Thom The Poet - October adventures - posted Sun 06 Jul'08
I am writing on behalf of Thom the World Poet, an Australian born poet, based in Austin Texas, a regular visitor to the U.K and Bradford. His poetry is very much in tune with world peace issues and he has an extraordinary capacity to improvise poetry for venues or situations. He runs creative workshops for adults and teenagers that are fast, furious and inspiring. You may have already seen Thom perform at the Beehive Poets in Bradford or you may have attended one of his creative writing sessions at Mind in Bradford or Yorkshire Arts Circus. He is available for dates in October as of 13/10 after his work for the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Can I suggest that you might consider involving him in any arts project you may be running in October.

To contact me, Bruce Barnes on tel 01274 223665 or email thom at worldpoet@rocketmail.com  

I'd just like to add I know from experience that Thom is a miracle worker at unlocking the rather squashed (these days) creative potential of children, who simply love him. Whatever school your children attend will have some kind of a budget for visiting artists - all you need to do is ask them. If you want to know more about the man try Thom's Web-site

Gong QEH pics, Independent review - updated Wed 25 Jun'08
Although we generally tend to favour that most elusive and conundrumic of states, actively engaged non-attachment (crossed with a gently amused/bemused side salad of beat zen), I must admit it does tickle one's fancy somewhat when the spiral nature of things is revealed once again and the joyous reverberations of Gong syncopation find general favour. This seems to be the case with the Independent Gong Review of the Queen Elizabeth Hall concert.

Luc Pilmeyer Gong QEH Photographs

daevid - The Albany - posted Sat 07 Jun'08
"This was my final show number 7 and what a beauty it was. The whole thing was absolutely marvellous. I have never seen Daevid, and many others, so happy and up for it. Daevid dancing with the Moon, Hoppy + Daevid having a good old natter, friendly faces, it was a real cracker." - The Tin Man

Hoppy Hopkins, Dave 'The Tin Man' Sheppard, daevideo

Graham Coxon for QEH - posted Sat 07 Jun'08
Graham Coxon is the new support act at the South Bank Gong gig on Saturday 14th. He will be performing a solo experimental guitar set, which sounds juicy to me. Something came up for Adrian Sherwood, the original support, and against his wishes he just had to drop out. Still pretty special super-sub though.

Gong Independent Article - updated Fri 06 Jun'08
There was a great large two page Gong article in The Independent on Tues 3rd June which hit many, but not all, of the salient Gong historical points with a very nice bit of poise, style and positivity. It also features this nice historic photograph, but they didn't know all the personalities so I have filled in the blanks for you

Gong newly at their house in Sens early '71
(L-R) Christian Tristch, Gilli, daevid, Didier, Rachid Hourai (sadly long part of Gong's unfeasably large drum ensemble in the sky)

Gong London Gigs - updated Sat 07 Jun'08
Sat 14 Jun - London, Queen Elizabeth Hall - GONG + GRAHAM COXON - with a solo experimental guitar set. A sit down comfy chair kind of a do.
daevid, Gilli Smyth, Mike Howlett, Theo Travis, Chris Taylor, and in Gong for the first time in the UK since 1975, Steve Hillage & Miquette Giraudy - all as part of MASSIVE ATTACK'S Southbank Meltdown Festival.
The Queen Elizabeth Hall gig is sold out though there might be a trickle of 'returns'. Southbank online booking

Sun 15 Jun - London, The Forum - GONG + SLACKBABA A standing, leaping up and down, spinning in circles kind of a do.
A return to the greatly enhanced scene of the hugely enjoyable Gong 25th Birthday Party back in '94 - where we can all wander'n'melt'n'merge together. The Forum Gong gathering not only has Jonny 'Slackbaba', psychedelic DJ hero of the Amsterdam Gong Unconvention, setting the scene sonically, but the venue will be decorated by Liquid Elf's drops and hangings and have lighting by Coloursound's Jasper, yet two more heros of the Uncon who helped make Amsterdam the memorable and beautiful occasion that it turned out to be. Bound to be gathering of the tribes till...well the next time we gather - may it happen again and may it happen soon.
All the info + direct discount ticket link

Gong Uncon Ltd. Ed. double DVD - Selling fast - updated Sat 17 May'08
You can order this amazing double DVD package exclusively from www.uncondvd.com. Only a few copies of the limited edition double DVD pressing of 1000 are left. There will be a regular pressing of Disc 1 alone (the Gong concert performance), with a slightly reduced booklet, (8 pages instead of 12 I think), when the limited edition has sold out, which can't be too far off.

Disc 1 - A professional four camera shoot of the magical Uncon Gong set with Daevid Allen, Steve Hillage, Tim Blake, Gilli Smyth, Mike Howlett, Miquette Giraudy and Didier Malherbe, Theo Travis and Chris Taylor.

Disc 2 - A wonderful mad documentary style film that delivers a real vibe of and insight into the magic of the Unconvention with many illuminating and humourous interviews and footage of Crystal Machine, Mother Gong, Kangaroo Moon, Acid Mothers Gong, University Of Errors, Here & Now and more, as well as Steve Hillage Band - for the first time since 1979!

The limited edition comes with a 12 page booklet packed with photographs designed by Peter Hartl.

Time travel made real - love it

Global Village Trucking Company returns - smile - updated Thr 15 May'08
Well what a surprise, they are back - Global Village Trucking Company on My Space. Older comrades will need no introduction, but for new readers - The Global Village Trucking Company, or GLOBS as they were affectionally known, were deeply intertwined with many Misty Isle Gong and beyond gigs, festivals and adventures back in a time we can only barely recall, well I can barely recall. You are about to become part of the Smiling Revolution - all resistance will be melted.

But it doesn't stop there - I can't remember seeing it myself, but way back in 1973 there was a TV documentary on the Global Village Commune, and as part of a new follow-up, "where are they now?" type series a new film about Globs and their lives since '73 is to be broadcast on Tuesday 13th May, 9.00 p.m. on BBC 4 (now available to watch on BBCi for that next 5 days). Don't miss it. And if you are going to Glastonbury Festival - hey you can catch them there as well, not sure where though.

University of Errors/Acid Mothers Gong - Photographs - updated Sat 10 May'08
Loads of great University of Errors and AMG photographs tumbling through the ethers in the past couple of days. Here are links to some from Luc Pilmeyer at the Dutch UofE gigs and some of the UpfE & AMG in Israel by Asaf Carmeli posted by Udi Koomram.
Asaf Carmeli - University of Errors - May 5th
Asaf Carmeli - AMG (1) - May 4th
Asaf Carmeli - AMG (2) - May 4th
Luc Pilmeyer - University of Errors - Overtoom 31 - May 3rd
Luc Pilmeyer - University of Errors - Overtoom 31 - May 2nd
Luc Pilmeyer - Glysn/UofE Drone lesson

Emergency Help - Kit is Home! - updated Sun 01 Jun'08 Yes, Kit's remarkable recovery is continuing apace - I was driving in to see him on Thursday when I got a call saying he could be discharged in a couple of hours. If I'd got the message 30 minutes earlier I would have brought some clothes for him to wear - his clothes were cut off him when he was brought in. He has lost about a third of his body weight and now looks more like a starving artist - quite suits him, actually. So now he just needs to slowly rebuild his strength and start to move on with his life.

It still seems incredible when we think of how unlikely this outcome looked 6 weeks ago, and I want to thank you all again for the outpouring of love and positive feelings - I'm sure the wonderful doctors at the King's College Hospital Liver Intensive Therapy Unit had a lot to do with it, but I'm also sure that so much good energy from so many people had a hand too.

Been and I are forever in your debt and will be there if you need our help anytime.

Thanks again and love to you all! Mike

Calling all good folk and true - PLEASE can you focus your highest thoughts, energies and deepest love and support towards Mike & Been Howlett & family and their son Kit, who had a severe reaction to some MDMA taken on Friday 18th April. After more than a week in a coma, on dialyses and awaiting an emergency liver transplant things have greatly improved over the past few days, but he is still a very ill chap.

Tue 20 update:- Dear Friends - I have been holding back with this report because it all seems to good to be true, but I now feel happy to report that Kit has been moved out of the Liver Intensive Therapy Unit because he is considered well enough to be in a recovery ward. Kit's progress has been truly remarkable and confounded the doctors' prognosis in the early days that he had a 5-10% chance of survival - he is now rebuilding his strength with physiotherapy - he lost much of his muscle tissue - but has not suffered mental damage. He has some way to go to full recovery - the biggest worry is catching an infection while his immune system is still weak, but he is out of the woods!

This is fantastic news and I want to thank you all for the overwhelming kindness and support you have shown me and Been. When I wrote my first email asking for your positive thoughts it was in a state of desperation, through tear-filled eyes - I couldn't think what else to do. The response has been wonderful - we have had Trappist monks in Worcestershire, Buddhist monks in Thailand, a whole village in Pakistan, Sufis and Hindus in Somerset, and the global Gong fanbase, all sending healing thoughts to Kit. One good friend told me he was keeping a stone in his back pocket so that every time he sat down he thought of Kit! We even had a Muslim on a haj to Mecca throw a rock with Kit's name on it at the Black Rock! Of course, the doctors performed medical miracles too, and Kit's own resources must have played apart, so I give credit to you all. 

Been and I are just grateful to you all for showing us the goodness and kindness for which we are so fortunate to be the beneficiaries.

Thank you! Love Mike

Fri 16 update:- Great Day on Wednesday when Kit walked the length of the ward - was totally exhausted by it but it led them to take out his tracheotomy!!!. Now he's off dialysis too and though they are still keeping him in the icu as his heart is acting up a bit and his lungs are not really doing as much as they could but both these probs should sort themselves out. He only has one tube coming out of him now where before he had too many to count. He can talk now and drink water. These are amazing things. Thank you for all your vibes, love and thoughts xxx B

Sat 10 update:- Amazingly Kit is gradually pulling round. He still has a fever and is still in icu on a ventilator but he's awake and communicating in a Kit-like fashion, albeit slowly and somewhat confusedly. He can't talk because he still has the tracheotomy and has millions of tubes coming out of and into him but compared to last week he almost seems well. Unbelievable to think that Sunday before last he had a 10% chance of survial and now it's more like 90%. His big enemies still remain pneumonia and septacaemia or any big infection really as he's very imuno surpressed and not able to fight that kind of thing. 

