Laurie Allan
Encyclopedia
Laurie Allan is an English
drummer
, best known for stints in Delivery
and Gong
. He has also played with Robert Wyatt
, for example on his albums Rock Bottom
and Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard
.
Allan started drumming when he was 12. His professional career got going in the early 1960s. By 1968, he was in the Gunter Hampel
trio with John McLaughlin
when he met Daevid Allen
. He played in Formerly Fat Harry in 1970.
In 1971, Allan joined Delivery (with Steve Miller), replacing Pip Pyle
who went on to join Gong. In 1972, Allan then joined Gong, again replacing Pyle. Allan left Gong in 1973 to join a new Delivery line-up, but this was short-lived and soon broke up; Allan did appear on Miller and Lol Coxhill
's The Story So Far/Oh Really? album (1974).
Allan re-joined Gong briefly in 1974 and maintained a connection with the band for some year afterwards, including working with Mother Gong in 1978. He played with Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia (1974–75). Allan also worked with Peter Lemer
in the 1970s, but he largely left performing in the 1980s.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, best known for stints in Delivery
Delivery (band)
Delivery was a British blues/progressive rock musical group, formed in the late 1960s. The band was one of the wellsprings of the progressive rock Canterbury scene....
and Gong
Gong (band)
Gong is a Franco-British progressive/psychedelic rock band formed by Australian musician Daevid Allen. Their music has also been described as space rock. Other notable band members include Allan Holdsworth, Tim Blake, Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, Gilli Smyth, Steve Hillage, Francis Moze, Mike Howlett...
. He has also played with Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt is an English musician, and founding member of the influential Canterbury scene band Soft Machine, with a long and distinguished solo career...
, for example on his albums Rock Bottom
Rock Bottom (album)
-Personnel:*Robert Wyatt - Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion, Slide Guitar *Mike Oldfield - Guitar *Gary Windo - Bass Clarinet, Tenor Sax *Ivor Cutler - Voice , Baritone Concertina *Alfreda Benge - Voice *Mongezi Feza - Trumpets...
and Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard
Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard
-Background:The follow-up to Rock Bottom, for which Wyatt had written all of the music and lyrics, Ruth... consisted of Wyatt's adaptations and arrangements of other people's music with Wyatt adding his own lyrics in much the same way as he'd done on...
.
Allan started drumming when he was 12. His professional career got going in the early 1960s. By 1968, he was in the Gunter Hampel
Gunter Hampel
Gunter Hampel is a German jazz vibraphonist, clarinettist, saxophonist, flautist, pianist and composer born in Göttingen, Germany, perhaps best-known for his album "The 8th of July 1969" that included fellow musicians Anthony Braxton, Willem Breuker and Jeanne Lee...
trio with John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin (musician)
John McLaughlin , also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer...
when he met Daevid Allen
Daevid Allen
Daevid Allen , sometimes credited as Divided Alien, an Australian poet, guitarist, singer, composer and performance artist is co-founder of psychedelic rock groups Soft Machine and Gong .-Biography:In 1960, inspired by the Beat Generation writers he had discovered...
. He played in Formerly Fat Harry in 1970.
In 1971, Allan joined Delivery (with Steve Miller), replacing Pip Pyle
Pip Pyle
Phillip "Pip" Pyle was an English-born drummer from Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, who later resided in France...
who went on to join Gong. In 1972, Allan then joined Gong, again replacing Pyle. Allan left Gong in 1973 to join a new Delivery line-up, but this was short-lived and soon broke up; Allan did appear on Miller and Lol Coxhill
Lol Coxhill
Lowen Coxhill, generally known as Lol Coxhill is a free improvising saxophonist and raconteur...
's The Story So Far/Oh Really? album (1974).
Allan re-joined Gong briefly in 1974 and maintained a connection with the band for some year afterwards, including working with Mother Gong in 1978. He played with Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia (1974–75). Allan also worked with Peter Lemer
Peter Lemer
Peter Lemer is an English jazz musician. He worked with the Pete Lemer Quintet, Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Annette Peacock, Harry Beckett, Gilgamesh, Baker Gurvitz Army, Seventh Wave, Harry Beckett's Joy Unlimited, Pierre Moerlen's Gong, Mike Oldfield Group, In Cahoots, Miller/Baker/Lemer...
in the 1970s, but he largely left performing in the 1980s.