When did Pere Ubu release its first album? Details explored as frontman David Thomas dies at 71

David Thomas, founder and frontman of the influential avant-garde band Pere Ubu, has passed away. He was 71 years old and, according to an official social media post by the band, died after "a long illness."

According to a report in People magazine, the band announced his death in a Facebook post, sharing that he died on April 23, 2025. They wrote:

“David Lynn Thomas, lead singer of Pere Ubu, Rocket From The Tombs and multiple solo projex, has died after a long illness. On Wednesday, April 23 2025, he died in his home town of Brighton & Hove, with his wife and youngest step-daughter by his side.”

The post further informed that Thomas, alongwith the band, was recording a new album, which will be released soon. Besides this, he was also working on an autobiography that will be completed by his band.

Pere Ubu released its first album, The Modern Dance in 1978, according to a report in Variety. His band was named after French writer Alfred Jarry’s avant-garde theatrical classic, Ubu Roi, added the report.

Thomas' sudden demise has ignited an interest among netizens to learn more about his life and career.

Unearthing details about Pere Ubu’s frontman, David Thomas’ life and career

Pere Ubu’s David Thomas’s real name was David Lynn Thomas. He was born on June 14, 1953, in Miami, Florida. His father was a teacher of literature, and his mother was an artist. His family eventually moved to Pennsylvania.

When he shifted to Cleveland in the early 1970s, he landed a job as a writer for the city’s alternative paper, the Cleveland Scene, per a report in Variety. He was hired as the paper’s art director in 1972, under the pseudonym 'Crocus Behemoth.'

He then joined the Great Bow-Wah Death Band in 1973. After leaving the newspaper, he founded his first band, Rocket From the Tombs, in 1974. In this band, he was the singer and bassist, along with fellow bassist and vocalist Kim Zonneville, Glenn Hach, and Tom “Foolery” Clements.

Although short-lived, it was a highly influential proto-punk band based in Cleveland, Ohio. Reportedly, the band went through several lineup changes and never recorded a studio album during its original run. The group then added Peter Laughner on guitar.

During a 2022 interview with The Guardian, he said:

“I’ve saved enough that I don’t have to work any more and I could easily coast to death at this point. This is not the easiest life in the world. But I want to keep pushing at it. If I were satisfied, I’d quit.”

He further told the outlet that he was undergoing kidney dialysis three times a week and needed to use a walker.

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This was followed by the formation of Pere Ubu in 1975. The band included Thomas, Peter Laughner, Tim Wright, Allen Ravenstine, Scott Krauss and Tom Herman. However, according to a report in Hot Press, the band split after recording five albums in 1982.

Their most recent album was 2023’s Trouble on Big Beat Street, It was also Thomas’ last album before his demise. He released a total of 19 albums, per People magazine.

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