The physio got him sitting on the side of the bed today, though he's still very weak and his muscles are pretty shot he managed it and they are talking about getting him to stand on Monday. His liver function continues to improve and the kidneys show signs of getting function back but a slow though amazing process

Of the 15 beds in there 3 people have moved to the ward, two have moved to different hospitals and incredibly sadly 3 have died, which is so awful because I've got to know their families so well over the last 3 weeks. Mike and I've been at the hospital from 1pm till 10 every night - I'm knackered and go to sleep within minutes of getting home. Today it's sunny and we're all going to sit in the park conveniently situated a moments stroll from the hospital and take turns at going in to sit with Kit. It's much nicer than hanging around in the relatives room all day.

Wed 07 update:- Dear Friends - Kit's progress continues. This is Been's report:

Things looking better each day right now. He's off the sedation and semi conscious. He can't talk because he has a tracheotomy and is deeply confused but blew me a kiss yesterday which was amazing. He definitely recognises us now. This is likely to go on for some days before he's more awake. He still has a fever which is not good and they are trying to find the seat of the infection but at least at the moment it is not in his blood which would be very serious. That's our main worry now. Septicaemia and pneumonia. His liver and kidneys look on the way to being ok which is spectacular. Roller coaster continues. I'm at work this morning and will head over to hospital around noon. I'll let you know what happens after I've spoken to the doctor. At the moment it looks as if he'll be out of icu in the next 10 days or so and then in hospital for some months to come.

more later xx

Thank you so much for all the kindness and support. Best wishes, Mike

Tue 29 update:- Kit remains stable, and each night that that occurs is considered an 'improvement', although he remains the most unwell person in unit. Focus should now be on protection from infection as his body needs every possible last ounce of energy to heal itself.

May a large sphere of light continue to surround Kit and may the vibrant and healthy young man you can see in your mind's eye be soon with us once more.

Mon 28 update:- I do have better news today. Time was running out for a transplant but last evening the doctors told us that Kit's liver has just started slowly to regenerate itself. He is by no means out of the woods and is still unconscious on a respirator and is looking at several months in intensive care with all the horrors that that can bring. However, he has made his body start a healing process on the liver and we hope that he can find the strength within himself to protect the rest of himself from infection.

It's the most crazy roller coaster of a nightmare and always one step forward, two steps back. Our fingers are so crossed and we just hope. Thank you all for your kind thoughts. Now we just hope that his body can rally round to fight off the onslaught of infections the world will now throw at him! xxxxxB

Sun 27 update:- Dear Friends - The current state of Kit is that he is in a critical condition but stable. He needs a liver to survive, and his condition is just about good enough to endure the operation. There is a window of a few days before his condition will deteriorate beyond being capable of receiving a transplant. He is on the highest priority list in the UK for a liver which has to be O or B type blood group, and the right size - not too small. All we can do is hope.

Today is my birthday and I have just one thing I wish for - a liver for Kit - so forgive me for asking, but I would be grateful if you could spare a moment and imagine that happy outcome. Love, Mike

On the healing lists, in the thoughts, in the heart, in the mind - Love the one you're with.

Sat 26 update:- There is still no change basic change in Kit's condition and he still awaits a suitable organ, but after several difficult nights he had a much more stable time the night after the news of his situation was posted - so keep up the good thoughts.

Brainville 3 / University of Errors - Photographs - updated Thr 01 May'08
Luc Pilmeyer has posted loads of his very good photographs of Brainville 3 at The Spirit of '66 in Verviers on Fri 25th April and yet another great set of photographs from the first University of Errors gig at Dordrecht on 30th April - click on a picture below and go see more.

Brainville 3 - Verviers	University of Errors - Dordrecht

Brainville 3 Berlin Pics & daevid's Gig report Posted Tue 29 Apr'08
Maybe it's just because these photographs come from the Berlin Brainville show, but I can't help thinking that the dapperly dressed alien looks like a kind of tricksterish Weimar era cabaret host - "Vealkom Ladiez un Gentlemen..." - Brainville followed by Sally Bowles and the other 'gorgeous' dancers. Photos and report of the Gigus Interuptus just received from hymnself now in the Netherlands perparing for the University of Errors gigs - don't miss them.

greeting the audience while Hugh westles a bass	...and he didn't even feel his watch go

BRAINVILLE IN BERLIN 08 - daevid

Unlike the gigs in Italy that magnetised round 250 people average, Berlin was as usual totally unheard of. An unfathomable pod. Small but inventively assembled. This in a jaded punk club, voluminous & shaky. Old school. Very high godfearing stage and a wooden bench around a dance floor. Notably it was full moon and also the anniversary of Hitlers birthday when all good prog rockers quake over their charts. Only the tallest & most fearlessly blonde transvestites walked with the living dead this night. And Brainville.

Those few freeks who dared come hear us sat bravely in a circle on the benches leaving a large open circular space completely empty but for the vivid sorcery of an expensive light show descending on the boards. Indeed we were a small yet extremely high frequency selection of heads. Elegantly crinkled high art iniates! A secret society of sorts. Perhaps assembled by psychic intent to counterbalance the dread. Perhaps.

Once pon stage I realise that i must unto the peoples go. So I slide cross the lip & spin like a dervish to see which way to fly. I am feeling mischievous. A photographer extreme left. He lifts his lense to focus. He is gone. He never existed at all. I am drawn right up to him...go to shake his hand but actually spontaneously press his hand to my lips. I want to kiss him back to life. Suddenly he drops his camera and gives me his secret smile. I melt. Now i know whatt I must do.

As hu's electron flocks swoop & soar, I make my way round the semi circle kissing everybody's hands. Kissing deeply with my mouth & eyes, the circle of my selves. Contact had been made. Now i can play.

After what seems like several hours of un parallelled musical fun, it appears the first half must end. So we finish. Back in the dressingroom the interval becomes a party in the dressingroom. When it is time to play the second set, Henry appears dramatically: No! It ISN'T POSSIBLE! They have shut down the PA. They say there is not enough crowd & they make nothing on the bar. They want to go home. Feeling curiously half fucked, we return to Henry's with a small concentration of indignant supporters. We talk till late.

Ahhhh Berlin. You always surprise me.

daevid & Chris Cutler - Berlinville

GONG TRIBUTE RADIO - posted Sat 26 Apr'08
Tonight (Sat 26) Chris Cambridge is debuting some of the Gong tribute tracks he has been sent on The Terry Hawke Radio show www.harboroughfm.co.uk/listen/harborough.m3u

The show starts at 10 tonight and runs through to 2am, Chris tells me, "I think I am on about 12." He plans to hopefully play the following, Andy Bole-Om Riff, Skysownd Omniversity-Wise Man In Your Heart, Will Greenwood-Fohat Digs Holes, A Circle Of Friends-Tried So Hard, Akahum-Fohat Digs Holes, Sweep-Fantasy, Darren Lawrence-PHP Advice, and maybe some others. It is hoped tat the show will be available to 'listen again'.

Brainville in Italy Posted Fri 11 Apr'08
Da boys done good...

Brainville 3 - Italy 4.6.08 - by Marcello Nitti

There is some info on the first Brainville gig at Marcello's site www.geophonie.it

Angel's Egg - Crawdaddy review Posted Wed 26 Mar'08
Dear Gong,
Our San Francisco-based rock mag, the legendary Crawdaddy!, which has recently been reincarnated online, today published a piece exploring Angel's Egg. The link is here: Crawdaddy Angel's Egg article
Best,
David MacFadden-Elliott
Assistant Editor, Crawdaddy!

Progress d'Alien - updated Tue 29 Apr 2008

After the Gong 70 gig in Australia on the 21st March daevid set off from Australia on his latest circumnavigation of the globe, and will I trust be somewhere near you - sometime.

You can read Stefanie's blogs of daevid's US West Coast dates at www.myspace.com/turnthoughtintoaction.

MARCH

Wed 26 - USA, Seattle, 88 Keys - ZER0 2 (dAEVID ALLEN + JOSH POLLOCK)

Thr 27 - USA, Friday Harbour, Duck Soup Inn - ZER0 2 (dAEVID ALLEN + JOSH POLLOCK)

Fri 28 - USA, Olympia, Washington, China Clipper Inn - ZER0 2 (dAEVID ALLEN + JOSH POLLOCK)

Sat 29 - San Francisco - Das & Nina day

Sun 30 - USA, San Francisco, Hemlock Club - ZER0 2 (dAEVID ALLEN + JOSH POLLOCK)

Mon 31 - San Francisco

APRIL

Tue 01 - Leave SF

Wed 02 - Arrive Toulouse, France

Thr 03 - To Rome, Italy

Fri 04 - Drive to Taranto - Brainville rehearsal

Sat 05 - Italy, Taranto - BRAINVILLE 3

Sun 06 - Drive to Rome

Mon 07 - Fly to Toulouse

08-11 - Chez Beatrixe Nr. Toulouse

Wed 12 - Italy, Viterbo, Cantieri Musicali Music Club - BRAINVILLE 3

Thr 17 - Italy, Rome, Stazione Birra - BRAINVILLE 3

Fri 18 - Italy, Florence, Auditorium Flog - BRAINVILLE 3

Sat 19 - Italy, Gorizia, Auditorium - BRAINVILLE 3

Sun 20 - Germany, Berlin, Lido Kultur - BRAINVILLE 3

Tue 22 - Italy, Pescara, Auditorium Flaiano - BRAINVILLE 3

Thr 24 - France, Les Lilas (Nr. Paris), Le Triton - BRAINVILLE 3

Fri 25 - Belgium, Verviers, Spirit of 66 - BRAINVILLE 3

Sat 26 - Luc Pilmeyer's place - meet Michael Clare

Sun 27 - Drive to Dordrecht - meet UofE

Mon 28 - Dordrecht - UofE rehearsals

Tue 29 - Dordrecht - UofE rehearsals

Wed 30 - Netherlands, Dordrecht, De Pontonnier - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

MAY

Thr 01 - Netherlands, Dordrecht, Parkingpop Festival - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Fri 02 - Netherlands, Amsterdam, Overtoom 301, Alchemistic Cabaret #4 - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Sat 03 - Netherlands, Amsterdam, Overtoom 301, Alchemistic Cabaret #4 - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Sun 04 - Netherlands, Amsterdam, Overtoom 301 Alchemistic Cabaret #4 - daevid Film Night

Sun 04 - Israel, Tel Aviv, Barby Club - ACID MOTHERS GONG

Mon 05 - Israel, Tel Aviv, Barby Club - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

07-11 - Netherlands, Residency in Rotterdam, Worm - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Sat 10 - Netherlands, Rotterdam, De Player - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Tue 13 - Norway, Trondheim, Blæst - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Wed 14 - Norway, Bergen, Garage - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Thr 15 - Norway, Hamar, Festiviteten - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Fri 16 - Norway, Oslo, Blå - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Sat 17 - Norway or Sweden, TBA - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Sun 18 - Sweden, Frölunda, Frölunda Kulturhus - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Mon 19 - Sweden, Malmö, Inkonst - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Tue 20 - Sweden, Uppsala, Katalin - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Wed 21 - Sweden, TBA - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Thr 22 - UK, London, Dingwalls - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS + HERE & NOW

Fri 23 - UK, Isle of Man, Peel, Centenary Centre - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Sat 24 - UK, Ashton-under-Lyme, The Witchwood - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Sun 25 - UK, Scotland, Knockengorroch Festival - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Mon 26 - UK, UK, Leeds, New Roscoe - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Tue 27 - UK, Leicester, Musician Pub - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Wed 28 - UK, Brighton, The Engine Room - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Thr 29 - UK, Portsmouth, Southsea, The Fawcett - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Fri 30 - UK, Glastonbury, Assembly Rooms - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

Sat 31 - UK, HItchin, Club 85 - UNIVERSITY OF ERRORS

JUNE

01-04 - UK, Glastonbury

Thr 05 - UK, London, Deptford, The Albany Theatre - DAEVID ALLEN & FRIENDS + KANGAROO MOON

06-13 - UK, London, Gong rehearsals

Sat 14 - UK, London, South Bank, Queen Elizabeth Hall - GONG + ADRIAN SHERWOOD

Sun 15 - UK, London, Kentish Town, The Forum - GONG + SLACKBABA

Announcement of further adventures soon...

