Gong

Gong are a rock group from Paris, France, active from 1966 to the present. They are associated with the Canterbury scene and work across progressive rock, psychedelic rock, space rock, jazz rock and jazz. The group forms part of the broader progressive and psychedelic rock tradition, and their sound changes significantly across different periods of their history.

Formation and early line-ups

The band forms in Paris in 1967 after Australian musician Daevid Allen is unable to return to the United Kingdom following a French tour. In Paris, Allen works with English vocalist Gilli Smyth and an early line-up that includes vocalist Ziska Baum and flautist Loren Standlee. That first version ends during the events of May 1968, when Allen and Smyth leave France for Deià in Mallorca. They return to France in 1969 and assemble a new electric line-up with bassist Christian Tritsch, drummer Rachid Houari and saxophonist Didier Malherbe. Gong make their live debut at the Festival d'Amougies in Belgium in October 1969, and later that year establish a communal base at Pavillon du Hay near Sens in France.

Early recordings and the Radio Gnome Invisible cycle

Gong’s debut album, Magick Brother (1970), has a predominantly psychedelic rock sound. Their second album, Camembert Electrique (1971), brings a stronger progressive and space rock influence and helps establish their reputation, leading to their first British tour. In 1971, Pip Pyle replaces Houari. The band records the soundtrack for the film Continental Circus, works with Dashiell Hedayat on Obsolete, and appears at the Glastonbury Festival.

In October 1972, Gong sign to Virgin Records and record Flying Teapot. Guitarist Steve Hillage joins during those sessions and becomes a key member. Flying Teapot is released in 1973 and begins the Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy, followed by Angel's Egg later in 1973 and You in 1974. The trilogy becomes the best-known part of the group’s catalogue and develops the mythology associated with Allen, including characters such as Zero the Hero, the Good Witch Yoni and the Pot Head Pixies from the fictional Planet Gong. By late 1972 the line-up also includes bassist Francis Moze and synthesiser player Tim Blake, and during this period the group stabilises around Hillage, Malherbe, Blake, Mike Howlett and drummer Pierre Moerlen.

Changes in direction and related projects

In 1975, Tim Blake and then Daevid Allen leave the band. Pierre Moerlen returns on drums and Gong record Shamal, with Mike Howlett on lead vocals. Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy also depart during the recording process, and further disagreements over musical direction lead to more departures. From 1976 onwards, the group increasingly reflects Moerlen’s interests, focusing on instrumental jazz rock and percussion-based compositions. Albums from this era include Gazeuse!, and releases appear under the names Gong-Expresso and Pierre Moerlen's Gong. Moerlen continues to lead related projects until the late 1980s.

During the same period, Gilli Smyth forms Mother Gong, while Allen develops a number of related projects, including Planet Gong, New York Gong and Gongmaison. Allen spends much of the 1980s in Australia, then returns to the United Kingdom and forms Gongmaison, which incorporates electronic and dance-influenced elements.

Reunions, later line-ups and recent albums

A major reunion takes place in Paris in 1977 and is documented on the live album Gong est Mort, Vive Gong. In 1990 the Gong name is revived for a television appearance, and by 1992 Gongmaison formally becomes Gong. That line-up records Shapeshifter, which is sometimes described as a continuation of the Radio Gnome Invisible story. The group marks its 25th anniversary in 1994 with a concert in London featuring several former members, then tours internationally and releases Zero to Infinity in 2000.

In 2003, Allen assembles a version of the band that includes members of Acid Mothers Temple. That line-up records Acid Motherhood (2004) and releases the live album Acid Mothers Gong Live Tokyo. Around the same period, Gong Family Unconventions bring together current and former members and related groups. Allen later forms Gong Global Family, a Brazil-based project featuring Fabio Golfetti and other South American musicians; material from this line-up later feeds into the main Gong group.

In 2008, Gong reunite with Allen, Smyth, Hillage, Giraudy, Howlett, Theo Travis and Chris Taylor. This line-up records 2032 (2009) and tours extensively. Further changes follow, with Dave Sturt, Ian East, Fabio Golfetti, Kavus Torabi and Cheb Nettles joining. The album I See You appears in 2014. Allen later becomes unable to take part fully in touring because of cancer and dies in 2015. Shortly before his death, he says that the band should continue and suggests Kavus Torabi as frontman. Smyth dies in 2016. Gong continue with Torabi, Golfetti, Sturt, East and Nettles, releasing Rejoice! I'm Dead! in 2016, The Universe Also Collapses in 2019, Unending Ascending in 2023 and Bright Spirit in 2026.

Notable collaborators and members

Across their history, Gong include or work with musicians such as Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, Steve Hillage, Mike Howlett, Tim Blake, Pierre Moerlen, Bill Laswell and Theo Travis. Other musicians who perform with the band include Don Cherry, Chris Cutler, Bill Bruford, Brian Davison, Dave Stewart and Tatsuya Yoshida. The broader list of members also includes Miquette Giraudy, Dave Sturt, Ian East, Cheb Nettles, Fabio Golfetti, Kavus Torabi and many others associated with the group’s changing line-ups.