Pere Ubu’s David Thomas Useless at 71

David Thomas, lead singer of Pere Ubu, has died. He was 71. 

Thomas died on Wednesday, April 23, at his dwelling in Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England, the band wrote in a Fb submit. His dying was the results of “a protracted sickness.”

The assertion stated that Thomas had his spouse and daughter by his aspect, and was listening to music by the rock band MC5.

“He’ll finally be returned to his dwelling, the farm in Pennsylvania, the place he insisted he was to be ‘thrown within the barn,’ ” the assertion added.

Thomas had been recording a brand new album together with his band earlier than his dying. “He knew it was to be his final. We are going to endeavor to proceed with mixing and finalizing the brand new album in order that his final music is on the market to all,” Pere Ubu wrote. “Other than that, he left instruction that the work ought to proceed to catalog all of the tapes from reside reveals through the official Bandcamp web page.”

The musician was additionally engaged on an autobiography, which might be accomplished by the band. 

“We’ll depart you together with his personal phrases, which sums up who he was higher than we will,” Pere Ubu wrote, earlier than quoting the late rock star. “My title is David F—ing Thomas…  and I’m the lead singer of one of the best f—ing rock n roll band on this planet.”

“Lengthy Stay Pere Ubu,” the assertion concluded.

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Pere Ubu has launched a complete of 19 studio albums, with the most recent, Bother on Large Beat Avenue, premiering in 2023. 

Thomas was additionally a founding member of the punk band Rocket from the Tombs, which disassembled after one yr in 1975. The band reunited with its authentic members in 2003 and went on to launch the brand new album Black File in 2015.

The musician labored on a number of solo tasks all through his music profession.

In a 2022 interview with The Guardian, Thomas revealed that he doesn’t make new music for cash. “I’ve saved sufficient that I don’t should work any extra and I may simply coast to dying at this level,” he stated. “This isn’t the simplest life on this planet. However I wish to hold pushing at it. If I have been glad, I’d give up.”

Thomas additionally informed The Guardian that he was present process kidney dialysis 3 times every week and wanted to make use of a walker. “I’m not in one of the best of well being, however my singing voice is best than it’s ever been,” he stated. “I’m kind of glad that I can’t soar round any extra as a result of I don’t have to fret about falling into the drums. All my focus goes into singing.”

Tributes for Thomas have been pouring in on social media. The experimental band Good Willsmith wrote on X, “David Thomas expanded the vocabulary of rock efficiency & songwriting in superbly alien instructions. a dude you may see on an meeting line who occurred to include universes. extra gravitas & gonzo humor in a single finger than most singers may ever aspire to have. relaxation in peace.”

BBC radio presenter Vic Galloway shared a photograph of himself and Pere Ubu, writing, “Unhappy information about David Thomas of Pere Ubu… I had the band play LIVE in session for me on @BBC6Music in 2015 and right here we’re. It was… ahem… a ‘tough’ interview… however I believe I gained David over in the long run, and so they have been nice!”