- 69-year-old Dave Allen, earlier bassist, succumbs to death
Hey there! Let’s talk about Dave Allen, the brilliant bassist from the post-punk band Gang of Four. Sadly, he kicked the bucket at 69. His mates posted about it on social media.
According to the announcement, Dave passed away at his house in Portland on Saturday morning, with his family by his side. No specific reason for his demise was provided, but it was mentioned that Dave had been fighting a type of mixed dementia for a while, making it a bloody tough time for his wife Paddy, his kids, and those closest to him.
A Last Laugh-Filled Afternoon Together
The band also shared a heartwarming story about their final afternoon together. Drummer Hugo Burnham (69) and frontman Jon King (69) visited Dave and his family. They spent hours catching up, sharing jokes, and reminiscing about the good ol' days, their careers, families, and lives spanning half a century.
Burnham expressed his gratitude, stating that "We were luckier than hell to have this Bass Ace in our lives." The post concluded by acknowledging that Dave had always wished to hit the stage with the band during their Portland shows on their farewell tour, but it looks like that’s now too much to ask for.
Pioneers of Post-Punk
Though not an original member, Dave replaced bassist Dave Wolfson after a few gigs in Gang of Four, which has been rocking since 1977. "Entertainment!", their debut album, arrived in 1979 and is considered one of the most impactful albums in post-punk history. In 1981, Dave left the band to form Shriekback, but he rejoined Gang of Four for four years in 2004. Most recently, he was grooving with Apple Music.
- Portland
- Social Media
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Social media announced Dave Allen's passing in Portland on a Saturday morning.Dave Allen spent his final days in Portland, surrounded by his family, before his battle with dementia took his life.The remaining members of Gang of Four planned to perform in Portland, hoping to share the stage one last time with Dave Allen.