GONG LIVE 2010

La Prod JV are pleased to announce that after the big success with the definitive line up of GONG in Summer 2009, we are looking at dates for their return to Europe in May to August 2010.

Daevid Allen (Vocals / Guitar) - Original Member Gilli Smyth (Vocals / Space Whisper) - Original Member Steve Hillage (Guitar / Vocals) - Original Member Miquette Giraudy (Synthesiser / Vocals) - Original Member Mike Howlett (Bass Guitar) - Chris Taylor (Drums / Vocals) Theo Travis (Sax / Flute)

STRENGTHS OF THIS LINEUP

Gong, which was conceived by founding members Daevid Allen and Gilli Smith in France in the chaotic times of post-May 68 creative turmoil. Gong quickly rose to become one of France’s biggest bands and as a social phenomenon being France’s equivalent of the Grateful Dead.

Gong made their UK debut in 1971 at the legendary Glastonbury Festival of that year. After releasing their second album “Camembert Electrique” on the BYG label in France in 1972 Gong started a relationship with the new start up label, Virgin Records. This was when Steve Hillage and Mike Howlett joined the band.

The “classic” period of 1973-75 was a roller-coaster ride of gigs festivals and album releases with the first Virgin Records album releases “Flying Teapot”, “Angel’s Egg” and “You”.

One master-stroke was Richard Branson’s idea to re-release “Camembert Electrique” at the budget price of 50p. This became a top ten smash album and sold over 70,000 copies in the UK, bringing the band to an ever wider audience. In Autumn 1974 the newly released “You” album was also UK top ten in its first week of release. These three albums between them have sold overall well in excess of 1 million units. Since being re mastered and reissued by EMI Virgin in 2003 they continue to sell.

The full surviving line up didn’t play again until November 2006 at a special sold-out Gong event in Amsterdam, except for a single special benefit reunion show in Paris in 1977 before 6,000 people.

The 2006 show was followed up in 2008 by 2 sold-out shows in London at the QEH (as part of Massive Attack’s Meltdown) and the Forum, gaining 5 star reviews in the national press.

Gong is cited as a primary influence by many new generation “psychedelic” artists and by many major figures in the dance music scene. It was no surprise that Massive Attack invited Gong to be part of their 2008 Meltdown lineup. In the late 1980s Steve Hillage re-emerged as an influential figure in dance music, a position he retains to this day with the System 7 project with fellow Gong member Miquette Giraudy.

Steve Hillage also performed a short Steve Hillage Band set of his 70s material, using Gong’s bass player and drummer as the rhythm section. All 8 Steve Hillage solo albums were re-mastered and re-issued on CD in 2007 by EMI Virgin and continue to sell well.

GONG in 2010

A new Gong album 2032 of new material was released in September 2009.

“ An engaging and unhinged return by psychedelia’s last true adventurers “ Mojo