David Thomas (musician)

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David Thomas
David Thomas in 2009
David Thomas in 2009
Background information
Birth nameDavid Lynn Thomas
Born1953 (age 70–71)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
GenresRock, punk rock, experimental rock, post-punk, art punk, garage rock, proto-punk
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1974–present
Websitecrocusbehemoth.com

David Lynn Thomas (born 1953

melodeon, trombone
, musette, guitar or other instruments.

Thomas has a distinctive, high pitched voice; Emerson Dameron described Thomas's singing as "James Stewart trapped in an oboe",[3] and Greil Marcus writes, "Mr Thomas's voice is that of a man muttering in a crowd. You think he's talking to himself until you realize he's talking to you."[4]

Biography

Thomas was an early member of

Pere Ubu
, which was originally active from 1975 to 1982.

Afterwards, Thomas worked with a variety of musicians including guitarists Richard Thompson and Philip Moxham, and Henry Cow alumni bassonist/oboist Lindsay Cooper and drummer Chris Cutler. Initially, his solo recordings eschewed Pere Ubu's "rock" focus. Lindsay Cooper's bassoon was often prominent, and, when Richard Thompson's guitar was not featured, the guitar would be absent (such as the entirety of 1985's More Places Forever). Thomas's lyrics became increasingly whimsical, and birds became a common theme:

Somewhere along the line, I wrote a song that had birds in it. And then by pure coincidence, another. Some critic asked, "Why all these songs about birds?" And I said to myself, "You think that's a lot of songs about birds?!? I'll show you a lot of songs about birds!" So, for a while, I stuck birds in everywhere I could.[5]

Eventually, several former members of Pere Ubu gravitated into Thomas's group, and by the time of 1987's Blame the Messenger, were sporting a sound distinctly similar to the former band. This fact along with other considerations led directly into the official reformation of Pere Ubu in 1987, and the group has remained active to the present day.

Thomas appears to have been at one point a Jehovah's Witness,[6] an affiliation that has been reflected lyrically in the final song of Pere Ubu's 1979 album New Picnic Time, originally titled "Jehovah's Kingdom Come!"[7] However, in subsequent releases of the album, the song has been re-titled "Hand A Face A Feeling" and then "Kingdom Come";[8] in the albums' lyric sheet, maintained by Thomas on Pere Ubu's official website, the titular line has been changed to "God's Kingdom Come";[9] the song itself has been re-mixed to remove references to Jehovah.

Current solo career

Thomas's solo activities were diminished, though not extinguished, by the reformation of Pere Ubu. Throughout the 1980s, Thomas maintained a rotating trio dubbed the Accordion Club, which at various times included

melodeon
. Says Thomas:

Pere Ubu is a big rock experience, often overwhelming in its power and intensity of dataflow. It's a Hollywood

cinemascopic screen. Projects like the [Two Pale Boys] are intended as indy arthouse films.[11]

Thomas typically has a large number of ongoing projects at any one time. He has performed in theatrical productions, including several productions by

Frank Black, George Wendt, and Syd Straw. In 2010 he performed with the backing of Australian band The Holy Soul
.

Most recently he has alternated recording and performances primarily between Pere Ubu, David Thomas and Two Pale Boys, and the reunited Rocket from the Tombs.

Discography

David Thomas on stage at Band On The Wall, Manchester, April 18, 2013

Albums

With Pere Ubu

  • See
    Pere Ubu Discography

David Thomas & the Pedestrians

David Thomas & His Legs

David Thomas & the Wooden Birds

David Thomas & Foreigners

David Thomas & Two Pale Boys

With Unknown Instructors

David Thomas and P.O. Jørgens

  • Live Free or Diet (CD, LP 2017)

EPs

Compilations

  • Monster
     (1997)

Contributions

References

  1. ^ "Lyrics to Story of My Life". www.ubuprojex.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  2. ^ Yarborough, Chuck (January 11, 2019). "Pere Ubu's 'straight line' from '75 to today brings band home for Beachland gig". The Plain Dealer.
  3. ^ "Dusted Reviews: Pere Ubu – Why I Hate Women". Dustedmagazine.com. September 15, 2006. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  4. ^ "disinformation | pere ubu: datapanik in the year 00". Disinfo.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  5. ^ "Reissues: Frequently Asked Questions". Ubuprojex.net. Archived from the original on April 11, 2009. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  6. ^ "Allen Ravenstine interview by Jason Gross". Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  7. ^ Moody, Rick (July 11, 2012). "Kingdom Come: Pere Ubu's New Picnic Time". New Music USA. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  8. ^ "Discogs New Picnic Time release page". Discogs. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  9. ^ "Pere Ubu Lyrics: New Picnic Time". Ubu Projex. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  10. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions concerning: DAVID THOMAS AND TWO PALE BOYS". Archived from the original on October 1, 2008.
  11. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions concerning: DAVID THOMAS AND TWO PALE BOYS". Archived from the original on October 31, 2007.
  12. ^ "Mirror Man, in two acts". Ubuprojex.net. Archived from the original on August 27, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  13. ^ Huddle, Mark (September 7, 2007). "Interview: Joe Baiza and Dan McGuire of Unknown Instructors". Verbicide Magazine. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Thomas (musician).
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