Gong's roots can be searched back to Easter of 1966. Eclectic vocalist/guitarist foresaw his future career with both Soft Machine and Gong (Allen talks about this in his recent autobiography, 'Gong Dreaming').
Being fired from Soft Machine 1967, Daevid Allen settled in Paris with his partner Gilli Smyth, and for the next couple of years worked with many lineups, the most stable of which was Bananamoon.
The name Gong was first used in 1969, by which time the group of musicians gathered around Allen included former free-jazz saxophone player Didier Malherbe, and session musicians Christian Tritsch (guitar/bass) and Rachid Houari (drums/percussion). Together, they recorded the first Gong album, "Magick Brother/Mystick Sister". The music was still very primitive compared to later albums, but hinted on Allen's style and sense of humor.
1970 brought more unreleased music. The tapes recorded during that period were only released in 1994 on the `Camembert Eclectique' CD. The band became stable with the addition of drummer Pip Pyle (of Hatfield and the North fame), in early 1971. Pyle had been introduced to Allen by Robert Wyatt during the recording of Allen's solo album, "Banana Moon", and ended up playing on one track of that album.
With the now settled line-up of Allen, Smyth, Malherbe, Tritsch and Pyle, the band retired to the Château d'Hérouville (near Pontoise) to record `Camembert Electrique' (this was only released in France). The tracks: "You Can't Kill Me", "Dynamite/I Am Your Animal" or "Fohat Digs Holes In Space" have remained in the band's setlists to this day.
In the autumn of 1971, Gong toured France and England extensively, reinforced by Kevin Ayers, Allen's old pal from the Soft Machine days. By December 1971, Pyle had gone back to England and had been replaced by Laurie Allan!
Later in 1972, major changes affected Gong's line-up. Christian Tritsch decided to concentrate on guitar; Bill MacCormick of Matching Mole was added briefly, then replaced by ex-Magma Frenchman Francis Moze. Meanwhile, Tim Blake was added on synthesizer, which brought a whole new dimension to the band's sound. Following a jam in Fontaineblau with Kevin Ayers' band, which then included Steve Hillage as lead guitarist, Didier Malherbe offered Hillage to join, which he did in replacement of Tritsch. With this new line-up (reinforced by Rachid Houari on percussion), Gong recorded what was the be the first installment of the 'Radio Gnome Invisible' trilogy for which Gong is most fondly remembered by its fans.
`Flying Teapot,' introduced the characters of the Planet Gong (Zero The Hero and The Yoni Witch (aliases for Allen and Smyth), The Pot-Head Pixies and The Octave Doctors.
The `Teapot' sessions were almost immediately followed by a new split. Moze and Allan left, the first to do session work in Paris and the second to go back to England (where he briefly rejoined Steve Miller's Delivery).
A new rhythm section of Didier Thibault (formerly of Moving Gelatine Plates) and Pierre Moerlen (a classical-trained percussionist straight out of the Strasbourg conservatory) was recruited as the band started to include a more jazz-fusion. Meanwhile, Thibault was replaced by yet another British exile, Mike Howlett.
Shortly, after working on solo material, Allen and Smyth returned to Gong for a headlining UK tour. Work soon started on the second trilogy album.
`Angel's Egg, successfully fused all the musical elements brought by both the new recruits and the old members, from Blake's synthesizer bubbles to Moerlen's tight and sophisticated drumming, from Malherbe's multicoloured sax and flute leads, to Hillage's wild cosmic guitar soloing, not forgetting Allen's typical vocal delivery and superior glissando guitar layers, and Smyth's evocative space whispers.
Pierre Moerlen, still hesitant whether to carry on with Gong or resume his classical activities, left in late 1973, he was replaced by a variety of temporary drummers including Laurie Allan, Rob Tait and Diane Stewart. By now, Gong was starting to enjoy a high level of popularity in France, and toured constantly. Recordings of these shows later resurfaced as the "Live At The Bataclan" and "Live At Sheffield" CD's, not to mention those used on the double live set, "Live Etc." from 1977.
