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Gong

Gong are an international progressive rock band that incorporates elements of jazz and space rock into their musical style. The group was formed in Paris in 1967 by Australian musician Daevid Allen and English vocalist Gilli Smyth. Band members have included Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, Steve Hillage, Mike Howlett, Pierre Moerlen, Bill Laswell and Theo Travis. Others who have played on stage with Gong include Don Cherry, Chris Cutler, Bill Bruford, Brian Davison, Dave Stewart and Tatsuya Yoshida.

Gong's 1970 debut album, Magick Brother featured a psychedelic pop sound. By the following year, the second album, Camembert Electrique, featured the more psychedelic rock/space rock sound with which they would be most associated. Between 1973 and 1974, Gong released their best known work, the allegorical Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy, describing the adventures of Zero the Hero, the Good Witch Yoni and the Pot Head Pixies from the Planet Gong.

In 1975, Allen and Smyth left the band, which continued without them, releasing a series of jazz rock albums under the leadership of drummer Pierre Moerlen. This incarnation soon became known as Pierre Moerlen's Gong. Meanwhile, Smyth formed Mother Gong while Allen initiated a series of spin-off groups, including Planet Gong, New York Gong and Gongmaison, before returning to lead Gong once again in 1990 until his death in 2015. With Allen's encouragement, the band decided to continue, releasing the album Rejoice! I'm Dead! in September 2016.

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4
Interview

Gong gave me jazz ears - an investigation into the recent evolution of Gong

Read "Gong gave me jazz ears - an investigation into the recent evolution of Gong" reviewed by Anthony Shaw


Introducing the band Gong, or as they are frequently known on the internet the Gong-band, is somewhat similar to introducing a primary color to a blind person. The more words used, the less clear the idea. Suffice it to say that a band which has existed for over 50 years, has included well over 50 musicians from 15 or so different countries, and been classified under almost as many genres, is tricky to pin down. In fact to quote their ...

5
Live Review

Gong at the Assembly Rooms Islington

Read "Gong at the Assembly Rooms Islington" reviewed by Anthony Shaw


Gong, supporting Steve Hillage Assembly Rooms Islington London, UK November 16, 2019 We all know that it's never literally the same river twice, but with a band it's a little more complicated. A name can mean everything when it comes to sales and marketing, so even when the band in question is not heading the concert bill the expectations are complex, reality rather baffling. The original Australian founder, now four ...

31
Album Review

Gong: Rejoice! I'm Dead!

Read "Rejoice! I'm Dead!" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Vocalist, guitarist and composer, Daevid Allen was perhaps progressive rock's favorite hippie, and in the 1960s co-founded pivotal and revered Euro outfits, Gong and Soft Machine. Since the late 60s, Allen embarked on a solo career and led various psych-rock ensembles amid resurgences of Gong, which is an entity that sports a manifold legacy, spanning disparate stylistic approaches. Up until his death from cancer in 2015 Allen was all over the map via his cosmic explorations and collaborations with like-minded ...

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Rediscovery

Gong: Gazeuse!

Read "Gong: Gazeuse!" reviewed by John Kelman


Gong Gazeuse! Virgin1976 Today's Rediscovery is Gazeuse! (released in North America as Expresso, by Canterbury-related band Gong, caught in a period of significant transition. The group first came together under the leadership of Australian-born Daevid Allen, an early member of Soft Machine who, after being denied reentry into the UK due to visa problems in 1967, remained in France and formed Gong largely around a group of French musicians including saxophonist/flautist Didier Malherbe, ...

293
Album Review

Gong: 2032

Read "2032" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


Forty years have passed since Gong united in Paris, one of the cultural aftershocks of the city's student riots in May 1968. 2032 brings them back from the future and splashes them down in the instrumental jam-band scene that they originally helped create with their unique blend of progressive rock and jazz instrumentals, experimental electronics, eastern/western fusions, and self-depreciating humor. “2032 is the year that the Planet Gong makes full contact with the Planet Earth, and a major new chapter ...

