David Thomas of Pere Ubu Has Died At Age 71: R.I.P.

Today we mourn the passing of the great David Thomas, founding member of Pere Ubu. Thomas died at home in Brighton at the age of 71.

Pere Ubu was one of the great unsung bands of all time and Thomas was the creative force that kept them going from their inception in Cleveland, Ohio in 1975 until Thomas’ death yesterday.

Their album, The Modern Dance, released in February of 1978, is one of a handful of truly innovative and groundbreaking debut albums.

I had the pleasure of bringing Pere Ubu to Rochester, New York, on March 23, 1978 along with labelmates The Suicide Commandos for what was billed as “Rochester’s First Punk Concert“.

Pere Ubu Poster

And then, in 2009, I had the opportunity to interview David Thomas by phone to discuss the release of his latest project “Long Live Pere Ubu“.

Long Live Pere Ubu

Here is a segment of that interview where Thomas discusses the current state of Punk and what he would do if elected into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame:

As a special treat, I’ve gone through my archives and found the two 30-minute sets Pere Ubu played at that show in Rochester back in 1978. Its a surprisingly good sounding recording, if I do say so myself. Give it a listen…and do The Modern Dance.

Marty Duda

Pere Ubu Live 1978 Set 1:

Pere Ubu Live 1978 Set 2:

 

Here is a statement posted on the Pere Ubu Facebook page.

David Thomas, June 14 1953 – April 23 2025.
David Lynn Thomas, lead singer of Pere Ubu, Rocket From The Tombs and multiple solo projex, has died after a long illness.
On Wednesday, April 23 2025, he died in his home town of Brighton & 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 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.
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)
Long Live Pere Ubu.

 

Marty Duda
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