First Gong gig of the year - updated Tue 18 Feb'08
Our lucky antipodean cousins get to partake of the first Gong gig of 2008 (may there be more), as Gong 70 re-convene on Friday 21st near Byron Bay with daevid, Gilli, Orlando Allen et al...which made me think...Gong may well indeed be Gilli Smyth's band (not that she claims 'ownership' - far from it) as this recent e-mail from her sort of explains...

just idly flicking through the Forum, as one does, i came upon the question of the name "Gong". It happened like this. In the tiny loft in Paris where we lived in l967/8 just after Daevid had been refused entry to U.K. and thus had to leave the Soft Machine somewhat suddenly.....we were sitting talking with a photographer called "Blake" who disappeared after that, leaving us a strange old-fashioned leather bag, afterwards always called "the Blake bag"...when. I thought of the name "Gong" for the odd collection of musicians we were performing nightly with in a club in the Latin Quarter called "La Vieille Grille". Then came more gigs, then Don Cherry with us, and Stockholm, and then the revolution in the first part of l968. Many things changed then, including that we had to flee Paris in the night as "revolutionaries".....for Spain, and when we returned a few months later it was still "Gong" with different musicians, always known as the Ist Gong. i do like to get details correct.

Gong 70 gig info

Brainville Bonanza - 3 releases! Updated Tue 18 Feb'08
Yes there are three Brainville releases heading our way in the next two months. In chronological order first up is:-

Brainville 01 - Live in NYC '98, a concert of daevid, Hugh Hopper, the late Pip Pyle and Kramer at the Knitting Factory just a day or two before the 'Children's Crusade' album was recorded. This is due on the 17 March and is now in stock in the Kasbah. There is some stunning music on this release, just as there should be when two or more gather in the name of the great Sun Ra himself.

1st April (natch) sees the Brainville 3 - Trial By Headline CD released. This I have heard several times in the past week and it grows and grows on me, there are some stunning sounds on it. Recorded over three gigs (2 last year and one the year before) and complied by Brainville 3 drummer Chris Cutler it will be facinating to see how the Brainville concept has evolved over the past 10 years, especially as at least a couple of the tracks are nominally common to both CDs - I bet they are radically different though.

Deeper into April (no firm date yet) we have a Brainville DVD Live at Le Triton, recorded last year. This is a 90 minute film roughly divided 50/50 into concert footage and interviews. Not seen or heard a thing of this yet, but I do look forward to it.

System 7 - Interviews + Updated Tue 18 Mar'08
Steve & Miquette are interviewed in the current issue (March?) of the UK based magazine 'Computer Music'. I've only had a fleeting glimpse of a friend's copy but it's a large 4 page article with some nice photographs taken in their studio and is naturally mostly about making music on computer and the software they use. Here's the on-line blurb:-

System 7 - The 'ambient for life' duo have been crafting spaced-out techno for nearly 20 years now, but how are things working out for them since they ditched most of their hardware in favour of laptops, Logic and Live? Miquette Giraudy enthuses about soft synths and sampling, Steve Hillage reveals his views on guitar amp modelling plug-ins, and more in the Computer Music interview.

And thanks to Frank in the Planet Gong Forum here's a link to another Steve & Miquette interview on the Troubled Diva Web-site - you have to scroll down past the Lorna Luft piece.

There is also a Steve Q&A piece in the current issue of 'Record Collector' some of which I may well reveal here just as soon as I can find the copy hidden somewhere in the office.

Ya Fatah Hadoukim! - Baldamore arrives Posted Tue 29 Jan'08
What a week. First System 7's Phoenix takes to the air in glorious flight, and now a call to musical devotion for all Hadoukim with the arrival of the simply stunning 'Baldamore CD' and 'Baldamore DVD'. "Calling Mr Bad Grasse" - take a twinkling bow.

Can there possibly be any other band on the planet with the range and quality of what the Gong Family can produce, I doubt it very much, I certinaly can't think one. Imagine if they came together to record a new album, what music that would be. Now onwards to February - which belongs to daevid and the Seven Drones.

System 7's 'Phoenix' Flies! Posted Mon 28 Jan'08
Today sees the relaese of the totally inspiring new System 7 album 'Phoenix'. This is a wonderfully symbolic first release of the year from the greater Gong family. An album brimful with that unique uplifting System 7 blend of rhythms, lush ambient-ness, cutting technology and of course - guitar - yep there's plenty of that. It's a sound unlike any other. And in choosing to invite the array of collaborators and friends they have, Steve & Miquette once more re-affirm the System 7 ethos of working with some of the very best in a creative and enjoyable collective.

If the rest of this year's planned releases are half as adventurous and perfectly formed in beautiful expression and focused intent as 'Phoenix' we are in for one heck of a ride (remember it's Hadouk's 'Baldamore' and finally daevid's 'Seven Drones' up next!). 2008 is going to be great.

Here's a link to one of the first reviews of the new System 7 'Phoenix' album, I'm sure there will be more Inhale Review.

System 7 - Space Bird 12" Updated Wed 30 Jan'08
The new System 7 12" Space Bird was released, Monday 21st Jan. It contains two vinyl only mixes the 'DubfireDeepSpaceRemix' by Dubfire and 'LiquidSoulRemix' by Liquid Soul, plus Steve & Miquette's 'OriginalMix' which appears on the 'Phoenix' album.

Have a listen - mp3 samples

'Space Bird' has been number 1 on the main Beatport chart for the past few days. I'm told by those in the know in dance world this is very, very impressive indeed. Well number 1 is number 1.

Clearout Bargain Kasbah Page Updated Sat 26 Jan'08
Clear the decks, empty whose cupboards, sweep away those cobwebs, make room for the new, it's that time of the year...Here's the return of ever-changing Kasbah page to be filled with all manner of odds and ends, both Gong Family related and beyond, keen and eager to find new homes. Kasbah Bargain Page. Coming soon - Kasbah Rarities clearout page.

daevid in Dazed and Confused Updated Tue 20 Jan'08
The February issue (No. 58) of 'Dazed & Confused', a mode-ish UK fashion mag and style bible, has just hit the streets. It contains a rather good 4 page article based around an interview with daevid who is this month's 'Cult VIP'. As with many of these things it's a bit of a beginners guide to Gong for those in the know, but I like the cut of the writer's gib - an intelligent Gong friendly. My favourite new daevid quote comes near the end of the article when he says, with a laugh:-

"The art of surviving in rock music is to never let yourself become too popular and never play for more than 1,500 people if you can avoid it, as it becomes an abstract thing within an abstract thing - it's as boring as fuck, you might as well be inside a huge contraceptive!"

Hadouk - New 'Baldamore' Releases Posted Wed 16 Jan'08
The new 'Baldamore' CD and DVD releases from Hadouk are quite, quite stunning. Didier was kind enough to send me a copy just before Christmas which I have enjoyed immensely. Both the DVD and CD, which containly completely different music, only duplicating the title track, are of the highest calibre. To hear Hadouk play their music is enough in itself, but then to see them in action as well with all those strange acoustic instruments in a further joy indeed.

Both the CD and DVD are available to pre-order in the Kasbah, however there may also be a combination CD/DVD issue arriving as well. I know this sounds totally crazy but I don't know exactly what stock will be coming from the sole UK importers, and they can't tell me. This bizarre wrinkle may go some way to explaining why Hadouk sell 20,000 copies in France and 150 copies in the rest of the world! All I know is I have ordered some of all versions of the release. These should arrive in the next week to 10 days.

If you pre order 'Baldamore' (which is just to basically flag your interest) I will e-mail you when I have the stock, whatever that turns out to be, and give you the various prices on the various options, so you can decide what you want to do. I think that's the best I can do with all that.

Order 'Baldamore CD.
Order 'Baldamore DVD.

There is a further Didier related release I've been told about by Geoff in New York but have been unable to source. This is 'Asian Perfume' by Jean-Pierre Limborg on the Encore Merci label. Both Didier and Steve Shehan appear on the CD which seems to be along ambient, world, electronic lines.

