boned and overweight, and he wielded his bulk proudly onstage. In his first band, Rocket From the Tombs, and later on his official website, he billed himself as Crocus Behemoth. He recorded prolifically, releasing 32 studio albums and dozens of live recordings by Pere Ubu and Rocket From the Tombs as well as solo projects. In a 2021 interview with the magazine Psychedelic Baby, he said: 'The 'sound' never changes. You change. The world changes. We don't change. Each album needs to be a step forward into a deeper and more complex rendering of the human experience. Otherwise, find other things to do with your time.' David Lynn Thomas was born on June 14, 1953, in Miami. His father, John David Lynn Thomas, was a professor of American literature; his mother, Mary Drake Carter, was a painter. David grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and briefly attended college before dropping out. Under the name Crocus Behemoth, he wrote about music for The Scene, a Cleveland alternative weekly newspaper, before deciding to make his own, although he described himself as tone-deaf. 'He never let the lack of any musical training get in his way,' Tony Maimone, Pere Ubu's longtime bassist, said in an interview. Making music in Cleveland in the 1970s — far from the music-business hubs, amid industrial ruins — fostered free thinking, Mr. Thomas told Cleveland magazine in 2017. 'It was unparalleled for the strangeness, the revolutionary-ness and radicalness of it,' he said. 'It will probably never happen again. We don't live in that world anymore. It was possible because of the isolation and desperation of that time. 'Everything from Cleveland was doomed,' he added. 'So if nobody likes what you do, and nobody is ever going to like what you do, and you'll never be seen by anyone, you do what you want to do.' Rocket From the Tombs, his first band, lasted only a year, from 1974 into 1975. Its raw recordings, released long after it broke up, reveal a band that churned psychedelia and garage rock into bristling, unforgiving songs like '30 Seconds Over Tokyo,' about a World War II bombing run. Soon after Rocket From the Tombs dissolved, Mr. Thomas and another band member, the guitarist Peter Laughner, assembled Pere Ubu, naming the band after the main character in 'Ubu Roi,' an avant-garde play by the French symbolist writer Alfred Jarry. A studio recording of '30 Seconds Over Tokyo' was the group's debut single. As with much of the rest of Mr. Thomas's career, it would draw acclaim from the music press, recognition from a committed audience and minimally sustainable commercial success. 'I don't think he ever made much money,' Allen Ravenstine, who played synthesizer in Pere Ubu's early lineup and recently recorded with Mr. Thomas again, said in an interview. 'He did not live a comfortable life. He was like a laborer digging a trench. He went to work every day and was worn out, and the reward was not great.' With the rise of punk rock, Pere Ubu got recording contracts with two labels and released two albums in 1978, 'The Modern Dance' and 'Dub Housing.' They melded terse riffs, noisy found sounds, discordant solos and Mr. Thomas's mercurial vocals in gleefully jarring ways. The albums would have a lasting influence on countless post-punk bands, and they earned international attention and tour dates in Britain and continental Europe. Pere Ubu worked constantly over the next few years, touring and releasing three more albums before disbanding in 1982. Mr. Thomas married Lynne Ferguson in 1980; they divorced in 2007. Mr. Thomas soon turned to solo projects, assembling groups that at various times included the English trad-rock guitarist Richard Thompson and members of the English progressive-rock band Henry Cow. He also included former bandmates from Pere Ubu, and in the late 1980s, when most of the band had regathered, they reclaimed the Pere Ubu name. Their 1989 album, 'Cloudland,' marked the band's closest approach to pop. Mr. Thomas relocated to England in 1994, though he also shared ownership of a family farm in Pennsylvania. Pere Ubu's lineup varied considerably over the next decades, but Mr. Thomas continued to lead the band through tours and albums into 2023, when it released 'Trouble on Beat Street.' For that album, he wrote, 'These new songs were played only once by the band and recorded at the same time.' But Pere Ubu was not his only project. In 2003, he reunited to perform with surviving members of Rocket From the Tombs; they stayed together to release their much-belated debut album in 2003 and another in 2010. Mr. Thomas continued to release solo albums and recordings of live performances from his archives. He also wrote four books and two improvisation-tinged operas, 'Mirror Man' and 'Bring Me the Head of Ubu Roi,' an adaptation of the Alfred Jarry play. He gave lectures and solo performances on tour. Shortly before his death, he was working on a final Pere Ubu album and an autobiography, which will be completed and released, according to his wife and manager, Kiersty Boon. 'The man just never stopped,' Mr. Maimone said. In addition to his wife, Mr. Thomas is survived by his siblings, Ann and Alan Thomas, and three stepchildren, Ione, Koren and Nina Gamble. . 'He will ultimately be returned to his home, the farm in Pennsylvania,' Pere Ubu said in announcing his death, 'where he insisted he was to be 'thrown in the barn.''
