Dave Allen, original Gang of Four bassist, has died at 69

Dave Allen, original bassist for Gang of Four, has died at age 69. The news came via the band who wrote:

It is with broken yet full hearts that we share the news that Dave Allen, our old music partner, friend, and brilliant musician, died on Saturday morning. He was at home with his family. Dave had endured the early-onset of mixed dementia for some years which has been a heartbreaking time for his wife Paddy, his children, and close friends. Our love and thoughts are with them. Jon and I [Hugo] went to see him and spent a lovely afternoon with him and the family. We talked and laughed for hours, sharing rich and vivid memories of good times together. Adventures, careers in music, raising families, our interwoven lives spanning half a century. We’ve been so very lucky to have had the Ace of Bass in our lives.

We know that Dave would have wanted nothing more than to step onstage with us again in Portland on our farewell US tour. But it’s now a bridge too far.

Goodbye, Old Friend.

Dave Allen‘s bass-playing in Gang of Four, equally inspired by punk, funk and disco, was a key element to the band’s sound. He was with Go4 from 1977 to 1981, leaving the group after their second album, Solid Gold, to form Shriekback with former XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews. He also founded labels World Domination Recordings and Pampelmoose.

He was part of Gang of Four’s reunion in the mid-’00s but retired from the group in 2008.

Rest easy, Dave.