With Moerlen eventually back in the line-up, Gong recorded what is considered as one of the ultimate space-rock classics, `You,' (spawning such live favourties as "Master Builder" and "Isle Of Everywhere
Meanwhile, Moerlen left again and was replaced in September 1974 by Laurie Allan, then Bill Bruford (jobless following the breakup of King Crimson) and eventually Brian Davison, formerly of The Nice and Refugee.
With Gong developing to an instrumental band, not only Allen but also Smyth and Blake grew dissatisfied and left as well. Smyth was replaced by Miquette Giraudy, Hillage's girlfriend. The position of keyboard player remained vacant for a while although Dave Stewart of Hatfield and the North (which broke up in June, 1975) helped out for a few gigs. Virgin records urged Pierre Moerlen to again rejoin and take over from Allen as the band's leader with Didier Malherbe, which he did. At first, Hillage and Giraudy wanted to take over from Allen and Smyth, but their attempts proved unsuccessful and all references to the myths of stories of the Planet Gong were abandoned for a jazzier approach.
A new 1975 line-up of Gong resurfaced in the autumn of, Malherbe, Hillage, Moerlen, Howlett, Mireille Bauer (percussion) and Patrice Lemoine (keyboards), was mostly instrumental-based. By the year's end, though, Hillage had lost faith in the band and, encouraged by the success of his first solo album "Fish Rising", decided to leave and embark on a solo career. He nevertheless took part in the sessions for the new album in December 1975. Also featured on `Shamal' were Argentinian violinist Jorge Pinchevksy, and Sandy Colley (vocals).
`Shamal' was quite successful in forging a completely new musical direction for Gong, leaving behind the spacey style and combining ethnic, jazz and percussion-based sophistication. The album was an unexpected commercial success selling over 100,000 copies.
By mid-1976, Malherbe and Moerlen were the only members of the 'classic' line-up still in the band. Under their influence, Gong's music became even more complex and jazz-oriented than previously, with new recruits like Allan Holdsworth (guitars), Francis Moze, Mino Cinelu, and Benoît Moerlen all primarily jazz players. They recorded `Gazeuse!' (1977), a less consistent album The line-up was shortlived, breaking up immediately after the sessions, in late 1976. Moerlen and Moze couldn't get along together, and Moerlen ultimately went back to Strasbourg, forming a new line-up there with Mireille Bauer and his brother Benoît creating Pierre Moerlen's Gong.
Many names including Pierre Moerlen's Gong, Daevid Allen's Planet Gong, New York Gong and Gongmaison, and Gilli Smyth's Mother Gong were used in numerous and confusing line-ups and styles.
In 1990 as part of the Bedrock TV concert series, Allen, Smyth, Malherbe, Pyle, Steffi Sharpstrings, Keith Missile and Twink Electron Flo appeared on BBC bring classic member of Gong together for a reunion.
During these times, Gong was effectively reborn when original drummer Pip Pyle, was asked to overdub drum parts to the recordings made by Gongmaison. The result was the album `Shapeshifter,' (released only in Europe at the time) in September 1992. This was followed by a tour, the set list of which included some Gong classics from as far back as `Camembert Electrique'.
In October, 1994, Gong celebrated its 25th birthday with a 'classic' line-up of the band (Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Didier Malherbe, Tim Blake, Mike Howlett, with Pip Pyle and Steffi Sharpstrings replacing Pierre Moerlen and Steve Hillage respectively) together playing the whole 'Radio Gnome' trilogy, but also countless Gong-related groups and artists performing one after the other on the same stage. This 'festival' was documented on the Voiceprint/GAS release, `The Birthday Concert' (1995). Mike Howlett rejoined the group on a permanent basis. Gong's first proper tour of the US, in March 1996, followed by yet another one to celebrate the American release of `Shapeshifter.'
In November, Gong was back touring Europe. After a pause of a few months, a slightly altered line-up (with Pierre Moerlen returning again), Gong toured in 1997 for shows in Japan, North America and Britain. A French tour followed in May 1998.
