Stroll on David Thomas

 

It was in March or February of this year that Disaster Amnesiac listened to a relatively recent interview with David Thomas, one in which he intoned that he had "cried for America". This statement from Pere Ubu leader, the guy that had to see it through, moved me quite intensely. David's love of and appreciation for American culture shone through his sadness, which in turn increased this American's love of and appreciation for him. Said appreciation has been constant for me for many years now. Indeed, what has turned out to be the final Pere Ubu release, Trouble On Big Beat Street, is in my car at this moment. Disaster Amnesiac had a tremendously enjoyable listen to it a few weeks ago during a drive from the Mojave Desert in California back to my current home in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. David Thomas never put a cap onto his creative vision, never compromised it, even in the face of the success of so many lesser lights within the music business who owe him a huge debt, even if they are unaware of it. He just slow walked into musical immortality with his visionary work in Ubu, David Thomas & Two Pale Boys, David Thomas and the Pedestrians, etc. Especially endearing to this listener will always be the ways in which he gave voice to an actual existing culture in America that, despite the best efforts of certain elite types, will not, can not be extirpated. That, and of course the uniquely brave timbre of his voice. Thomas's voice has inspired me in so many ways: it's given me hope about people and insight into many mysteries that characterize our mortal passage. That's no lie. It's Disaster Amnesiac's hope that the art of David Thomas will continue to be heard and seen as relevant to American culture. We have lost a contributor who was the equal of the likes of Harry Partch, John Cage, Sun Ra, Albert Ayler (Cleveland), Cecil Taylor, Brian Wilson................

Stroll on David Thomas, I am certain you are now in Heaven.