The Official Gong thread

This is more or less a appreciation/discussion thread for Gong.  I just recently received the predecesser of the Trilogy, Camembert Electrique, in the mail yesterday, listening to it quite a bit. On my fifth spin or so now and I just realized today how important/influential this band is.  Specifically touching on Daevid Allens interesting life and guitarist Steve Hillage.  I know they have a great drummer, but i guess I don't know if he was influntial or anthing.  Gong blended many different musical styles; folk, jazz, space, psychadelic, nursery rhyme, techo/electronica, hard rock, zheul dance, and so on. 

In addition two styles way before it's time.  Punk rock and Rap.  Although I guess they weren't influential in it's creation, they just used the style in their music from time to time, just part of the weirdness of Gong in general. 

David Aellen, the most important figure in the band.  He was around at the beginning of The Soft Machine.  One the most important psychadelic bands along with Pink Floyd.  He was also politically active, having to leave the UK, because of some riot?? where he was seen on camera or something bla bla bla.  Sounds pretty punk rock to me, songs like You Can't Kill Me, helps me argue the point I think.  Allen also ebraces punk rock in his album Live Floating Anarchy.  He tours with Magma at the beginning of their career.  And you can hear it in their music on songs like, Dynamite: I am Your Animal. I also think they are similar in that they are both themed bands.  Not just conceptual music, but the band itself is a concept. ( I think what is also funny about Daevid Allen is he also quite a bit older than everyone else.  Wasn't he about 40 during the trilogy?).  I also think Gong has quite a bit of rapping in their music.  It isn't urban sounding like the rap you normally here, but it is definitely there.  Allen was a beatnik/poet, or you could say"rapper". 

Steve Hillage, pretty much a hippy guitar god, perfecting the space rock guitar sound.  He also helps the development of techno if I remember correctly.

I dont understand how a band this influential isn't more popular.  I would love to read a book on the history of this band.  All the stories I have heard are great; playing at the MOMA, acid trips, Allen not being able to go on stage, his anti cannabis bit, just so much fun stuff.  Maybe the drug references and influences were a little over the top.  Oh well, it's so f**king good though.

I just wish I could understand the rest of their catalog after the trilogy, so many side bands/project, bands with multiple Gong names.  It's a bit confusing. 

Now this thread can go anywhere it likes, post anything GONG here

I left my body on my bed
I flew away inside my head
To dive right through the moon and find
A perfect world inside my mind
I want to take you there
Smiling through your hair

That is why I sing this song
And why there is a band called Gong
Voices in our heads are calling
Ringing bells and singing tales of
How this world could be
If only we could learn to melt together
Make such lovely weather

Maybe we will blow it like in bygone ages
Maybe we will make it if we care
You'll be there
We'll be there - love...

Love is how you live it
Love is how you give it
Love is how you make it
Love is how you take it
First you make it with your body
Everything you give to share
When you come together then you're
One with lovers everywhere, everywhere...

Give a little wink, give a little wink
You know...

You know just who the pot head pixies are
Have a little drink...

Aaron

yes

Aaron

Gong = Excellent! Though I like their Jazz-Rock stuff better than their space-fusion stuff.

Gazeuse is my favorite by them!

Helllo, I am Daevid Allen and this thread is illegal, I must ask you to remove it immediately, as you have not asked any of the band for official approval.















































Sorry, I had to!

I've got the trilogy, I've only heard Flying Teapot so far, I'm not sure if I like it yet.


Edited by Geck0

i love the songs magdalene, wise man in your heart and the pot head pixies got most of their albums very cool stuff they ought to be discussed more!!!

 

Have Cambert and The Trilogy, and it is awesome. By far some of the trippiest and wackiest music ever recorded. Every member of the band had a unique and wacky personality that was part of the music's equation. Anyone wan't to share stories about the band? I heard their Saxaphonist lived in a cave, and they found him there.

I was thinking about getting some Gong this week. The guy at the shop showed me the CD cover of Acid Motherhood which looked completely hideous.

Well I shouldn´t judge a book by it´s cover I suppose but that cover was just too much!

when a young robert wyatt was only 14, his parents let two beatniks crash at there house for a while. one of which was daevid alllen, who greatly influenced the teenager and eventually got him into music.

Aaron wrote: i have a DVD of them from 1990, it's great but does suffer from early 90's lameness.  I would love to see a video of them live in the 70's, anyone ever seen one, anyone here seen them live, what was it like Aaron

I still didn't find yet any 70's concert from them, but my friend Christophe owns a little gem on VHS tape, he recorded from a french TV about 10 years ago. "L'oeil du cyclone".
This short extract -5 minutes ?- shows a piece of a 1973 french report in the Gong commune!!!

There's a Daevid Allen interview in the kitchen in the early morning where he smokes a big pipe. We can see familiar plants growing outside!!

Bloomdido is playing saxo in the woods.

The most amazing moment is Angel's eggs repetitions in studio!!!!
It lasts only one minute maybe, but what a kick!!!
Tim Blake doing his synthe effects, Captain Capricorn singing with its strange look and make up...

Another funny moment is when they interview the old peasants who live in the community's village, about their weird neigbours: "They are not like us, are they interested in "Le tour de France""? I don't think so!

It means that a full TV broadcast exists, from which this extract was coming from. One day will be released on DVD maybe!

Edited by oliverstoned

Gong had a lot of top-notch musicians - drummer Pierre Moerlen and sax/flute player Didier Malherbe are second to none, and Steve Hillage on guitar and Mike Howlett on bass aren't slouches either.