Dave Allen, the legendary bass player who helped create musical identity for one of the most important bands of their time Gang of Four. Content like this is made possible with support from He died Saturday, April 5 at the age of 69. Allen died peacefully at home surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren. He has left behind a legacy that still makes waves in the music world today.
Gang of Four broke the news of Allen’s death on their social media accounts. This announcement led to a flood of memorials and remembrances from fans and musicians alike. The tremendous sadness that the band felt over the death of a key member naturally lent itself to melancholy artistry. His creative input defined their legendary mix of punk rock and funk. Allen was affected by early-onset dementia for several years prior to his passing.
In the early days, Allen was a quick replacement for original bassist Dave Wolfson who was one of the earliest to join Gang of Four. He played a large role in creating the gang’s influential 1979 debut record, **Entertainment!** His creative bass lines were key to creating the band’s ear-catching sound that fused Leftist lyrics with irrefutable grooves. Following Entertainment!, Allen contributed to the band’s second album, Solid Gold, which achieved significant acclaim and established Gang of Four’s enduring legacy in the United States.
After the release of Solid Gold, Allen departed Gang of Four. Read more about his equally fascinating musical odyssey through a host of other projects. He took an audacious leap into the music technology realm. While there, he worked alongside notable music startups such as Beats Music and Apple Music. He went on to create the band Shriekback with Barry Andrews of XTC. During that period, he was involved with some noteworthy side projects, most notably Elastic Purejoy and Low Pop Suicide.
In 2004, Allen made a triumphant return to Gang of Four for a reunion tour, rekindling his connection with the band and its fans. The concert was characterized by joyful reunions as members joined one another in emotionally charged performances and an overall celebration of their shared musical history.
Hugo Burnham and Jon King of Gang of Four shared memories of their fallen friend Allen. When we were able to connect, they wrote, “We laughed and talked for hours, making colorful and beautiful memories with vibrant stories of our amazing times together. They thanked her loudly and warmly. We hit the jackpot of musical fortune!” They continued, “We’ve been so very fortunate to have had the Ace of Bass in our lives.
As they prepare for their farewell US tour, they acknowledged Allen’s absence poignantly: “We know that Dave would have wanted nothing more than to step onstage with us again in Portland on our farewell US tour. It’s now a bridge too far. Goodbye, Old Friend.”