Pere Ubu have often been described as the most original and important of the new wave bands. The experimental rock group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. Despite many long-term band members, singer David Thomas is the only constant.
David Thomas is a writer, singer, songwriter, actor, producer and director within the self-proclaimed genre of the Avant-Garage. Founder of two legendary bands, Rocket From The Tombs and Pere Ubu, and a multitude of musical collaborations, including David Thomas and two pale boys, he is credited with rewriting the rules of both popular and experimental music since 1975.
His career began as a writer and columnist for weekly magazine The Scene, in Cleveland, in the early 70s. After years of critiquing, he made the decision to stop writing about art and start creating it. “If I’m so smart, I should do this myself.”
Pere Ubu arrived on the scene at a pivotal point in the early 70s as concrete sound and analogue synthesizer-generated abstract sound were being integrated into rock music, given a specific narrative role and Pere Ubu had a hand in that process. “Rock music is the cultural voice of the American folk experience, along with jazz and blues and whether or not that is art is irrelevant. It speaks with the voices in your blood. In that context, who cares about art?”What do you think about today’s rock scene? “I think today’s rock scene is afraid.”
Their debut single, 30 Seconds Over Tokyo was released in 1975 and was the first of four independent releases on Hearpen Records and, along with Television’s Little Johnny Jewel, it signalled the beginning of the New Wave. In the early to mid-70s the musicians who were to form Pere Ubu were part of a fertile rock scene that also produced 15-60-75, Mirrors, The Electric Eels, Rocket From The Tombs, Tin Huey, Styrene Money and Devo.
Now Pere Ubu will be releasing their new album, Lady From Shanghai, in the new year and also be making a visit to Eric’s on Mathew Street April 22nd 2013 in which they will be performing live.
Tickets for Pere Ubu are available from Eric’s Box office, by telephone 0151 2369994 or via Ticketmaster on www.ericslive.com. Tickets are priced at £17.50.
Ian D. Hall