Above a flyer for New York Gong at CBGB’s
This just made my day: Black and white footage of Daevid Allen performing with New York Gong in Los Angeles, 1979.
Also known as the “Zu Band” because they were formed for rock impresario Giorgio Gomelsky’s “Zu Manifestival” event in Manhattan, the core musicians went on to form Bill Laswell’s Material. As seen here at the Los Angeles Zu Manifestival, New York Gong were Daevid Allen, guitar; Bill Bacon, drums; Bill Laswell, bass; Don Davis, sax, and future Shimmy Disc founder Kramer on trombone/synths. In the midst of New York’s abrasive No Wave scene, New York Gong were “Yes Wave” to the max, progressive, jazz, punk, progrock wunderkids led by the ultimate hippie
The sound quality is iffy, but that this even exists is a fucking miracle, if you ask me…
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
‘Weezy, get me some LSD’: When Sherman Hemsley met Gong
Floating Anarchy: Gong, live on French TV, 1973
Thank you Virginia Tate!