- Origin: Paris, France
- Genre: Progressive Rock, Space Rock
- Years active: 1967–1968, 1969–1976, 1977, 1990, 1992–2001, 2003–2006, 2007–present
- Website: www.planetgong.co.uk
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Users contributing to this page: JanMalysiak
Biography
Gong are a 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 and The Universe Also Collapses in 2019.
Members:
- Loren Standlee - flute (1967-1968)
- Ziska Baum - vocals (1967-1968)
- Gilli Smyth - vocals (1967–1968, 1969-1973, 1974, 1977, 1990, 1994–2001, 2004, 2006, 2007-2013)
- Daevid Allen - vocals, guitar (1967–1968, 1969-1975, 1977, 1990, 1992–2001, 2003–2004, 2006–2015)
- Rachid Houari - drums, percussion (1969-1971, 1973)
- Christian Tritsch - bass, guitar (1969-1973)
- Didier Malherbe - saxophone, flute (1969–1976, 1977, 1990, 1992–2001, 2006)
- Pip Pyle - drums, percussion (1971, 1990, 1992–1997)
- Charles Hayward - drums, percussion (1972)
- Mac Poole - drums, percussion (1972)
- Diane Stewart - vocals (1972, 1974)
- Rob Tait - drums, percussion (1972, 1974)
- Francis Moze - bass, piano (1972-1973)
- Laurie Allan - drums, percussion (1972-1973, 1974)
- Tim Blake - synthesizer, vocals (1972–1975, 1977, 1994, 2006)
- Mireille Bauer - percussion (1973-1976)
- Pierre Moerlen - drums, percussion (1973–1974, 1975–1976, 1977, 1997–1999)
- Steve Hillage - lead guitar, vocals (1973–1975, 1977, 2006, 2008–2012)
- Mike Howlett - bass, vocals (1973–1976, 1977, 1994–2001, 2006, 2008–2009)
- Bill Bruford - drums, percussion (1974)
- Chris Cutler - drums, percussion (1974)
- Miquette Giraudy - vocals, synthesizer (1974–1975, 1977, 2006, 2008–2012)
- Brian Davison - drums, percussion (1975)
- Dave Stewart - keyboards, synthesizer (1975)
- Jorge Pinchevsky - violin (1975-1976, 1977)
- Patrice Lemoine - keyboards, synthesizer (1975–1976, 1977)
- Sandy Colley - vocals (1976)
- Keith Bailey - bass, vocals (1990, 1992-1994)
- Stephan Lewry - lead guitar (1990, 1994-1998)
- Graham Clark - violin (1991-1992)
- Shamal Maïtra - percussion, synthesizer (1992-1994)
- Mark Hewins - lead guitar (1999)
- Mark Robson - synthesizer (1999-2000)
- Theo Travis - saxophone, flute (1999-2001, 2006, 2008-2010)
- Chris Taylor - drums, percussion (1999-2001, 2006, 2008-2012)
- Howard Scarr - synthesizer, guitar (2000-2001)
- Dharmawan Bradbridge - bass (2003-2004)
- Cotton Casino - synthesizer, vocals (2003-2004, 2007)
- Josh Pollock - lead guitar (2003-2004, 2007)
- 河端一 - lead guitar (2003-2004, 2007)
- Orlando Allen - drums, percussion (2003-2004, 2012-2014)
- 吉田達也 - drums, percussion (2004, 2007)
- 津山篤 - bass (2004, 2007)
- Fred Barley - drums, percussion (2007)
- Gabriel Costa - bass (2007)
- Marcelo Ringel - saxophone, flute (2007)
- Fabio Golfetti - lead guitar (2007, 2012-present)
- Dave Sturt - bass (2009-present)
- Ian East - saxophone, flute (2009-present)
- Cheb Nettles - drums, percussion (2014-present)
- Kavus Torabi - guitar, vocals (2014-present)
Albums:
-
Gong - Magick Brother
- 1969
- Progressive Rock
- France
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