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
David Thomas, frontman of experimental rockers Pere Ubu, dead at 71
David Thomas, the live-wire frontman for experimental rockers Pere Ubu, has died. He was 71. The band posted news of Thomas' death on its official Facebook page, where the cause of death was given as "a long illness." Thomas "died in his home town of Brighton & Hove, with his wife and youngest stepdaughter by his side," the statement continued. "MC5 were playing on the radio. He will ultimately be returned to his home, the farm in Pennsylvania, where he insisted he was to be 'thrown in the barn.'' Thomas, born in Miami, was a pivotal figure in Cleveland's experimental rock underground (a regional scene that would go on yield the Dead Boys, Devo and Nine Inch Nails). Thomas first came to prominence in the group Rocket From the Tombs, which, despite never recording an album, became an influential act locally in its brief tenure. Known for his near-falsetto high voice and contrarian fondness for professorial suits onstage, Thomas cut as distinct a figure onstage as his music did on record. Several Rocket From the Tombs members split off to form Pere Ubu — named after a play by French writer Alfred Jarry — in 1975. The band was wildly progressive for its era (and continues to sound bracing today), forgoing the sneering blasts of the simmering punk movement for arty dissonance, paired with ponderous rhythms, affection for B-movie soundtracks and Thomas' idiosyncratic, sung-spoken literary allusions and bruised poetry. The group's 1978 LP, "The Modern Dance," was a landmark of post-punk and new wave ambition that arrived just as punk itself crested in the U.S. While never a commercial success during its initial run from 1975 to 1982, Pere Ubu would inspire generations of experimental rockers and producers, and re-formed over the years with a revolving lineup around Thomas. The group recorded 19 studio albums, including its highly regarded 1978 LP, "Dub Housing," and 1979's "New Picnic Time," a stressful and abrasive record that helped inspire acts like Sonic Youth. Thomas' solo career included collaborations with singer-songwriter Richard Thompson and "Saturday Night Live" music producer Hal Willner. New Pere Ubu music may come posthumously. "David Thomas and his band have been recording a new album. He knew it was to be his last," Pere Ubu wrote on Facebook. "We will endeavour to continue with mixing and finalising the new album so that his last music is available to all. ... His autobiography was nearly completed and we will finish that for him. "We'll leave you with his own words, which sums up who he was better than we can," the band's statement continued. ''My name is David F— Thomas … and I'm the lead singer of the best f— rock n roll band in the world.'' Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
David Thomas, frontman of experimental rockers Pere Ubu, dead at 71
David Thomas, the live-wire frontman for experimental rockers Pere Ubu, has died. He was 71. The band posted news of Thomas' death on its official Facebook page, where the cause of death was given as 'a long illness.' Thomas 'died in his home town of Brighton & Hove, with his wife and youngest stepdaughter by his side,' the statement continued. 'MC5 were playing on the radio. He will ultimately be returned to his home, the farm in Pennsylvania, where he insisted he was to be 'thrown in the barn.'' Thomas, born in Miami, was a pivotal figure in Cleveland's experimental rock underground (a scene that would go on yield the Dead Boys, Devo and Nine Inch Nails). Thomas first came to prominence in the group Rocket From the Tombs, which, despite never recording an album, became an influential act locally in its brief tenure. Known for his near-falsetto high voice and contrarian fondness for professorial suits onstage, Thomas cut as distinct a figure onstage as his music did on record. Several Rocket From the Tombs members split off to form Pere Ubu — named after a play by French writer Alfred Jarry — in 1975. The band was wildly progressive for its era (and continues to sound bracing today), forgoing the sneering blasts of the simmering punk movement for arty dissonance, paired with ponderous rhythms, affection for B-movie soundtracks and Thomas' idiosyncratic, sung-spoken literary allusions and bruised poetry. The group's 1978 LP, 'The Modern Dance,' was a landmark of post-punk and new wave ambition that arrived just as punk itself crested in the U.S. While never a commercial success during its initial run from 1975 to 1982, Pere Ubu would inspire generations of experimental rockers and producers, and re-formed over the years with a revolving lineup around Thomas. The group recorded 19 studio albums, including its highly regarded 1978 LP, 'Dub Housing,' and 1979's 'New Picnic Time,' a stressful and abrasive record that helped inspire acts like Sonic Youth. Thomas' solo career included collaborations with singer-songwriter Richard Thompson and 'Saturday Night Live' music producer Hal Willner. New Pere Ubu music may come posthumously. 'David Thomas and his band have been recording a new album. He knew it was to be his last,' Pere Ubu wrote on Facebook. 'We will endeavour to continue with mixing and finalising the new album so that his last music is available to all. ... His autobiography was nearly completed and we will finish that for him. 'We'll leave you with his own words, which sums up who he was better than we can,' the band's statement continued. ''My name is David F— Thomas … and I'm the lead singer of the best f— rock n roll band in the world.''
