David Thomas, the main singer of the influential Punk Band, Pere Ubu, has died. He was 71 years old.
Thomas died in his hometown of Brighton and Hove, England on Wednesday, April 23, “after a long illness,” Pere Ubu wrote in a Facebook publication Thursday. The band said that Thomas had several projects in the works, which are intended to end.
“David Thomas and his band have been recording a new album. He knew he had to be his last. We will strive to continue mixing and ending the new album so that his last music is available to all,” says the publication.
“Apart from that, he set the instruction that the work should continue to catalola all the live shows through the official Bandcamp page,” he continued. “His autobiography was almost completed and we will end it for him. Pere Ubu’s Patreon will continue to be a community, led by Comunx.”
Pere Ubu finished the publication with some words from Thomas himself.
“My name is David [expletive] Thomas … and I’m the main singer of the best [expletive] Rock n roll band in the world. “
Born on June 14, 1953, Thomas was a prolific punk singer who directed several bands as well as having a fruitful solo career. From 1974 to 1975, Thomas was the lead singer of the Rocket of the Proto-Punk band of the tombs, in which he performed under the moniker “Crocus Behemoth”.
Thomas then founded Pere Ubu in 1975. The band released their debut album “The Modern Dance” in 1978. Several more projects continued before Pere Ubu was broken in 1982. Thomas reformed the group in 1987 and continued to tour and make music.
Pere Ubu’s “avant-garage” sound was inspired by various sources such as Musique Concrète, Rock of the 60’s, performance art and the industrial environments of the American Midwest. Despite achieving just commercial success, Pere Ubu is considered “one of the most influential bands in the American underground.” According to Allmusic.
Thomas also released several solo albums as a soloist. He was recognized for his distinctive and strong voice. His singing has been described above as “James Stewart trapped in an oboe” by Pinch and compared to “that of a man whispering a crowd” for Disinfo.com.
“We are saddened to hear the passage of David Thomas, the leader of Pere Ubu. David was a true pioneer of the avant-garde and his music and art remodeled the boundaries of post-punk and inspired generations,” Cherry Records wrote Ax. “We are proud to have worked with him.”
Pere Ubu said in Facebook’s publication that Thomas’ body will be “returned to his house, the Pennsylvania farm, where he insisted that it should be” thrown to the barn “.