Iin June 1999, Allen, Smyth, Howlett and Moerlen were joined by Mark Hewins (guitars) and Theo Travis (sax/flute). Moerlen quit only two dates into the European tour and was replaced by Chris Taylor, and Didier Malherbe rejoined for the subsequent American tour, including appearances at Prog festivals in San Francisco and Mexico City.
As Gong entered the studio in September 1999, it was decided that Malherbe would only join Gong for special occasions, and both Travis and Taylor were confirmed as new members. The band premiered material from the upcoming album at a couple of gigs in October, most notably an appearance at the Nancy Jazz Pulsations festival with Magma and Soup Songs.
`Zero To Infinity', presented as the fifth installment of the 'Radio Gnome Invisible' saga, was released in March 2000, followed by the band's most intensive touring schedule for many years. A new member, keyboardist Gwyo Zepix from the electronic trio Zorch, was added to the line-up. The group toured American and European September to November 2000.
In the past few years, Daevid has released some a diverse solo album, varying from ambient spacey, to classic jazz to Celtic.
On May 4, 2005, drummer and band leader - Pierre Moerlen: died in his sleep at his home in Strasbourg. He was 53 years old. . Our sincere condolences to the Moerlen family.
In 2005, Gong released a live album, and a UK compilation.
After 40 years of the music business in uncoutable recarnations and offshoots of Gong, the band is currently working on a brand new forward-looking album called 2032 - supposedly thr year that the Planet Gong makes full contact with the Planet Earth - and a major new chapter in the continually evolving Gong mythology. The album is due to be released in September 2009. Gong will be headlining Nearfest during the summer of 2009.
Gong biography: courtesy of: Aymeric Leroy (modified a bit by me)
Gong discography
1969 Magick Brother-Gong (BYG LP)
1970 Est-ce-que je suis-Gong (BYG 7)
1971 Camembert Electrique-Gong (BYG LP)
1971 Continental Circus-Gong (Phillips LP)
1971 Obsolete-Gong w/Dashiell Hedeyat (Shandar LP)
1972 Glastonbury Fayre (Revelation 3LP-1 side live Gong)
1972 Live at Dingwalls-Greasy Truckers Vol 1 (Island 2LP-1 side live Gong)
1973 The Radio Gnome Invisible, Pt 1: Flying Teapot-Gong (Virgin LP)
1974 Angel_s Egg-Gong (Virgin LP)
1974 You-Gong (Virgin LP)
1976 Shamal-Gong (Virgin LP)
1977 Gazeuse!-Gong (Virgin LP)
1977 Gong Est Morte, Vive Gong-Gong (Celluloid LP)
1977 Live Etc.-Gong(Virgin 2LP)
1978 Live Floating Anarchy '77-Planet Gong (Charly LP)
1978 Opium For The People-Planet Gong (Charly 7)
1979 Much Too Old-New York Gong (Charly 7)
1979 Jungle Windo(w)-New York Gong (Charly 10)
1980 About Time-New York Gong (Charly LP)
1989 The History & The Mystery Of Planet G**g (Demi Monde 2LP)
1990 Live in Paris 73-Gong (Mantra 2LP)
1990 Live At Sheffield 1974-Gong (Mantra LP)
1991 Gongmaison-Gongmaison (Demi Monde CD/LP)
1992 Shapeshifter-Gong (Celluloid CD)
1993 Live On TV 1990-Gong (Code 90 CD)
1995 Camembert Eclectique-Gong (GAS CD)