108
Album Review

Gong: Live 2 Infinitea/Live In London

Read "Live 2 Infinitea/Live In London" reviewed by Anthony Shaw


In the age of digital precision, it’s a reassurance to know that the spontaneity of live recording is not extinct. And when the band in question has a sum total of over 100 years of professional experience it’s a tonic to hear the power of the record. The disc provides ample evidence that Gong both should and shouldn’t be included under the jazz rubric! The selection of 14 tracks includes 10 pieces from February’s funk-jazz inspired ZERO 2 INFINITY(SNA 824), ...

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1

Recording

Gong Expresso Feat. Gong Alumni Francois Causse, Benoit Moerlen And Hansford Rowe To Release New Album Decadence

Gong Expresso Feat. Gong Alumni Francois Causse, Benoit Moerlen And Hansford Rowe To Release New Album Decadence

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Hansford Rowe's HRIII merges with Gong Expresso! Gong alumni Francois Causse, Benoit Moerlen and Hansford Rowe join HRIII guitarist Julien Sandiford for the recording of the new album by Gong Expresso titled Decadence. Says Hansford, “ 'Decadence' is the title tune on the new Gong Expresso album. Here the word means 'falling away.' I hope this tune and all the music on the album somehow addresses this in an unadorned, direct way. When I play with these 3 musicians I ...

1

Recording

Prog Legends Gong To Release New Studio Album "Rejoice! I'm Dead!"

Prog Legends Gong To Release New Studio Album "Rejoice! I'm Dead!"

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Some say it couldn't, or shouldn't, be done. How could Gong exist without Daevid Allen? A few minutes into listening to the title track of their brand new album, Rejoice!, aspersions will be cast aside. It is undeniably Gong Gong have had many, many line-ups. Formed when Australian beatnik/freak Daevid Allen quit The Soft Machine and moved to France at the tail end of the '60s, before debuting in 1970 with Magick Brother, the band have remained fluid, even playing ...

1

Recording

French Prog Legends Clearlight To Release Highly Anticipated New Cd The Impressionist Symphony Featuring Members Of Gong, The Muffins, Spirits Burning And Others

French Prog Legends Clearlight To Release Highly Anticipated New Cd The Impressionist Symphony Featuring Members Of Gong, The Muffins, Spirits Burning And Others

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Paris, France - Much to the excitement of progressive rock fans worldwide, legendary French prog ensemble Clearlight featuring Cyrille 'Clearlight' Verdeaux will be releasing their first new album in decades on March 24, 2014! 'The Impressionist Symphony' focuses on the artistic style of impressionism, painting and music as well with a Ravel, Satie and Debussy influence merged with Cyrille's progressive music experience and linked with the French impressionist school of painting. Featuring guest appearances by Steve Hillage (GONG), Tim Blake ...

2

Recording

French Avant Garde Music Trio Sidony Box Release New CD Recorded By Magma/Gong Legend Venux Deluxe

French Avant Garde Music Trio Sidony Box Release New CD Recorded By Magma/Gong Legend Venux Deluxe

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Paris, France - Much to the anticipation of music aficionados around the world, French avant-garde music troupe Sidony Box have released their third album 'Sidony Box Rules'. Award-winner of the “Rezzo Jazz a Vienne 2010” showcase and selected for the AFIJMA's “Jazz Migration 2011” tour, Sidony Box has earned its scenic reoutation through Europe and already released two albums acclaimed by international press. Sidony Box is back on stage with a luminous and heavenly third album recorded by Venux Deluxe, ...

Recording

Guitar Legend Steve Hillage To Re-release 'live In Amsterdam 2006 At The Gong Family Unconvention' Cd And Dvd – September 10, 2012

Guitar Legend Steve Hillage To Re-release 'live In Amsterdam 2006 At The Gong Family Unconvention' Cd And Dvd – September 10, 2012

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

London, UK – The Gong Family Unconvention at the Melkweg club in Amsterdam in November 2006 was a unique 3 day event in which all the original members of the legendary psychedelic band Gong came together and performed their own individual sets. Guitar legend Steve Hillage, who was a prominent part of the “classic” Gong line-up of 1973-75 felt it was a great opportunity perform again some of the songs from his 1970s solo albums. Steve Hillage is widely considered ...