Thom's B/day Poem for daevid Posted Sat 12 Jan'08
70 cycles and still spiralling-because of the divided alien

1.when music became healing -for yourself and all around/within
2.when Mysteries became simple-goodwill and love within
3.when self-initiation workshops-learned and shared
4.when poetry became the tracks of dreams
5.when time (like haircuts) became irrelevant
6.when what you had you gave away
7.when beliefs changed every day
8.when fresh in every moment
9.when new in this now
10.when kindness to others
11.when strict accounting
12.when truth had power
13.when aware of capriciousness
14.when grieving the loss of
15.when celebrating the birth of
16.when meditating constantly
17.when All Bran for breakfast
18.when multibands simultaneously
19.when jammin with families
20.when walking by the sea
21.when alternative economics
22.when actions spirit based
23.when ransacking Virgin
24.when Lady June Deia
25.when French Chateau
26.when magickal accomplices
27.when Burroughs and Ono
28.when Hendrix and Lennon
29.when canal boat in Seine
30.when parties where death came
31.when famous in France
32.when famous in Italy
33.when anonymous in Romania
34.when hitchhiking
35.when broke as a stick
36.when rich in sex
37.when attacked by ex-wives
38.when many beds
39.when open house heart
40.when listening to young
41.when Terry Riley
42.when Planet Gong
43.when Invisible Opera
44.when UNCON
45.when saved by Jonny Greene
46.when personal re-invention
47.when People in Performance
48.when taxi driving Melbourne
49.when Harry Williamson
50.when collaborations
51.when Living Room Theate
52.when Carringbush Library
53.when solo in Canada
54.when Gong Maison
55.when poet in marketplace
56.when poet on the street
57.when jamming all night long and the tape ended up blank
58.when years without
59.when lives of the rich
60.when Electrique Camembert
61.when drawing for fees
62.when appreciating others
63 when 25th Anniversary
64.when setting fire to the past
65.when regathering the ashes
66.when kirtan
66.when Glastonbury
67.when Byron Bay Bard
68.when sharing your rebirthday
69.when learning by example
70.when this is always just another beginning
WRITE ON!
LIVE ON!
PLAY ON!
thom Jan 12,2008

dΑ∃∇iD's Big Seven Oh Ho Ho! Updated Sun 20 Jan'07
It seems hardly but a rambling sentence or two since I first espied the alien disporting hymself in the strobin' limelight, intertwining musical and other new intriguing vibrations with tip-top sonic alchemists, the great Gong beat combo. But it is in fact many years. He was barely a brace 'o' brace 'o' twelvemonth past one and one half score years (aka 34), a mere lad in retrospect - viewed down the telescope of time from my current fifty odd, (decidedly odd since doing this), years. Yet here we pause more than three and a half decades round the bend as he prepares to celebrate his 'Big Seven Oh Ho Ho!' with a gig/party in Australia. Strange, very strange.

I have also posted a new topic, 'daevid Birthday Greetings', in the 'Planet Gong' section of the Forum, for those of you who would like to warm t'old bugger's cockles and send him a massage of mirth, reflection and merriment.

daevid in Brazil clips / Archive Interview Posted Wed 09 Jan'08
There are some great You Tube embedded links on www.invisivel.com.br of daevid in action in Brazil at the end of last year - there are meaty versions of Fohat Digs Holes in Space, Inner Temple and I Should Have Known. Fabio tells me he is woking towards a DVD release in late Spring.

I have also posted a recent interview with daevid in the Archive Interview section. It goes under the somewhat portentous title 'Exploring the historical regulation of music in Euro-Mediterranean and the Islamic world'. Darrell Jonsson in Discussion with daevid allen - 5/2007. However fear not, it's good, interesting and thought provoking fare, with Darrell and daevid fully engaging each other.

System 7 - The Phoenix Launch Parties Posted Sat 05 Jan'08
Two major System 7 events have just been announced for February - The Phoenix Launch Parties. With friends and guests of the calibre of Eat Static, Slack Baba and Alex Patterson involved these promise to be something very speccial to be a part of. Follow the links for all the details:-

Sat 16 Feb - PHOENIX LAUNCH PARTY 1 - BRISTOL
Thr 21 Feb - PHOENIX LAUNCH PARTY 2 - LONDON

System 7 - "Phoenix" available now Posted Sun 23 Dec'07
The wonderful new System 7 album 'Phoenix' is now available to pre-order from the Kasbah. You can hear mp3 samples of all tracks and also see the gorgeous promontional manga-style animation video for the Phoenix track, 'Hinotori' if you visit the a-wave site.

The album, inspired by the manga graphic novel series "Phoenix" by Tezuka Osamu - one of the founding fathers of Japanese manga culture, features musical collaboratorations from Jam el Mar (of Jam and Spoon), Son Kite, Eat Static, Slack Baba, Daevid Allen and Mito from the Japanese band Clammbon. The music portrays, in a variety of ways, travel through time and space, life, death and rebirth, with each track inspired by characters or images from the books. Also highly recommended is his series on the life of the Buddha which also spans 10 or 11 volumes. Both the Phoenix and the Buddha series are available in English.

System 7 - New lower CD prices Posted Sat 05 Jan'08
And as good news tends to come in threes...all System 7 back-catalogue CDs are now lower in price in the Kasbah - effective from 1st Jan (if you have an order awaiting processing you will be charged the new lower price). So if there are any of their amazing albums you may have missed, now is the time to sample and enjoy.

Gongishness in Print Posted Thr 20 Dec'07
The Nov/Dec issue of UK's 'Rock 'n' Reel' has a cover mounted CD to celebrate 17 years of the existence of Voiceprint, inside are a some pages of history come promo written at Voiceprint. The CD features 'Magick Brother' from the first BMO CD, 'Studio Rehearsal Tapes - Daevid Allen & Euterpe. There are other tracks from Hawkwind, Robert Wyatt, Bill Bruford and Fish. The last few copies of this issue are available from 'Rock 'n' Reel'

I have been helping a bit with what I'm told is to be a large (4/5 page?) Daevid article for a forthcoming issue of 'Dazed & Confused', an apparently quiet trendy UK based magazine for - "Art, fashion, film, music and ideas". Down here in Glastonburied it's a choice of 'Country Wife', or 'Nuage Monthly', so I've not actually seen a copy of D&C, but I'll try and find out in which issue the article is due to appear.

There is also an article in the pipeline on Space Rock releases which will appear in a future issue of 'Record Collector', written by the knowledgeable and Gong-friendly Mr Ian Abrahams. I think you'll find you know, and most probably own, several of the featured releases. Here's a link to their re-vamped web-site 'Record Collector'

Turiya's paintings Posted Fri 14 Dec'07
I'm sure many of you will fondly remember Wandana, daevid's partner when he returned to the UK in 1987 and her sparkly stage presence and contribution at gigs with the all female band and early Gongmaision line-up. She has always been a fine artist, the Gongmaison album cover is her work, and now called Turiya, over the past few years she has become a full-time painter with several very sucessful exhibitions to her name. Here's the link to her web-site - enjoy! http://turiyabruce.com/

Suze the Blues Farewell Double CD-R Posted Fri 14 Dec'07
Available direct from Kif Kif is a double CD-R taken from a good quality cassette recording of an inpromptu jam set by members of the original 1976 Here & Now band and friends at Suze's fare-theewell gathering earlier in the year. It's a limited edition of just 200 copies and all the profits will be donated to the funeral costs. It costs just £7.77 and all the details about how to get a copy are on KK's site - www.herenow.be/

"I don't want to fuck a fairy" - daevid & Trypswytch review Updated Sun 20 Jan'07
Stefanie Petrik's review..."I don't want to fuck a fairy." he gasped, laughing, his eyes strong and trying to link with mine as I pushed through the crowd. "It'd be too small!" he laughed at his own joke, his wife, clearly not laughing." more....

daevid's FOOT&MOUTHNOTE..."Stokers Siding is a mini mountain village on the flank of Australia's formidable Mt Warning. Here the land was stolen from the local aboriginal tribes by unconscious anglo forebears who gave the brutal short back & sides to the intricately beautiful & subtly structured sub tropical rainforest in order to superimpose dairy cows, pastures & Devonshire Tea." more....

daevid Brazilian pics Updated Thr 29 Nov'07

According to an e-mail from daevid the recent Gong Family shows in Brasil were a huge sold out success (one was to 2000 people), and the whole trip was apparently tremendous fun, "Everything is going magnificently well with Fabio shining as first class submarine captain". The Gong vibe certainly seems to live, breathe and probably samba with gusto over there.

There are a few photographs in the "Daevid Allen no Brazil" forum section of www.soundchaser.com.br, on page 8. There may be more somewhere on that site, but unfortunately with totally no Portuguese I have no idea where they might be, maybe you can find them. The ones I did find (example below) are by Fernando E. Aznar and are very good.

Photograph by Fernando E. Aznar
Josh Pollock, I believe Fred Barley on drums, and a rather dapper looking alien in Brazil

There may well be more news and pictures of the Brazilian gigs on Fabio Golfetti's web-site www.invisivel.com.br/daevid in due course.

Couple of Gongish Links Posted Thr 08 Nov'07
Some e-mail clearing revealed these two Gong related links curtesy of Michael Clare. This first is one man's (George Starostin) take, on Gong and their albums. A good fun read even if one doesn't necessarily agree with his conclusions. http://starling.rinet.ru/music/gong.htm

The second is a link to a review of 'Good Morning' by John Kelman, the senior editor of the web-site - he seems to like it. www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=27447

Tim Blake - Waterfalls Pt.2 download available Posted Mon 22 Oct'07
The second section of the legendary Waterfalls In Space tape, "From Outta Space", is now available for download via Tim's web-site. I have no doubt it is every bit as sparklingly wonderful as the first part - essential.
moonweed.free.fr/lake/moonweed.html

Voileta de Outono releases Updated Mon 15 Oct'07
With daevid heading for Brazil I was prompted to continue the "Ooh! Look what I just found" theme struck with the re-discovery of the 'Book of Am', with a small host of Voileta de Outono releases that I had overlooked. Voileta de Outono are Fabio Golfetti's main band who within a twinkle turn into the Brazilian Invisible Opera Co. of Tibet - and very good, very well played psychedelic Gong/Floydian it is too.

   

 
daevid Brazil Trip Updated Thr 25 Oct'07
daevid will soon be heading off to Brazil where he will be playing as DAEVID ALLEN/GONG GLOBAL FAMILY. This umbrella will include the University of Errors, who will be daevid and Josh Pollock with Fred Barley guesting on drums + The Invisible Opera Co. of Tibet, or Invisibops, who will be daevid and Josh joined by Fabio Golfetti, Gabriel and Fred Barley.

This unique trip has been organised by Fabio, who many of you may remember from the Glissando Orchestra at the Unconvention - he was the one who you didn't recognise. So far there are 2 confirmed dates dates, with hopefully 2 more to be confirmed in the next couple of days. And as Fabio tells me there will also be..."interviews, radio sessions, studio session for jamming, whatever daevid would enjoy...". Brazil gig details

Book of Am Posted Wed 03 Oct'07
A bit of office/stock room re-organisation has brought to light this fantastic release that I had almost completely forgotten about - mad I know, but there you have it, well I never said I was a businessman.

The totally incredible psychedelic illuminated manuscript double LP 'Book of Am' was released at just about the worst possible time for me last year, slap-bang in the middle of the deepest Gong Unconvention planning and work. Consequently, apart fulfilling most of the pre-orders, the rest of the stock was carefully stacked on a shelf in a dark stock cupboard and has not seen the light of day for over a year!

