David Thomas, best known as the frontman of the eclectic post-punk group Pere Ubu, died Wednesday, April 23. He was 71. According to a post on the band’s website, Thomas passed away “after a long illness” in his current hometown of Brighton and Hove, U.K.
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The message also revealed that his wife and youngest step-daughter were by his side when he died, and “MC5 were playing on the radio.” The note added, “He will ultimately be returned to his home, the farm in Pennsylvania, where he insisted he was to be ‘thrown in the barn.’”
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In addition, the post revealed that Thomas had been recording a new album with Pere Ubu that he “knew it was to be his last.” The surviving members plan to mix and finalize the project for release. David also had almost completed an autobiography that will be finished for him. Thomas also left instruction that tapes of Pere Ubu’s live shows should continued to be catalogued via the group’s official Bandcamp page.
The announcement concluded, “We’ll leave you with his own words, which sums up who he was better than we can – ‘My name is David F—ing Thomas… and I’m the lead singer of the best f—ing rock and roll band in the world.’ Long Live Pere Ubu.”
About Thomas’ Music Career
In 1974, Thomas co-founded the influential proto-punk band Rocket from the Tombs in Cleveland. At the time, David used the stage name Crocus Behemoth. The short-lived group featured future members of both Pere Ubu and famed punk band The Dead Boys. Songs written by Thomas and other members of Rocket from the Tombs were recorded by Pere Ubu and The Dead Boys.
Among the most famous Rocket from the Tombs songs co-written by Thomas was “Sonic Reducer,” which The Dead Boys recorded for their 1977 debut album, Young, Loud and Snotty. The song has been covered by dozens of other artists, including Pearl Jam, Patti Smith, and The Dictators.
Thomas co-founded Pere Ubu in 1975. The band incorporated an eclectic mix of influences, including art rock, hard rock, avant-garde jazz into its quirky, edgy songs. David was known for his high-pitched, nasal vocals and eccentric stage persona.
After the band’s initial breakup in 1982, Thomas released albums with a variety of side bands. He re-formed Pere Ubu in 1987 and continued to record and tour with the band on and off for the rest of his life.
Pere Ubu’s only chart success came in 1989, when the band’s single “Waiting for Mary” from the Cloudland album reached No. 6 on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart.
Among the many side projects David recorded with over the years were David Thomas & the Pedestrians, David Thomas & His Legs, David Thomas & the Wooden Birds, David Thomas & Foreigners, and David Thomas & Two Pale Boys. Thomas released five studio albums with Two Pale Boys, which featured guitarist Keith Moliné and trumpet player Andy Diagram. Moliné and Diagram also played in Pere Ubu.
From 2003 to 2017, Thomas also performed and recorded with a re-formed version of Rocket from the Tombs.
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