Ubu Projex Obituaries
Paul Hamann (1955-2017)
He engineered nearly every Pere Ubu album since 1980 at his studio, Suma (Painesville OH). His father, Ken, who died in 2003, was the band's engineer/producer before retirement in 1979.
"Paul, like his father before him, was one of a kind," David Thomas noted. "Over the last year and a half he struggled against a range of cancers without comment. He worked to the end. As we recorded the last Pere Ubu album I could see he had reached a unique level, burning with inspiration and ideas."The abiding memory I have is the hours we sat in the control room, silently working, listening. An event would pass by on tape, I'd shoot him a glance, he'd adjust something on the channel control strip, I'd make an approving noise and on we'd go without further exchange. There were no words needed. And now there are no words adequate."
Gagarin Dies
It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of Graham "Dids" Dowdall, aka Gagarin, on June 16 2024 due to cancer. A hugely respected musician in his own right, his involvement in the Pere Ubu story over the past two decades, has been essential to the evolution of the music. During the last months of his illness, he was insistent that there would be one more Pere Ubu album. He worked on many of the songs, giving his own inspirations whenever he felt well enough to do so. He is survived by his wife and partner, Noriko. No one can explain Gagarin to you better than Keith Moliné. His words are here.John Thompson Dies
John Thompson passed away July 8 2024 with a brain aneurysm. Designer and conceptualist with Pere Ubu for half a century he did as much to shape the identity of the band as any of the group’s musicians. Between 1975 and 1980, as Johnny Dromette, he opened Cleveland’s first punk record store, located in the Cedar-Fairmont neighborhood. It was called Hideo’s Discodrome. He promoted concerts and events. He backed the magazine that chronicled the city’s underground scene, CLE. He was an eager backer and doyenne. He produced and manufactured punk records by local bands such as The Pagans.During that period John shared a house with David Thomas. Fuelled by a river of coffee, the two conceptualised, analysed and prophesied, consuming music and outre publications at a feverish pace. Guests would arrive and be drawn into a bizarre replica of the Johnny Carson show. B-grade movies were collaged and reformulated. A full size rendition of the Hollywood Squares TV set dominated the living room. He devised the Disastodrome series of concerts. “We call it ‘disasto’ so nothing can go wrong,” he explained. He devised the framework of Coed Jail.
“It was a golden period,” Thomas recalls. “We spun out the paradigm of Datapanik as the initiator of past future and present happenings. I remember the idea evolved from watching the antics of TV weathermen. There was no stopping us. Or slowing us down. Or detouring us. The reinvention of rock music from a Cleveland soul was the objective.”
John was kind and loyal. When the brother of Jim Jones refused to retrieve his body or give him a burial, John did so.