Only 250 copies of this beauty were released for general distribution worldwide and I ordered 50, just 20 of which are now available through the Kasbah. They are not cheap and due to their sheer weight they are not cheap to post either, but they are very beautiful indeed, and very rewarding listening and reading, something you could treasure forever.

 

Tim's 'Gong in the '70s' download Posted Fri 28 Sep'07
'Gong in the '70s' is now available as a 320kps mp3 download via Tim Blake's web-site, and, he says, sounds pretty dam fine. You can also download most of Tim's solo albums and the wonderful 23 minute 'Waterfalls in Space' extract, more of which I do hope will appear sometime in the future.

It's a....Baby! Updated Thr 27 Sep'07

Kala is inducted into the family upon receiving her first wooly hat

Or as daevid put it:-
KALA KOALA born wed 26 september 07 03.42AM
A TINY HUGE GODDESS IS BORN!!!
we are all in love!!!

daevid and Gilli's son Orlando and his partner Navi had a little baby girl on the night of 26th at about 3.45 a.m. Despite a long labour which ended up with a Cesarean birth everybody is now fine and dandy. The baby has dark hair, like her mother, is hale and hearty, and is called Kala. I'm sure she carefully chose to join clan Allen and was fully aware of the adventurous and surprising life she will be undoubtedly be leading, at least I do hope so. Welcome Kala.

Being somewhat attached to the physical realm, as we all tend to be most of the time, it makes a rather nice change to announce an arrival rather than a departure.

New Archive Posts Updated Wed 26 Sep'07
A tidy up of the old confuser usually reveals interesting bits and pieces that I meant to post on the site but somehow overlooked or never got round to doing. Here are some jewels from the depths of the hard drive - more very soon:-

Marc Blanc Interview Marc talks about the Bananamoon Band and early Gong. Translated from French, from the 'Je ne fume pas des Bananes' CD booklet.
Lars Fahlin Interview daevid talks in 2002 about 'Zero To Infinity' and alot more besides - well you try and stop him.
'Good Morning!' Lyrics To celebrate the return of this uplifting classic I've posted the complete lyrics - also because they have made a bit of a dog's dinner of them in the re-mastered reissue.
'Fish Rising' Lyrics Steve Hillage's words can also inspire raising the holy vibration within as well.

While I was working at the lyrics section I thought might as well start working on a few more albums. Squirrelling around un-earthed more lyrics on the computer already to post, plus I typed in some more...but I am absolutely totally open to receive any that you either have on your computers, or care to work out for everybody, type up, and e-mail to me. I used to have such long fingers - help save what is left of them and help complete the lyric library...library...library (that's the echo of my voice fading away as it sometimes seems as if I'm calling for help in an empty room here)...never mind, don't worry.

Here are some of the albums for which we have at least started to gather lyrics.
Gong - 'Magick Brother' Lyrics - thanks to daevid's handwritten originals from the GAS archives
Here & Now - 'Fantasy Shift' Lyrics - thanks to H&N '83 tour booklet from the GAS archives
daevid allen - 'Bananamoon' Lyrics - thanks to daevid's handwritten originals from the GAS archives
University of Errors - 'e2x10=tenure' Lyrics - thanks to Rob in Oz
Tim Blake - 'Blake's New Jerusalem' Lyrics - thanks to Tim himself

daevid allen - by Rudy & Anthony Shaw Posted Wed 12 Sep'07
Nina Simone told me that she did not like psychedelic rock-music played by white people with one notable exception. That was a weird band called GONG. She really loved Magic Brother/Mystic Sister & the albums that followed. She was not a completist, but sometimes on tour she would play Daevid Allen's "Now Is the Happiest Time Of Your Life" over & over (she really loved "Poet For Sale") and from time to time she would sit by the piano & make her very own versions "Only Make Love If You Want To" and ask me to put in some fills. My guitar never really fitted in, but it opened my eyes & ears. For some odd reason the strongest woman amongst women never had the nerve to perform these tunes in public. Rudy

Chris Cutler, himself, Hugh Hopper - Brainville

The story of Daevid Allen is the tale of a life lead in tenacious adherence to ideals of what are often considered 'hippie visionary', but are also a reflection of a desire to go beyond goals of personal glory or financial success: "I've always had a very particular conception of music. In my point of view, there is no reason for making so-called 'popular music' simply for personal glory or financial reasons. That is not enough of a motivation for me, I need higher aspirations. I need to feel that my music helps society and the human race in general to move forward." This has lead sometimes to loss of copyright revenue in return for retention of artistic integrity. The result of this scant disregard for material accretion may be a further incentive for him to pursue such an active performance schedule, but from conversation you feel is more the source of energy for an ever-expanding orbit of creativity. Here is an artist whose productive years span most of the later twentieth century, but whose capacity for subsuming new forms, while retaining his own whimsical surreal style, seems bound to continue unabated well into the next. In recent conversation he alluded to the possibility of release of work commenced in Japan with former colleagues Hugh Hopper & Chris Cutler under typically teasing title BRAINVILLE. One can only speculate how this man's continued work will continue to outcircle the distant orbits of his accomplishments to date. Anthony Shaw

Here & Now - Coaxed Out From Oxford Posted Fri 07 Sep'07
"Coaxed Out From Oxford", one time Here & Now gig sales tape way back in the early '80s, tidied up and dusted down for our digital delight, is now available to pre-order in the Kasbah. The original release date of 24th September has been moved back to the 22nd October to accommodate the distributor's requirements, but that date will not move again. The release, at a very good price I may add, is limited to just 1000 copies and will be in rather splendid colourful didgi-pak with liner notes by Keith the Bass.

After a very productive and often thunderously creative rehearsal in Glastonbury over the past 3 days many H&N plans are afoot. One is to record a new album with the new line of Keith and Steffe, and Merv & Joie of Eat Static, Autumn recording dates have been penciled in - and to this end the band's share of the income from 'Coaxed Out' will go towards making this a reality. A new album also makes the desire and possibility to gig much stronger - feelers are out, not just for the UK, but also for Europe and even North America (!) - contacts and progress have been made. So the basic message is - if you want a new Here & Now album, and from what I heard of the new material - trust me you do, and the possibility of them gigging at the end of your road - wherever that road may be - buy "Coxed Out of Oxford". Simple really and dam exciting, creating what we want by having what we want.

I don't know whether this little tale is really true or apocryphal: On Wednesday Keith and I were sitting in the GAS office, him fiddling around with the Here & Now My Space page (well worth a visit), and me doing something else on the other computer (accounts probably!), when the phone rang. It was a Welsh type Gong/Here&Now-ster, who said he'd been watching Matthew Wright on UK TV, who announced a new slot in his magazine-type programme called "It's the Little Things". He then when on to say something along the lines of, "This is named after a song by a great band called Here & Now", and then something else about the eccentric or unique nature Gong. We know Matthew is a big Hawk-fan, and sometime backing vocalist for them, and he has in fact brought a couple'o bits and pieces from the Kasbah in the past, but if what was reported by our Welsh friend is true - it's odd, that's all I can say, very odd.

The time right now, undoubtedly, is Here & Now.

Apologies for my earlier "Coxed Out of Oxford" gaff - Here & Now have never had anything to do with the Boat Race, and if they did scull they'd be a Coxless Four.

Old Friends Posted Fri 07 Sep'07
One of the joys of running GAS and being a relatively stable point in the Gong universe, (physically if not mentally), is that eventually old friends drop by and say hello. There are few from Gong's long and rich tapestry that have yet to stop by, even the most 'disappeared' have contacted me over the years and I am able to put them in touch with daevid and Gilli. The other month I received e-mails from two of temporarily mislaid beings (although I'm sure they always knew where they were most of the time), drummer Mac Poole and Tomas Lipps, aka artist Tom Fu.

Mac was pointed out that he is in fact the Gong drummer in the 1972 archive French TV footage, not Laurie Allen as I had earlier posted erroneously. He didn't say what he was up to these days, but he's still on the Planet, which is good. Apparently the complete footage of both the '72 and '71 French TV Gong films can now be found on You Tube - so go hunt it down if you wish.

Mac Poole with Gong in 1972	Tom Fu going to pot

Tom Fu, who was one of Soft Machine's original roadies and provided much of the artwork of 'Angel's Egg', is now a stone-mason/stone artist of some note, here's a link to one of the sites he's involved with The Stone Foundation (who I see hold a yearly symposium in Deya of all places - "Yes Captain the temporal synchronization engines are now fully interlaced with the main perceptual matrix - and the kettle is on."). In a brief flurry of e-mails one of the things Tom told me was that he also drew the cover for the Kevin Ayers' album 'Shooting At The Moon', which I had not registered before, and sure enough the similarity in style between it and the inside of 'Angel's Egg' is very obvious.

Suze da Blooze Farewell Updated Wed 05 Sep'07

Suze Allport, aka Suze da Blooze, a vital and vibrant part of the early Here & Now and Planet Gong bands and travelling family has died on Sunday 19th after a long illness. She was an integral part of the music and energy of all those Free Tours in the 70's, as any of you who experienced it, or have ever tuned into the vibration will know. Love, healing and joyful memories to all who were close.

Suze by Tina

Kif Kif has added a special Suze pages to his web-site www.herenow.be/suze.htm which are blossoming with some wonderful photographs. There is also a guest book where you can leave messages of condolence and happy memories of Suze as support for all her family and friends.

"a beautiful, brave soul she was - she never shrank from any test or experience, but embraced it all in her own inimical way...
She was with us through thick and thin in those halcyon early days, she kept the faith with us, and was a source of love and inspiration to us all...
Had a good weep and a long look back, and now feel resigned to her passing - all too soon, too soon... Bless you Suze, go well, as you did in life... Keith the Bass

The funeral and final gathering were held on 1st September in Herefordshire. It was a most moving and celebratory event attended by over 150 family and friends. She was laid to rest in a cardboard coffin decorated with hand painted flowers, and the original Here & Now band of Kif-Kif, Twink, Keith and Steffe pulled out the stops at the wake to celebrate Suze's life and herald her return home.

Gong & Softs on Mojo CD Posted Fri 31 Aug'07
Gong's "5 And 20 Schoolgirls", from Magick Brother, and the Soft Machine 'demo' "I Should've Know" are on a cover-mount CD with a Syd Barrett tribute theme, free with the October issue of Mojo. Also included is a very wonderful Acid Mothers Temple track, "Crystal Rainbow Pyramid", that is so Gong-like that when it came on (I hadn't looked at the track details) I got very confused indeed for a while. All sorts of other goodies as well of course, Kevin Ayers, Hawkwind, Amm, Bonzos etc.

