Gang of Four Bassist Dave Allen Dies at 69

Dave Allen, the bassist who performed with Gang of Four of their heyday, died at residence along with his household on Saturday, April 5, the band announced on social media. Whereas no reason behind loss of life was given, the band stated Allen had been dwelling with early-onset dementia for a number of years. He was 69 years outdated.

David Geoffrey Allen grew up in a working-class household within the North English city of Kendal, later shifting to Leeds and enjoying within the native music scene. He joined Jon King, Andy Gill, and Hugo Burnham within the early days of Gang of 4, changing authentic bassist Dave Wolfson in time to work on the band’s 1979 debut, Entertainment! The album’s spartan association of post-punk and funk parts, paired with a lyric sheet filled with witty barbs that critiqued and demystified shopper capitalism, made the band a cult sensation, beloved by critics, artwork punks, and indie-rockers for many years to return. Allen remained with the band for second album Solid Gold, a document that made waves in the USA and secured their enduring legacy as a serious affect on the likes of R.E.M., Nirvana, and Crimson Scorching Chili Peppers.

After Strong Gold’s launch, in 1981, tensions inside the group—in addition to points with exhaustion and drug use—prompted Allen to half methods along with his bandmates throughout a tour. The identical 12 months, he fashioned Shriekback with XTC’s Barry Andrews. It was the primary in a collection of Allen aspect initiatives (later together with the Elastic Purejoy, Low Pop Suicide, King Swamp, and Fake Hoax) that preceded his eventual return to Gang of 4 for a 2004 reunion tour. He left once more quickly after—there was no love misplaced between Allen and the late Andy Gill, who lengthy butted heads about points stemming from the band’s early days—and entered a profession within the music expertise sector that landed him positions at Beats Music and Apple Music.

Of their assertion remembering Allen, surviving Gang of 4 members Hugo Burnham and Jon King recalled a current afternoon with Allen and his household. “We talked and laughed for hours, sharing wealthy and vivid reminiscences of excellent instances collectively,” they wrote. “Adventures, careers in music, elevating households, our interwoven lives spanning half a century. We’ve been so very fortunate to have had the Ace of Bass in our lives.”

Burnham and King continued, “We all know that Dave would have needed nothing greater than to step onstage with us once more in Portland on our farewell US tour. However it’s now a bridge too far. Goodbye, Previous Buddy.”