Who Was David Thomas? All About Rock Band Pere Ubu Frontman Following His Death at 71

Trigger Warning: Mention of death.

David Thomas, Pere Ubu frontman and avant-rock pioneer, dies at 71. The music icon is remembered for his creative rebelliousness and lasting musical legacy.

Thomas, the enigmatic and uncompromising frontman, passed away on Wednesday as a result of a long-term illness. Pere Ubu announced his death on Wednesday through Facebook, revealing that he passed away in his hometown of Brighton & Hove after a prolonged illness. He was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his death.

The announcement movingly added that music by MC5 was playing on the radio when he died. The statement read, "He will ultimately be returned to his home, the farm in Pennsylvania, where he insisted he was to be ‘thrown in the barn.’"

A key architect of underground rock, Thomas gained prominence in the mid-1970s playing with Rocket From the Tombs, a proto-punk group from Cleveland, Ohio. Thomas then joined Pere Ubu, a group that broke free beyond the common norms of traditional rock in the direction of the "avant-garage" fusion, as they described.

Pere Ubu's most productive period was between 1975 and 1982. The band put out 19 studio albums over the decades and grew its catalog to more than 40 releases through Bandcamp, many of them live recordings. Thomas kept on performing and recording for decades. His artistic endeavors also extended to solo activities.

Under the band, Thomas had just spent the last period of his time creating what he was certain was going to be his last record. As per the band's Facebook statement, "David Thomas and his band have been recording a new album. He knew it was to be his last. We will endeavor to continue with mixing and finalizing the new album so that his last music is available to all."

"Aside from that, he left instructions that the work should continue to catalog 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," the statement added.

Prior to entering the music world, David Thomas was also a journalist and columnist under the pseudonym Crocus Behemoth. He is survived by his wife and children.

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