Moonweed Free! Posted Thr 30 Aug'07
Tim Blake's period of home incarceration officially came to end on Tuesday 28th - a Full Moon day of course (how does that stuff always happen?) - he is now a free man once more. After so many months out of circulation he is naturally keen and eager to get out there and work, play and generally perform, and I would imagine that after such a period at home and in his studio his 'chops' are in very fine fettle. He can be contacted via his web-site - http://moonweed.free.fr/

Tim Blake - 'Waterfalls In Space' download Updated Thr 23 Aug'07
Part of the legendry Tim Blake/Jean-Philippe Rykiel 'Waterfalls in Space' tape is now available as a download on Tim's web-site download page - where his other albums are also available as legitimate downloads. It is a fantastic re-mastering from the source and is as clean as whistle, there is no old cassette copy or pirated download out there which can hold a candle to it. If you have any love or admiration for what Tim and JP are about musically, or the history of synths in general, you will simply adore this. It costs about 3 quid, is around 24 minutes long and worth every penny. The direct downloads are an initiative from Tim to definitly support and encourage - then it will surely grow.

As I downloaded Tim and JP's wonderful re-vamped, and creatively enhanced, Waterfalls New Jerusalem, literally at the same time, I received the following poem from Thom the Poet in Austin, Texas. Surf's up it seems.

WATER AS A GIFT

It was here before us
and will be here long after
No price tag upon our living waters!
So we dammed and bottled it
added chlorine and fluoride
let dogs piss in it
and still claimed it as "ours"
These Springs sustain lives
older than ours
All structures need
to keep those wilde powers
Water knows what it wants!-
to flow free as air
We need to listen more than speak
while water is still here
Drought hearts know the gift of life
depends upon liquidities
Instead of boxing in these Springs
Let these waters run free!
WE ARE SPRINGS! August 20, 2007

Angel's Nest Updated Sun 16 Sep'07
Thanks to a Forum posting by Hi-T Moonweed hymnself if you are familiar with Google Earth just type in these co-ordinates - 48º14'39.35" N 3º21'59.11" E and you can zoom in from deepest space, dare I say like a Flying Teapot, onto Le Pavillon du Hay, the communal home of Gong in the early 70's and the magick forest which surrounds it, and where of course Angel's Egg was conceived and recorded. How about finding the co-odinates of some other Gong landmarks like Middle Farm, and the Bananamoon Observatory in Deya?

daevid outside Le Pavillon du Hay, Autumn 2006.

Steve Hillage Q & A Session Posted Wed 15 Aug'07
Here's a link to a Steve question and answer session from last December's Beatmag. So if you want to know what he goes for when the munchies strike, what football team he supports as well the answers to some rather more musical questions this is the place.

Sound of the Cities - Web Mag Posted Tue 14 Aug'07
The second edition of the Sound of the Cities web-mag is now available online and is packed with all sorts of fascinating goodies, top of the list for us folk here being a recent interview with daevid. Go have a look I think you will be very pleasantly surprised by all that you find there.

What can I tell ya? Pt. 1 Posted Wed 04 Jun'07
daevid will just about be back in Australia by now. He left London late on Sunday night, but had a stop-over in Thailand? Singapore? - somewhere out there. The fun-time Planet Gong/Here &Now gig last Thursday, attended by so many friends, Steve & Miquette, Mike & Been Howlett, Jerry from Kangaroo Moon and many more, was a complete hoot with more than a touch of the Unconvention about it. Perhaps we have now attained to a new level of Gongish gig togetherness which will spontaneously and unstopably occur whenever we all gather together, where old/new friendships, conversations and general hanging out just continue on from the 'last time'?

In the calm but busy couple of days before he left the UK daevid had a recording session with Steve & Miquette at their studio, the night after Dingwalls; I played him the first version of the Uncon 'bonus' DVD (yes it's still all bubbling away) and we discussed the way forward with that, and I found out that plans have been laid for daevid and Josh Pollock to appear with Fabio and the Brazilian Invisibles in Brazil in the Autumn (more news on that when it firms up). We also chewed over future Gong possibilities, which may or may not come to something, but at least the desire is around and therefore hope exists. There's more which I'll get to later.

Rob Wicked's Transition Day - Fri 13th July Posted Tue 03 Jun'07
"12 noon from the Fawcett Inn, Southsea, PO4 0DP. Going to the South Downs Natural Burial Site for 1pm, then back to the Fawcett for the celebration of life party with the Invisible Opera Co. of Tibet and open mic night. - so bring your instruments and let's have a wicked party. My number for more details is Jackie on 079 1539 8244"

Friday 13th - I can still hear him chuckling.

4 Zero Records Posted Tue 26 Jun'07
With the of utmost pleasure I am delighted to announce the birth of an exciting new record label 4 Zero Records run by long-time supporter Dave Weller (many of you will have visited his Here & Now discography site). I say new but in fact it has been up and running for a while now with two very good releases already under it's belt. The first album was Mushroom's - "Really Don’t Mind If You Sit This One Out" (FZ002), the second is Alison Faith Levy & Mushroom's - "Yesterday, I Saw You Kissing Tiny Flowers" (FZ003), which features Michael Clare and Josh Pollock of the University of Errors, and is available in the Kasbah. I imagine one or two of you may be quite interested in 4 Zero's third album release Here & Now's, legendary "Coxed Out of Oxford" tape remastered for CD for the first time, but don't just wait for that one, both the Mushroom CDs are well worth investinagting. 4 Zeros releases are all limited to a pressing of just 1000.

Self Initiation Workshops Posted Thr 21 Jun'07
The embers of the 'Self Initiation Workshops' which daevid carried over to the UK from Oz back in 1987 never died away, they always glowed quietly within many of us. Just recently gentle breeze seems to have stirred them into life and just maybe the fuel is out there to light the fire once more.

One of the original attendees of the workshops who became a core member of the team, Mark Wren, has followed the path for many years and is now a highly experienced re-birther, and in some recent open ended meetings with daevid, myself and Turiya (who some of you will know as Wandana) via e-mail from Australia wondered if anyone would be interested or intrigued in the possibility of embarking on that particular journey.

Mark, a most delightful guy, is the point of contact and can contacted via www.markwren.uklinux.net/blog.html

Hari Hari the 'Wicked' man Posted Wed 20 Jun'07
Rob 'Wicked' left the physical world behind in his sleep last night. He was the owner of that unique and very special place we had lovingly come to call the 'Gong Pub', The Fawcett Inn in Southsea. He was a true friend and supporter of the entire Gong family and had been so forever. There have been so many memorable free gigs at the Fawcett over the years, he put himself on the line for us all again and again and there was nothing he wouldn't do to help if he possibly could. Deep love and support to Jackie and all Rob's family and his hundreds of friends. He was special and had one of the biggest hearts.

I am so glad to have been there at the Fawcett with daevid and Mark Robson at the gig at the end of May to see Rob so happy and positive with Jackie in the newly re-vamped and focused Fawcett after a difficult couple of years. Rob was also such a supporter of the whole Stonehenge/Solstice/Festival ethos, he never missed going to the stones, where he would have been going - well today. Maybe he should have been known as Rob 'Wiccan', though he did have a wicked sense of humor. So sad for all left behind - but Rob, what a gracefully timed departure from the stage mate - one love. I can hear his chuckle now.

Steve Hillage New Ltd. Ed. DVD Posted Tue 19 Jun'07
Abandon your fuzzy bootleg videos, spurn the grainy You Tube snippets and revel in the complete, full and extended new DVD release that is the Steve Hillage Band, Germany 1977 DVD, the Rockplaast gig. It is initially released as a limited edition double pack of just 1000 copies, the bonus disc being the audio portion of the show alongside the DVD, which also includes an exclusive interview with Steve and Miquette filmed at their London studio earlier this year where they discuss the gig and those classic early albums. Further to that the first 300 copies, of which there are only a few left, have been signed by Steve and Miquette.

The tracks included are Salmon Song, Hurdy Gurdy Glissando, Hurdy Gurdy Man, Solar Musick Suite, Lunar Musick Suite, It's All To Much, (Lunar Musick Suite)/It's All Too Much II, Aftaglid Pt.I, Elecktrick Gypsies and Not Fade Away, a couple of which have never seen the light of day before as they were not included in the original broadcast. This is rather wonderful 7 piece Steve Hillage Band, including Basil Brooks and the late Christian Boulé, in magnificent full flow, you can't help but enjoy it.

The limited edition is only available via Voiceprint at www.stevehillagedvd.com where you can see all the other details and a clip of the DVD. It is a NTSC Region 0 DVD and should play anywhere.

Brainville - Luc's photographs Posted Wed 20 Jun'07
Here are some very fine photographs of the awesome and mighty Chris Cutler backed by some passing musicians, (a Mr D. Allen, Mr H. Hopper and Mr D. Malherbe - I think), in the band known as Brainville at Le Triton on June 8th. Luc's Brainville pics.

Hadouk Honoured Posted Sun 10 Jun'07
Thanks to Luc Pilmeyer I can pass on the happy news that Didier Malherbe and the Hadouk Trio have received a prestigious music award in France, the 'Victoire du Jazz' as 'Artists of the Year', the ceremony was also broadcast on the FR3 TV channel.

Loy, Dider, Steve
Looks as if Didier is about to try and get a tune out of the award - he probably could.

The music business is so very bizarre. Hadouk's last album 'Utopies' sold over 16,000 copies in France last year and the band get this great acknowledgement from their peers. However because the album has no worldwide distribution to speak of it has sold 150 copies in the entire rest of the planet (about half of those via this website, the rest in Canada probably), and the band couldn't get arrested the UK let alone sell out a gig. Very odd. Still we love them and so apparently do France.

THEO TRAVIS/KHAN - LIMITED ED. VINYL Posted Mon 16 Mar'07
Just in - very limited stock of the 500 pressing edtion of 'Space Shanty' by Khan and, a real surprise this one, 6 copies of Theo Travis''Eleven Bowls of Acidophilus Flute Salad' - the last copies from the man himself in fact. Neither are cheap, but then objects as collectable as these just aren't.

GONG - RARE EARLY 70'S FILM ONLINE Posted Wed 04 Jul'07
Loads of French television archives are available on-line and thanks to an eagle-eyed Gongster who recently contacted me I can point you at some extremely rare Gong film footage. The link - www.ina.fr/archivespourtous/ - will open a page on the French web-site where you will see in the centre two small images. These are samples of an early 70's half-hour rock music programme called 'Pop Deux'.

The most readily accessible Gong footage is in the 1972 programme as it is the first item and starts only a minute or so into the free sample provided. I have known about the existence of this film for some time and we believe there is more in existence somewhere. It was shot on 26 April 1972 at Nanterre University and the Gong band is daevid, Gilli, Didier, Christian Tristch, and with Mac Poole on drums (not Laurie Allen as I mistakenly wrote before).