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Performance / Tour

Nakatani Gong Orchestra @ Outpost 186 on September 10th

Nakatani Gong Orchestra @ Outpost 186 on September 10th

Source: Kevin Frenette

Saturday, September 10, 2011 OUTPOST 186 186 1/2 Hampshire Street Cambridge, MA 02139 8:00 PM Tatsuya Nakatani Gong Orchestra World renowned master percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani will present an evening of improvised music centering on exceptionally intricate interplay, texture and timbre on Saturday, September 10. Nakatani will be performing a set of solo percussion music followed by his Nakatani Gong Orchestra (Kevin Frenette, Forbes Graham, Matt Samolis, Todd Brunel and Joe Monteiro). The music of ...

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Performance / Tour

Tatsuya Nakatani to Convene Gong Orchestra on Wednesday, April 13 at LNAC

Tatsuya Nakatani to Convene Gong Orchestra on Wednesday, April 13 at LNAC

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani (pictured) is coming back to St. Louis to perform at 8:00 p.m. next Wednesday, April 13 at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center. Nakatani was here most recently in November 2010 at LNAC, playing solo and in small groups with local improvisers. This time, he'll team up with some St. Louis musicians (still being confirmed, according to LNAC's Tom Hill) to form what's being called a “Gong Orchestra." Exactly how many gongs this will entail is unclear as ...

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Recording

Music Pioneer Ant-Bee Releases New CD Featuring Former Yes, Focus, Gong, Zappa, Capt. Beefheart, Utopia, Alice Cooper Members

Music Pioneer Ant-Bee Releases New CD Featuring  Former Yes, Focus, Gong, Zappa, Capt. Beefheart, Utopia, Alice Cooper Members

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Asheville, NC—After a 12 year gap between albums, and fans holding their breaths, avant-garde music pioneer ANT-BEE, best known for recording ex-members of the Mothers of Invention and Alice Cooper Group together on the critically acclaimed 1998 release 'Lunar Muzik,' has finally released what could be considered the artist's masterpiece. Possibly the most unique and innovative album to be recorded in decades, ANT-BEE 'Electronic Church Muzik' is an exploration into the spirituality of man (and woman) in a steam-of-consciousness psychedelic ...

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Performance / Tour

Steve Hillage Band to Support Gong on UK Tour

Steve Hillage Band to Support Gong on UK Tour

Source: Noble PR

The Steve Hillage Band is confirmed as special guest on GONG's forthcoming nationwide November UK tour, which kicks off at the Bristol O2 Academy on Thursday November 19th. This marks the first time since 1979 when Hillage will perform material from the following renowned Steve Hillage Band solo albums: Fish Rising (1975), 'L' (1976), Motivation Radio (1977) and Green (1978).

'GONG'with very special guests The Steve Hillage Band Bristol O2 Academy (Nov 19) Exeter Lemon Grove ...

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Recording

Gong Announce New Studio Album "2032"

Gong Announce New Studio Album "2032"

Source: Noble PR

GONG, the legendary psychedelic prog rockers, announced they will release their stunning new album 2032 on Monday 21st September.

Released on Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy's subsidiary G-Wave label, the album is officially released two months before Gong's highly anticipated nationwide UK tour which kicks off at the Brisol O2 Academy on Thursday 19th November.

Described as exhilarating, compelling and other worldly, 2032 represents the first time Hillage has recorded with original Gong founder, Daevid Allen, since 1974's You album. ...

Jay Riley
saxophone, tenor
Just East
band / ensemble / orchestra

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Rejoice! I'm Dead!

Madfish Music
2017

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Paris Bataclan 1976

Gonzo Multimedia
2013

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Emigrants

Leo Records
2011

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Zero To Infinity

One Eyed Salmon Records
2009

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2032

G-Wave
2009

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Videos

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