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
David Thomas, Frontman of Pere Ubu, Dead at 71
The post David Thomas, Frontman of Pere Ubu, Dead at 71 appeared first on Consequence. David Thomas, frontman of the influential bands Pere Ubu and Rocket From the Tombs, died Wednesday (April 23rd) at age 71. The news was announced via Pere Ubu's Facebook page, which noted that Thomas passed away after a 'long illness.' Thomas formed Rocket From the Tombs in 1974 in Cleveland. Their first stint was short-lived, only lasting about a year, but they reunited in 2003 and remained active through 2017. Following the initial breakup of Rocket From the Tombs, Thomas formed Pere Ubu, while other members of Rocket From the Tombs went on to form Dead Boys. Pere Ubu were active until 1982, and then again from 1987 until Thomas' passing. The statement on Pere Ubu's Facebook page reads as follows: 'David Lynn Thomas, lead singer of Pere Ubu, Rocket From The Tombs and multiple solo projex, has died after a long illness. On Wednesday, April 23 2025, he died in his home town of Brighton & Hove, with his wife and youngest step-daughter by his side. MC5 were playing on the radio. He will ultimately be returned to his home, the farm in Pennsylvania, where he insisted he was to be 'thrown in the barn.' David Thomas and his band have been recording a new album. He knew it was to be his last. We will endeavour to continue with mixing and finalising the new album so that his last music is available to all. Aside from that, he left instruction that the work should continue to catalog all the tapes from live shows via the official bandcamp page. His autobiography was nearly completed and we will finish that for him. Pere Ubu's Patreon will continue as a community, run by communex. We'll leave you with his own words, which sums up who he was better than we can: 'My name is David Fucking Thomas… and I'm the lead singer of the best fucking rock n roll band in the world.' (Frigo Documentary) Long Live Pere Ubu.' Pere Ubu's combination of post-punk, art-rock, new wave, and even industrial music has had a long-lasting influence on acts like R.E.M., Sonic Youth, Pixies, Sisters of Mercy, and more. The band released its first album, The Modern Dance, in 1978, and has issued a total of 18 studio albums during the course of its career. As noted in Pere Ubu's statement above, Thomas and company were working on a final album that will see the light of day. Thomas remained the only constant member of Pere Ubu throughout the years, although current bassist Michele Temple and drummer Steve Mehlman have been in the band for roughly 30 years themselves. Rocket From the Tombs never released an album during their initial '70s run, but later released three LPs during their 21st century reunion, including 2004's Rocket Redux, which featured re-recordings of their '70s material. Our condolences go out to David Thomas' family, friends, and bandmates during this difficult time. Revisit his music with Pere Ubu and Rocket From the Tombs below. Popular Posts deadmau5 Apologizes for Blacking Out During Coachella Set New Pornographers Drummer Joseph Seiders Charged with Child Pornography The 100 Best Guitarists of All Time Lady Gaga Battles Tech Issues at Coachella: "At Least You Know I Sing Live" Beyoncé's "COWBOY CARTER TOUR" Set to Kick Off with Thousands of Seats Unsold Keanu Reeves to Play Villain in Weezer Movie: Report Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
Extra.ie
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
BREAKING: Tributes pour in as rock legend dies aged 71
David Thomas, founding member of influential American rock band Pere Ubu, has died at age 71 'after a long illness.' 'On Wednesday, April 23 2025, he died in his home town of Brighton & Hove, with his wife and youngest step-daughter by his side,' the band to their Facebook page. 'He will ultimately be returned to his home, the farm in Pennsylvania, where he insisted he was to be 'thrown in the barn.'' Pere Ubu had been recording a new album with Thomas and have said they would continue to work on it 'so that his last music is available to all.' 'Aside from that, he left instruction that the work should continue to catalog all the tapes from live shows via the official bandcamp page,' they added. 'His autobiography was nearly completed and we will finish that for him.' Thomas formed his first band, Rocket From the Tombs, in 1974. Despite exciting live performances and an influence on proto-punk, the band was shortlived and never recorded any material. Pere Ubu would be created shortly after, with Thomas, Peter Laughner, Tim Wright, Allen Ravenstine, Scott Krauss and Tom Herman. The band split after five albums by 1982, reforming in 1987. While the lineup had changed somewhat between 1975 and 1982, after the revival Thomas would remain as the sole founding member, with a supporting band of over 20 regularly shifting names. While Thomas' tastes would evolve over the years, he and Pere Ubu are hailed as a considerable influence on the punk and post-punk movements, despite his resistance to the labels. Alongside Pere Ubu, Thomas would work on a variety of side projects, including multiple Rocket From the Tombs reunions in the 2000s which saw the group release their first studio album, Rocket Redux .
