Dave Allen, Bass Player for Influential Postpunk Band Gang of Four, Dies at 69

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Sadly, Dave Allen, a renowned bassist from the influential post-punk band Gang of Four, has passed away. His unique playing style was a defining characteristic of their music.

On Saturday, April 5, Dave Allen, a renowned musician and cherished bandmate, passed away at the age of 69. Jon King and Hugo Burnham shared this sad news in a social media post, stating, “With hearts heavy but filled with memories, we announce the passing of our dear friend and music partner, Dave Allen. He peacefully departed on Saturday morning, surrounded by his family.

For quite some time now, Dave has been battling early-stage mixed dementia, a challenging period for his beloved wife Paddy, kids, and close companions. In this heartrending phase, our sympathies are with them. Jon and I (Hugo) paid him a visit, enjoying a delightful afternoon with the family. We reminisced, joked, and swapped stories about our past times together for hours on end. Our memories ranged from shared escapades, careers in music, bringing up families, and the decades-long connection between us. It’s been an immense privilege to have Dave, the Ace of Bass, as part of our lives.

It’s clear Dave would have cherished the chance to join us once more on stage during our final US tour in Portland. Unfortunately, that dream is no longer attainable. Farewell, dear companion.

After several performances, Gang of Four replaced their original bassist Dave Wolfson, with Allen joining the band which initially consisted of Andy Gill on guitar, King, and Burnham. Allen’s funky bass style, contrasting with Gill’s edgy guitar, quickly gave Gang of Four a unique sound that was easily identifiable. Their debut album Entertainment!, released in 1979, was critically acclaimed, even if it didn’t sell well commercially. It is considered a cornerstone of the postpunk genre and has influenced many bands such as R.E.M., Nirvana, and more. Critics often rank Entertainment! among the best albums of the 1970s, and it made Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Apart from Gang of Four, Allen was involved in their second long-play album titled “Solid Gold”, as well as two extended plays: a 1980 EP without a title, commonly referred to as the “Yellow EP” due to its sleeve color, and 1982’s “Another Day/Another Dollar”. After departing from the band, he later rejoined King, Gill, and Burnham for the 2005 album “Return the Gift”, and a live recording of their debut album, “Entertainment!”, both released in the same year.

Following his departure from Gang of Four, Allen teamed up with ex-member of XTC, Barry Andrews, to create the band Shriekback. Together, they released six albums during the 1980s, achieving notable success in the U.S. with two top 20 modern rock singles, “Intoxication” and “Shark Walk,” which were both hits in 1989.

Apart from his work with The Elastic Purejoy and Low Pop Suicide, Allen was also the founder of World Domination Recordings, an independent label that released albums for both bands. Subsequently, he transitioned into the administrative aspects of the music industry, holding roles at Intel and Beats Electronics. After Beats was purchased by Apple in 2014, Allen joined the tech giant as well.

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2025-04-06 22:54