1995 Live 1973-Paragong (GAS CD)
1995 25th Birthday Party-Gong (Voiceprint/GAS 2CD)
1995 Live at Glastonbury '89-Gongmaison (GAS CD)
1995 Pre-Modernist Wireless: The Peel Sessions-Gong (Strange Fruit CD)
1997 You Remixed-Gong (Gliss 2CD)
1997 A Sprinkling of Clouds-Gong (Gliss 12)
1998 Family Jewels-Gong (GAS 2CD)
2000 Zero To Infinity-Gong (One-Eyed Salmon CD)
2001: Live to Infinity (UK live album)
2003: The World of Daevid Allen and Gong (3 CD compilation including almost all of the Radio Gnome trilogy & early album tracks)
2004: Acid Motherhood
2005: I Am Your Egg (Mother Gong)
2006: Acid Mothers Gong Live Tokyo
2007: Mothergong O Amsterdam (Mother Gong)
2007: Sixty minutes with Gong
Daevid Allen Solo Discography
1970 Banana Moon - Daevid Allen BYG LP
1975 Fred the Fish - Daevid Allen Virgin 7" (promo)
1976 Good Morning - Daevid Allen and Euterpe Virgin LP
1977 Now is the Happiest Time of Your Life - Daevid Allen Affinity LP
1978 N'existe pas! - Daevid Allen Affinity LP
1982 Divided Alien Playbax 80 - Daevid Allen Charly LP
1982 Death of Rock and Other Entrances - Daevid Allen Shanghai 12" EP
1982 Ex/Don't Stop - Daevid Allen/David Tolley Shanghai LP
1983 Alien in New York - Daevid Allen Charly 12" EP
1989 The Owl and the Tree - Daevid Allen/Mothergong Demi Monde LP/CD
1990 Australia Aquaria - Daevid Allen Demi Monde LP/CD
1990 Stroking the Tail of the Bird - Allen/Smyth/Williamson Amp CD
1991 The Australian Years - Daevid Allen Voiceprint LP/CD
1991 The Seven Drones - Daevid Allen Voiceprint CD
1992 Who's Afraid - Daevid Allen/Kramer Shimmy Disc LP/CD
1993 12 Selves - Daevid Allen Voiceprint CD
1995 Dreamin' a Dream - Daevid Allen GAS CD
1995 Hit Men - Daevid Allen/Kramer Shimmy Disc LP/CD
1998 22 Meanings - Daevid Allen/Harry Williamson Gliss CD
1998 Eat Me Baby I'm a Jellybean - Daevid Allen GAS CD
2001 Nectans Glen - Russell Hibbs & Daevid Allen Voiceprint CD
2001 Sacred Geometry - Micro Cosmic & Daevid Allen No Meat CD
2001 Australia Aquaria: She / Wild Child (2xCD, Comp) NMC Music
2002 Magick Brother (LP, Album, RE) Get Back
2004 Bards Of Byron Bay (CD, Album, Ltd) Bananamoon Obscura
2004 Brainville Live In The UK (CD, Album, Ltd) Bananamoon Obscura
2004 Divided Alien Playbax (Disk 1) (CD, Album, Ltd) Bananamoon Obscura
2004 Divided Alien Playbax (Disk 2) (CD, Album, Ltd) Bananamoon Obscura
2004 Gentle Genie (CD, Album) Voiceprint
2004 Live @ The Knitting Factory NYC (CD, Album, Ltd) Bananamoon Obscura
2004 Self Initiation (CD, Album, Ltd) Bananamoon Obscura
2004 Studio Rehearsal Tapes 1977 (CD, Album, Ltd) Bananamoon Obscura
2005 I Am Your Egg (CD, Album) Voiceprint 2005
2005 Live In 1988 - The Return (2xCD, Album) Voiceprint
2005 Altered States Of Alien KWISP (CD, Album, Ltd) Bananamoon Obscura
2006 Dævid Solo @ The Axiom Cheltenham 1998 (CD, Album, Ltd) Bananamoon Obscura
2006 Glissando Grooves (CD, Album, Ltd) Bananamoon Obscura
2006 Radio Art 1984 (CD, Album, Mixed, Ltd) Bananamoon Obscura
2006 The Mystery Disque (Das Duz Dae Duz Das) (CD, Album, Ltd) Bananamoon Obscura
2007 Good Morning (CD, Album, RM, RE) 2007
