David Thomas, the celebrated frontman of Pere Ubu and Rocket From the Tombs, has died at 71. The announcement of Thomas’ passing was made on Pere Ubu’s official Facebook page, which revealed that the singer died on Wednesday (April 23) “after a long illness.” “He died in his home town of Brighton & Hove, with his wife and youngest step-daughter by his side,” reads the announcement. “MC5 were playing on the radio. He will ultimately be returned to his home, the farm in Pennsylvania, where he insisted he was to be ‘thrown in the barn.’” Emerging from the vibrant Cleveland rock scene of the mid-Seventies, Thomas was a key figure in the punk movement, forming influential bands like Rocket From the Tombs – which featured innovative guitarists Peter Laughner and Cheetah Chrome – and Pere Ubu, best known for their groundbreaking 1978 album, Dub Housing. His Pere Ubu bandmates revealed that Thomas was working on a new album at the time of his death, and that “he knew it was to be his last.” They plan on releasing that final project and Thomas’ nearly completed autobiography at some point in the future. (Rolling Stone)
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