The ever-metamorphosing entity that is GONG launches, as ever, into unknown – and unknowing – territory with a new tour for 2020, 2021, 2022 destined to be talked about, discussed, and argued over, up and down the land.
From its beginnings in a French commune in 1967, through the Virgin Records years, mismanagement, court cases, break-ups and re-joining’s, deaths and rebirths – there has always been a continuous thread of beautiful, dangerous and extraordinary music.
The current holders of the flame have come together over the last eight years; sinuous bass player Dave Sturt joined just as the album 2032 was shown to the world; Ian East (Sax, Flute) was the next to blow in through the portal; Fabio Golfetti brought his guitars from Brazil (after working with Daevid Allen for many years); Kavus Torabi (lead vox and guitars) appeared to Daevid in a vision; Cheb Nettles (drums) just sort of turned up.
In 2015, Daevid Allen passed away. His influence and legacy were honoured on the band’s subsequent album, Rejoice! I’m Dead! (2016). Over the past year GONG has performed with Steve Hillage Band (himself a former member of the 1970s GONG line-up) and released the critically acclaimed album The Universe Also Collapses (2019).
Gong’s musically diverse world includes shades of psychedelia, space rock, jazz, avant-garde, krautrock and surreal soundscapes.
“Postponing our November 2020 tour was the mother of all drags,” confesses Kavus Torabi. “But now we are having to postpone the rescheduled dates from May and September 2021 as well. We promised the transformation of utilitarian rooms across the country into shimmering psychedelic temples, bursting with radiance one and all, only to find ourselves all blindsided by an unprecedented metamorphosis.
Gong has no time for the old normal, so as we look towards 2022, let us unleash THE NEW ABNORMAL!
There’s a revolution coming and, by the gods, it’s going to need a soundtrack. Let us congregate, sing praises to the moon and love, love, love.”
GONG is:
Kavus Torabi: Vocals, Guitars
Dave Sturt: Bass
Ian East: Sax
Cheb Nettles: Drums
Fabio Golfetti: Guitars
GONG
This Is The Moment And Now Is The Time
UK TOUR – MARCH 2022
(rescheduled from November 2020 and May 2021)
Tue 01 BRIGHTON Chalk
Wed 02 SOUTHAMPTON 1865
Thu 03 READING Sub 89
Fri 04 GUILDFORD Boileroom
Sat 05 COLCHESTER Arts Centre
Tue 08 MANCHESTER Gorilla
Wed 09 GLASGOW Oran Mor
Thu 10 CARLISLE Brickyard
Sat 12 STOCKTON-ON-TEES Georgian Theatre
Sun 13 NORWICH Arts Centre
Mon 14 BURY St. EDMUNDS The Apex
Tue 15 BIRMINGHAM Hare and Hounds
Wed 16 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
Thu 17 NEWCASTLE Cluny
Fri 18 YORK Crescent
Sat 19 HEBDEN BRIDGE Trades Club
Sun 20 BETHESDA Neuadd Ogwen
Tue 22 EXETER Phoenix
Wed 23 BRISTOL Thekla
Thu 24 STROUD Sub Rooms
Fri 25 HITCHIN Club 85
Sat 26 RAMSGATE Music Hall
Time: 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
