David Thomas obit

Tributes paid after Pere Ubu’s David Thomas dies, aged 71: “A true pioneer of the avant-garde”

He had been living with a "long illness" 

He was not on the list.

Pere Ubu frontman David Thomas has died, aged 71.

The musician, who also performed with Rocket From The Tombs, and made numerous solo projects, passed away in his home town of Brighton & Hove yesterday (Wednesday April 23).

The news was shared via a statement on the official Pere Ubu page on Facebook, which said Thomas died after a “long illness”. His wife and youngest step-daughter were by his side.

“MC5 were playing on the radio,” the message continued. “He will ultimately be returned to his home, the farm in Pennsylvania, where he insisted he was to be ‘thrown in the barn’.”

Thomas, born in Florida in 1953 but based in the UK, was the only member to have stayed with Pere Ubu throughout the post-punk group’s lengthy career. They formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975.

“David Thomas and his band have been recording a new album. He knew it was to be his last,” the official statement added. “We will endeavour to continue with mixing and finalising the new album so that his last music is available to all.”

Pere Ubu frontman David Thomas has died, aged 71.

The musician, who also performed with Rocket From The Tombs, and made numerous solo projects, passed away in his home town of Brighton & Hove yesterday (Wednesday April 23).

The news was shared via a statement on the official Pere Ubu page on Facebook, which said Thomas died after a “long illness”. His wife and youngest step-daughter were by his side.

“MC5 were playing on the radio,” the message continued. “He will ultimately be returned to his home, the farm in Pennsylvania, where he insisted he was to be ‘thrown in the barn’.”

Thomas, born in Florida in 1953 but based in the UK, was the only member to have stayed with Pere Ubu throughout the post-punk group’s lengthy career. They formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975.

“David Thomas and his band have been recording a new album. He knew it was to be his last,” the official statement added. “We will endeavour to continue with mixing and finalising the new album so that his last music is available to all.”

Pere Ubu released their 19th and most recent studio album, ‘Trouble On Big Beat Street’, in 2023. They played their latest live show in July that same year, in Pisa, Italy (per Setlist.FM).

In late 2017, the band cancelled a run of US shows due to Thomas’ health issues. “David insisted on continuing the tour but his doctors have insisted he stays where he is for the moment,” a statement read at the time.