| GONG |
|
 |
| The Spectacularly
Ancient GONG |
Daevid Alien |
I first
saw psychedelic space jazz rock stalwarts GONG
play live in 1974 under the arches at Portobello Road. In 1977
DJ Lazer and I recorded 3 demos as A
Phantasy Circus with Steffe Sharpstrings from Here &
Now and Mike Howlett, founder member of Gong. Steff went on
to replace Steve Hillage as Gong's lead guitarist, and Basil
Brooks joined Steve Hillage Band |
| Steffe's
album 'Even as we Glo' with Gilli Smyth was produced by
Satch Norton who also sound engineered the band on the road
at times. Steffe also appears on 3 tracks of Susan Raven's Glittering
Cities album. |
| The same
year, Mike Howlett formed an offshoot band clled FastBreeder
and the RadioActors, including Sting on vocals and various members
of Gong, Hawkwind and A Phantasy Circus. He also 'discovered'
The Police jamming in his basement studios. |
| I later
recorded down in Cornwall with Harry Williamson in 1978 (never
released demos), of Mother Gong, Gilly's offshoot band.. Mike
now plays with Steve Thandoy of the Karmakanix, also an ex Peacemaker.
In 1976 Steve Hillage was clearly heard jamming to A Phantasy
Circus from the Here & Now tour bus behind the stage at
Meigan Fayre. We later remet at a 1980 New Year Party. |
 |
|
| In 1998
Jeza recorded 3 tracks including 'How
can I help you?' with Gwyo Zepix of Zorch.
6 months later Gwyo was invited to join Gong on keyboards and
guitar for a six month Y2K world tour (as seen above). His partner
in Zorch, Basil Brooks,
hosted and produced 'Jeza
wined up'. |
| DJ Lazer
recently stayed with both Harry Williamson and Daevid Allen
at their homes in Australia and was 'house-guest' at the Milkweg
3-day Gong Unconvention in Amsterdam, November 2006. But other
than that we have very little connection with these strange
people !! |
| GONG
PHOTO GALLERY |