You will recognise the music as being the same as the Glastonbury Fayre '71 opener. It's interesting to see a fetchingly face-painted Bloom deftly providing back-up rhythms to Laurie Allen, as he uses drumsticks on a pair of Morrocan pottery drums. After the pounding drums/rhythmic-gliss/space-whisper section daevid, in his best stripey flares, springs into action in a manner which would not be out of place fronting Acid Mother's Gong now - who said things weren't like they used to be?

The footage in the 1971 programme, which is a completely new to all of us, is filmed in crisp, sharp colour and features the same line-up as the 1972 film, but with Rachid Hourai on drums! This makes these images incredibly rare, there are very few photographs of Rachid even in the GAS archives. Unfortunately the Gong film is near the end of the free sample so fades out before the end. Apparently the live Gong footage is followed by an interview with daevid, but you have to use the buy or 'hire' option provided and download the complete programme to see that.

There is a powerful risk-taking urgency and a wonderful primal source energy in the early Gong music and it's great to actually be able to see this in action. For convenience we have in recent years fallen into habit of calling the later 'Trilogy' band, "classic" Gong, which I've always felt does a disservice to what went before, and of course afterwards - every era of Gong has at times been "classic". One could argue that as the mid/late-seventies band has become more frozen our memories or record collections that the 'true', vibrant and creatively changing Gong spirit, as represented by the adventurous pathways individual members have taken since 1975, has become obscured. Perhaps something was inevitably pickled by Virgin's big budget expenditure and the comodification of that creative ideal physical form, in vinyl? Ah,the old Catch-22.

JAPANESE MINI LP CDS Updated Sat 31 Mar'07
The first four Steve Hillage Japanese mini LP, or paper sleeve CDs are now out and about, I believe the official release date is Mon 26th. You can also find 'promo' sets of all four CDS in little laminated boxes illustrated with the Fish Rising cover. I'm sure they will be as 'impossibly' perfect and dinky as only the Japanese can achieve. I have no plans to stock them in the Kasbah as it has always proved impossible to find a UK distributor who can supply these releases at anything like reasonable price.

The second four Steve Japanese paper sleeve CDs have a release date of 30th May. Also just out in that format is the Xitintoday album, and yes they miniaturised the booklet, twice in fact, once to scale with the replica LP and again bigger so you could actually read it - bizzare or what?

SYSTEM 7 GIG POSTER BY DAEVID Posted Tue 13 Mar'07
Now here's a interesting and rather unique combination. Daevid was commissioned by Dewi, the promoter, to produce a gig poster for the Sunday May 6th 'Bindi Slippage' event in Talybont, near Bangor, N. Wales featuring System 7 and much more in benefit of the Colin Reid Countryside Trust.

You can see a larger version of the poster, which has fetching and remarkably lifelike alien renditions of Steve & Miquette in the top right-hand corner, via the daevid commissions Kasbah page. I'm told that copies of the poster will be available for sale at the event with proceeds also going to aid the Trust - and some copies may also be stocked in the Kasbah.

Tickets for this special event seeded at the Uncon in Amsterdam are £10 (in advance only) from Cob Records Bangor, 01248 353020 or online at Bindi Slippage

KHAN - SPACE SHANTY LTD. VINYL Posted Tue 13 Mar'07
A limited edition 180gm vinyl pressing of the 1972 album 'Space Shanty' by Khan, featuring of course Steve Hillage in his pre-Gong 'daze', is to be released before the end of March. The pressing, which is on the Tapestry label who have the highest of reputations for this kind of re-issue work, is limited to 1000 copies and will be in the full original gatefold sleeve.

As they are not cheap to stock (or to mail) I only have a limited number of copies on order which I expect in about a week. If you are interested drop me an e-mail.

PIP - 6 MONTHS TODAY Posted Wed 28 Feb'07
Today it is exactly 6 months since we lost Pip, he died on 28th August. There is a lovely little memorial folder of photographs and other bits and pieces from the funeral and wake on the Calyx web-site. RIP Pip Pyle - A Souvenir Portfolio. It's still hard to believe he has gone.

GONG UNCONVENTION RECORDING UPDATE Updated Thr 01 Mar'07
As many of you have been asking here is an update of the progress of the mixing, editing, mastering of various live recordings and films from the glorious Gong Unconvention in Amsterdam last October. As you can see it is a monster project involving so many people across the globe, many of whom are doing it for the love - a bit like the event itself in fact. I hope it turns out as good and uplifting.

Gong the audio has been mixed by Harry Williamson and Gilli in Australia. I believe the basic film editing is happening in the UK, after which it will be shipped to Australia. Peter Hartl, who designed the 'Dreaming a Dream' and Gong 'You Re-mixed' CD covers among others, is working on DVD covers, booklets and menu visuals in Austria.

Mothergong the audio mix has been fully completed by Harry and Gilli Smyth in Oz. There are no plans to release a complete DVD of the Mothergong performance although a track may appear on a 'bonus' DVD of 'other bands' material and specially filmed interviews that will possibly accompany a release of the Gong set.

Steve Hillage Band Steve will be mixing a track for inclusion on the 'bonus' DVD and is hoping to mix and release the full set with some additional bonus archive material on DVD later in the year.

House of Thandoy the Thandoys have the multitracks of their set and are doing whatever it is that Thandoys do in the winter. I would imagine we would see at least a CD from them sometime.

University of Errors the audio mix and the film editing has all been completed in Australia by Harry Williamson with help and input from Michael Clare, who spent two weeks in Oz, and with visiting input from daevid.

Kangaroo Moon the audio is being initially mixed by the band themselves in UK, after which it will be sent to Australia to be edited together with a least one or two filmed section, perhaps their entire set.

Acid Mothers Gong the audio of the drums is being mixed by Yoshida in Japan. What happens after that I'm not sure, perhaps back to Australia for the Williamson touch.

Zorch there is some talk of audio and visuals being worked on.

Tim Blake & Jean-Philippe Rykiel I understand that Tim is being sent the multi-track master to work on. Hopefully he will decide it is good enough to release.

I have no firm news on any of the other sets except to tell you that they were all recorded and most of them filmed. I would imagine that at the very least a track from most of them will be inculded on the 'bonus' DVD. There are no release dates for any of these projects yet - you will find out when I do.

THE 'SOUND OF THE CITIES' PROJECT Posted Thr 01 Feb'07
Daevid has joined an fascinating worldwide Electronic Music Project set up by Henry Stag & the 'Gallery 24' called 'Sound of Cities'. I can't hope do full justice to the full scope of the project here and now, but do go and have a good nose around their web-site to get a fuller picture. Here is an extract from Henry's press release which gives a taste of what it's all about and what is to come.

For each of the cites we are using at least one building - "Gallery" as the input, or lets say as a huge microphone which is relaying the city's vibrations.

Through selection of frequencies we are going to filter out the occurrences from "inside the house" as it were, or the yard etc., and leave only the sounds that are coming from the "bowels" or heart of the city.

These frequencies will then be transferred directly to midi data. At the same moment this data (midi stream) will be transmitted to the Artist who is creatively manipulating it (with the synthesizer, sampler etc.). These audio streams, or lets better say presets, are then fed to the server or to the Mixer for your own manipulations and listening.

As well as daevid artists and musicians such as Francois Bayle, Dieter Moebius, Faust's Hans Joachim Irmler have signed up to take part in what promises to be a unique and ever changing endeavour. One of the ideas behind the project is to bring the younger generation from the Electronic Music scene (Click'n Cut, Dance, Modern Electronic Music etc.), with some of the the Pioneers of Electronic Music.

The official launch is scheduled for May 2007. I'll keep you posted on developments

THOM - PRAYER WHEELS Posted Wed 31 Jan'07
"It has been a long time
since I wrote a poem.
Time flies faster and I get slower
The weight of others sore oppresses
What can words do to stop an avalanche?.."
Busy bee thoughts seek sweet honied arguments
while Buddhist Prayer Wheels spin
and Prayer Flags flap
and millions of meditators sit in forest stillness
Religions gather for their many gods-
seek communion via conversions
Political resistors sing in prisons
Cultural evolutionaries daub and dance and dare
Everyone is kinetic even when they sit and stare
at sunrises, sunsets, Fool Moons, beaches, mountains, air
We are all connected. There is no escape from prayer.
Secular atomists become molecular arguments
Spin madly around empty cores
Dialogues open up with decadents
Conversations with criminals
Elegies for those who left us
Faerie wings for impossible dreams
and fantasies for eccentricities
as we allow all manner of manifestations
to become our affirmations..
Write, draw, dance, sing!
Every moment, creating-
secular prayer wheels
spinning!

A THOM IC Jan 28, 2007

STEVE HILLAGE 'INDEPENDENT' INTERVIEW + MORE Updated Thr 18 Jan'07
To publicise the release of the first four remastered Steve Hillage albums there was a short but entertaining interview with the man himself in Saturday's Independent newspaper. The online version can be read here:- The Independent Online Edition.

Other things to look out for are:- Features in Classic Rock (07.02), Beat Mag.net (Dec - Feb)

Confirmed Reviews: Record Collector, Classic Rock, Birmingham Post, Mojo (Feb), Q, Uncut Lead Review + Q&A (Feb), DJ (17.01), Drummer (Feb), Sunday Times Culture Reissue Of The Week (14.01).

Confirmed Reviews Web: Yahoo! Launchcast, Get Ready To Rock.com, Subba Cultcha.com

'PLANET FOR $ALE' CD Posted Wed 03 Jan'07
'Planet for $ale' Music composed/produced by Nigel Mazlyn Jones. Original art Pete Loveday. Includes remixes by Steve Hillage, Banco de Gaia and Guy Evans of Van der Graaf Generator. Produced by Dr Keith Halden.

In 1998, Dr Keith Halden created for BBC 2 Scotland, a powerful visual montage based on the words of the song 'Planet for $ale' by songwriter/composer, Nigel Mazlyn Jones. The song is a series of questions - "Planet for $ale in need of renovation, who'll give us two pence for a dead old globe" and "Why are the rich so bloody greedy, Why are governments so corrupt right to the core?" ... and answers - "It needs a change of thinking, if we"re to go on living, bringing up our children on this planet green and blue, yes it needs a change of living, to keep the garden beautiful, we're only the caretakers, and we're only passing through"

Shortly available only through Nigel's website www.isleoflight.co.uk.

