Daevid Allen

If you're of a similar vintage to me, chances are that I can name two LPs that, at some point in your youth, made an appearance in your record collection, however briefly. 'The Faust Tapes' and Gong's 'Camembert Electrique' were both marketed by Virgin at 59p each, the price of a single, and were gratefully snapped up by fiscally challenged kids the length and breadth of the country. These two records (along with the Sunset budget reissue of Amon Düül II's 'Phallus Dei') became early far-out favourites for me and my little gang of musical adventurers. We weren't always sure what exactly was going on within the grooves of these LPs, but we were totally thrilled by the strange new noises we were hearing.

There are no doubt a few battered old copies of 'Camembert Electrique' being dug out and dusted off today, following yesterday's sad statement from Daevid Allen, original Gong main man and co-founder of The Soft Machine. In case you haven't seen it, I quote this from his website;

'Hello you Kookaburras, 

OK so I have had my PET-CAT scans (which is essentially a full body viewing gallery for cancer specialists) and so it is now confirmed that the invading cancer has returned to successfully establish dominant residency in my neck. The original surgery took much of it out, but the cancer has now recreated itself with renewed vigor while also spreading to my lung. The cancer is now so well established that I have now been given approximately six months to live. 

So My view has Changed: I am not interested in endless surgical operations and in fact it has come as a relief to know that the end is in sight. 

I am a great believer in "The Will of the Way Things Are" and I also believe that the time has come to stop resisting and denying and to surrender to the way it is. 

I can only hope that during this journey, I have somehow contributed to the happiness in the lives of a few other fellow humans. 

I believe I have done my best to heal, dear friends and that you have been enormously helpful in supporting me through this time So Thank you SO much for being there with me, for the Ocean of Love and Now, importantly, Thank you for starting the process of letting go of me, of mourning then transforming and celebrating this death coming up - this is how you can contribute, this would be a great gift from those emotionally and spiritually involved with me. I love you and will be with you always - Daevid xxx -'

Awful news indeed. We can only send good vibes, hope for a miracle and celebrate the music Allen leaves us with. Here's a fantastic piece of footage from 1973, featuring a live performance of 'I Never Glid Before', originally released on that year's 'Angel's Egg' LP.