Daevid Allen

by William Ruhlmann
Daevid Allen was one of the founders of the British progressive rock band the Soft Machine in 1966. After recording just one album with the group, he became the founder/leader of Gong, which he left in 1973 to begin a solo career (though his first solo album, Banana Moon, was released in 1971 while he was still in the group). Allen explored his quirky, folky take on rock throughout the 70s and 80s on albums like 1976s Good Morning and 1983s Alien in New York. His solo work also included collaborations with underground rock impresario Kramer like 1993s Whos Afraid? and 1996s Hit Men, which was released on Kramers Shimmy Disc label. Allen returned in 1999 with Money Doesnt Make It, followed a year later by Stroking the Tail of the Bird. Nectans Glen also followed in 2000. In 2003 Allen formed a new version of Gong with members of the Japanese collective known as Acid Mothers Temple, as well as playing and releasing material with his California-based band University of Errors. He continues to release numerous live sets and one-off collaborations in limited editions on various independent labels under his own and various group names. A best-of, Man From Gong, which only scratches the surface of his lengthy discography, appeared from Snapper Music in 2006.