STEVE HILLAGE REMASTERS - RELEASE DATES Posted Mon 04 Dec'06
Steve approved the audio and paperwork masters of the first four in the Steve Hillage Band re-mastered re-issue series about a week ago. The official release date for 'Fish Rising', 'L', 'Motivation Radio' and 'Rainbow Dome Music' is Monday 15th Jan - forget any other dates you may have seen elsewhere. The links above will take you to the Kasbah pages where you can find out some more basic info on these releases and their bonus tracks.

If all goes to schedule the second four re-mastered CDs were releasd on Monday 18th Feb.

UNCON AFTERGLOW Updated Tue 28 Nov'06
"Why don't you try...come on you can try..." well we did...what do we discover? You are I and I am you...

Some Uncon pictures, reverberations and news - more very soon. If you have posted any Uncon photographs, clips or writings on-line why not let me know so we can all have a gander?
Chris' pics / Moodi's pics / Basil Brooks' pics / Jason Brooks' pics / Janet's pics / Hightea's pics / Gilbert's clips & pics / Gareth's Uncon & pics / Starcruiser's pics / Vanbliepenstein's clips / Luc's pics / Phil's pics / Purusha's pics / Jim's pics

ADORED the Unconvention - a very odd, yet positively life-changing experience! Many thanks to all involved. Alistair

Many many thanks, love and hugs for what you people did those 3 amazing days in The Melkweg ... ! Martin

Must say i was buzzing on the whole event, it was as much an inspiration as gong were to me when i was a teenager, and an honour to be a part of it . loved it! cheers Graham

Jonny, gang...that weekend was f****g HISTORY man! I need to do it again ASAP! Acid Mothers Gong was a fricking landmark in live shows. A right bang on of the Freenoise ethos and you are my hero promoter I can't wait to see the film. I was almost over-fried by Sunday's best ever Gong show. - moodi

What a marvellous happening and what a fantastic job you did to put the gig together! Wooly hats off to you mate. All the very best to you. Roger

I feel so lucky and priviledged to have been there! Thanks a million! That was the greatest weekend of music I've ever experienced in my life! Lots of love and thanks! Rick

GONG UNCONVENTION UPDATE Updated Mon 13 Nov'06
Oh my Gawd! What was that? All the tales, photos, sound even - as soon as I've tied all the loose ends into a nice big bow. An event of future myth.
Earlier Unconvention Updates

dAEVID'S BMO CDs 7,11,12,13 Updated Sat 16 Sep'06
I cannot fault the last 4 BMO CDs (Nos. 7, 11, 12 & 13) which have been released in the past month, each one is magnificent in it's own right, and in so many completely different ways. As evidenced by these releases I can't think of another musician who's range is a broad as daevid's. Every one of these last 4 BMO CDs could have easily stood alone as complete 'main-frame' release without fear. There is actually something a bit strange that they are kind of buried in the BMO series and may not get the attention they truly merit. Pick any one of them.

BMO12, 'Glissando Grooves' is fantastic and unlike any other daevid gliss CD yet released, except perhaps elements of '22 Meanings'. The Magick Brothers, BMO7, beautifully captures the best of that band live with both Mark Robson and Graham Clark's guitar and violin work outstanding. BMOs 12 & 13, which both come from the West Coast (the cliché is true, there was no further the adventerous people could go), are a melage of totally absorbing sounds, music, words - both are wonderfully effecting collages and very unique. All four are in heavy rotation on the office stereo.

PIP PYLE 1950-2006 Updated Fri 07 Sep'06
Terribly sad news, Pip Pyle died in a Paris hotel at 2.00am on the morning of 28th August. He had stopped off while returning from a Hatfield & the North gig in the Netherlands by train.

We all loved Pip, everybody did. A big spirit, a big heart and a big musician. No-one who ever toured with him or counted him among their friends will ever forget the sheer joie de vivre with which he launched himself at life, and which so often sucked you along as well, I know they will all be devastated. As one of the Gongmaison musicians told me through the tears when I broke the news to him, "I had some of the best times of my life with Pip." He was at the centre and the heartbeat of so many bands and worked with so many musicians, it's like some mighty oak has fallen.

Although Pip's appearance at the Unconvention was never formalised between us (I kept putting off speaking to him because we didn't have the budget to do justice to what the Hatfields deserve), a Gong gathering without him being there was absolutely inconceivable. He was the outstanding mainstay of the 25th Birthday Party concerts in 1994, playing with nearly every band, hours of top-class drumming each day. No doubt, knowing the stature and nature of the man, he would have become central to the Melkweg event as well. Like all of us Pip had some real up and downs in his life, the past few years had seen joy of the birth of a new son and the difficulty of a very serious major back operation, but throughout it all he remained just Pip, a great musician to his fingertips, always straight with you and always genuinely a brother. It is impossible to overstate just how much he will be missed. Love to all he leaves behind.

Tributes are being posted in the Forum in the Planet Gong section, that was mine. Jonny

Calyx web-site - Great Pip biog in the musicians pages.
The Independant newspaper carried an almost full page obituary of Pip on Thursday 31st Aug which you can still read on-line.

An assortment of Gong tour stickers, some incredibly old, were sent to adorn Pip's coffin. I sent them on behalf of all who loved the man and his music. His funeral took place on 19th September in Essex, stickers and all.

"AHH PIP" - daevid Posted Fri 01 Sep'06
"Ahhh Pip! Yes our old mate came back to Paris from a top gig & died in a girl's arms. A heroic way to go but please.... better not to go just yet! He was a totally original drum warrior & golden jester, very much loved by all of us. His contribution to the Gong band & so many of my projects was without parallel. I loved him like the true brother he was. His unfinished music & inspiring physical courage, honesty & outrageous escapades will be HUGELY missed. I'm still laughing at those mad moments through the tears. Feeling deeply particularly for old pal Pam & son Sam & for all his familiars & allies. We all send him huge THANKS!!!" - daevid

MOONWEED RISING:-ENAMEL BADGE Posted Sat 12 Aug'06
In times of trouble and travelling naked (even with a small see-through plastic bag), as always there is nothing to fear but fear itself. Every day can be the day of the Favourite. And whether or not you choose to embrace the concept that if we all quietly become our own 'favourite' things will transform, you can still do your bit for another favourite.

In the Gong panoply of archetypes Hi-T Moonweed (the favourite) has been determindly struggling along with the 'catastrophic stone' until very recently - time to lighten the load. The end is in sight, the tide has turned and the music is flowing - Go see him at one of the gigs, and if you can't do that, wear the badge with pride.
Gong Aid:- Gong Mandala Enamel Badge

dAEVID'S RHIZOMAZE DRAWING Posted Mon 14 Aug'06
Hi Jonny,

Here's the link to my website -
www.big.com.au/thaishenry/surrealism

If you follow the witchy-poo symbol you get the not-essay as originally printed - when you get to the Rhizomaze, (which Daevid said he has put on his website as an example of his work), click the witchy-poo again for the lead into the main body of the essay.

I did, in fact, design the map & its pathways, and choose the fonts for the different characters and movements - Daevid merely (but surely) did the illustrations and altered the "surrealism" font, for which I am grateful, as it adds to the overall effect.

Apart from the witchy links, there is an embryonic section on Futurism, and an essay I did on the Internet back in 2001 (which I'm still proud of) under Appendix B.

Cheers, and hope you enjoy the read - Andrea.

NEW DAEVID FILM Posted Wed 09 Aug'06
'Arrest Me' short film of a daevid poem by stefanie petrik with music by josh pollock and das has been added to his web-site at www.daevidallen.net/. There are now four films to view, download, absorb, ridicule, ponder upon and enjoy.

HADOUK'S 'UTOPIES' MP3 SAMPLES Posted Wed 09 Aug'06
Luc Pilmeyer has added some animated mp3 samples of the fantastic new Hadouk CD 'Utopies' to Didier's site www.didiermalherbe.com/.

There are three in total, all great stuff and the last featuring Jon Hassell. The direct links are:-
www.didiermalherbe.com/touptb.html
www.didiermalherbe.com/toupie.html
www.didiermalherbe.com/wparas.html

If you want to get hold of a copy of the actual CD you'll have get it from within France for now as the record company are slowly sorting out some worldwide distribution and won't even allow regular import distributors outside the country to have copies - hence I can't get any yet. Apparently it's selling like hot cakes in France, has had loads of radio play, was made FNAC's world music No.1 CD and is nearing sales of 10,000!

OBSOLETE CDs Updated Fri 28 Jul'06
As the good Captain once sang, "...there's a limited supply and we're down to the dozens...". Well now we have a couple of dozen 'Obsolete' CDs. Out of a clear blue sky this morning came pink CDs, months and months after ordering them, in fact I'd forgotten all about them it's been so long. Housed in smart didgi-paks Dashiel Hedayat's 1971 album, 'Obsolete', with music by Gong recorded by the 'Camembert' line-up and just before that album, is a wonderful and vital part of Gong's recorded history, a psychedelic gem. I just wonder how easy it is going to be to maintain a supply chain given these copies have taken so long to appear?
Obsolete - Dahiell Hedayat

DAEVID on SYD Updated Fri 28 Jul'06
"His solo stuff was for me some of the most emotionally touching and psychologically observant writing ever in the music world....Barrett burned short & hard like a phosphorescent SOS flare that left an enduring/endearing imprint on us all. At the Ally Pally gig in 1966 he unwittingly taught me the invaluable skill of glissando guitar & then the myth took over. As a creative force he died in the late sixties yet his youthful image became a lightshow thrown over the shadow of his lifelong mental illness. Lets hope his wish to be left alone is now fulfilled. I wish him peace on the other side of the sky."

A version of this story told by daevid is in the latest issue of Mojo (Sept) along with stories/tributes from Dave Brock, Cpt. Sensible and many others in the magazine's Syd article.

DAEVID 'n' SYD Posted Wed 12 Jul'06
Legend has it that daevid was inspired to develop the glissando guitar technique, so beloved and central to the sound of Gong, after seeing Syd apply a similar approach to the guitar at an early Pink Floyd gig. Thereafter daevid attached a picture of Syd to the front of his amp in homage till it fell off...or so the story goes.

Our man on the spot way back then, stepping deftly around the 'icon' to see the man he knew, says, "Syd was around for about a year and a half, then he was out of his box. I think he may have 'died' in about 1968."

Too close perhaps, too much of real a person back then for daevid? For me, and many others Syd Barrett was totally unique and inspirational, an archetype even. And though it is over 30 years since his last public creativity it is always sad when your one of your main men checks out and the world feels a little emptier. Go well.

STEVE HILLAGE REMASTERS - MORE Updated Wed 04 Sep'06
Steve's solo alb