Sad news today although I guess we knew it was coming, the art of David Thomas, his thrilling music, his almost unique way of doing things will do all the talking, we really don’t need too many word to celebrate a rather productive life and one fine legacy. David Lynn Thomas, lead singer of Pere Ubu, Rocket From The Tombs and multiple solo projex, has died after a long illness.
This from the Pere Ubu Facebook page
“On Wednesday, April 23 2025, he died in his home town of Brighton and Hove, with his wife and youngest step-daughter by his side. MC5 were playing on the radio. He will ultimately be returned to his home, the farm in Pennsylvania, where he insisted he was to be “thrown in the barn.”
David Thomas and his band have been recording a new album. He knew it was to be his last. We will endeavour to continue with mixing and finalising the new album so that his last music is available to all. Aside from that, he left instruction that the work should continue to catalogue all the tapes from live shows via the official bandcamp page. His autobiography was nearly completed and we will finish that for him. Pere Ubu’s Patreon will continue as a community, run by communex.
We’ll leave you with his own words, which sums up who he was better than we can –
“My name is David Fucking Thomas… and I’m the lead singer of the best fucking rock n roll band in the world.” (Frigo Documentary)”
David Thomas, June 14 1953 – April 23 2025. Long Live Pere Ubu”
Alan knew him far better than we did, although my exchanged with David echo Alan’s…
“Very sad news, another great – one of the greatest – has left us. Pere Ubu were probably my all time favourite group. I had the pleasure of having dinner with David once and he was both charming and witty, as he was on other occasions we met. I last saw Pere Ubu just before Covid, and although he performed from a wheelchair, David was in as fine a voice as ever. He was not one to give up.” Alan Holmes (musician)
Previously on these pages…
Pere Ubu filmed live in Los Angeles performing “Birdies” for “Urgh! A Music War” (1981).
THE ORGAN 