Pierre Moerlen's Gong
Encyclopedia
Pierre Moerlen's Gong is a jazz fusion
outfit which is very different from the first incarnation of Gong
, the psychedelic
space-rock act led by Daevid Allen
. It is notable for the prominent use of mallet percussion, such as marimba
, xylophone
, and vibraphone
featured in a rock/jazz context, making for a very distinctive and unusual sound that could have been classified as warmer and more melodic than most typical fusion
could be, and is comparable to the sort of fusion-influenced output many bands on the Canterbury scene
were producing at around this time.
Amid a flurry of lineup changes in the mid-1970s, including the departure of founding members Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth
, Gong drummer Pierre Moerlen
found himself in charge of the band and with two albums remaining on their Virgin recording contract.
Moerlen formed a new Gong lineup featuring his brother Benoit on mallet percussion, US-born bassist Hansford Rowe
and a rotating cast of session guitarists, notably Allan Holdsworth
, Mike Oldfield
, ex-Rolling Stone Mick Taylor
, and Bon Lozaga.
They released two albums under the Gong moniker, Gazeuse!
(called Expresso in North America) in 1977 and then Expresso II
in 1978. Following the completion of the Virgin contract, Moerlen changed the name of the group to Pierre Moerlen's Gong, presumably to distance itself from its very different previous incarnation. In early 1979, the group released Downwind
, which was a more rock/pop flavoured album that featured occasional lead vocals by Moerlen himself and a cameo by Steve Winwood
. Later in 1979 they released another album, Time is the Key
, that took the band further into pop/rock territory. The live album "Pierre Moerlen's Gong Live" was released in 1980, followed later that year by another studio album Leave It Open
. By this point, Pierre Moerlen's incarnation of Gong scaled back its activity greatly, not releasing another record until 1986's Scientology
-inspired Breakthrough, featuring members of the Swedish band Tribute. The group quietly disbanded soon after.
Lozaga, Rowe, and Benoit Moerlen went on to form Gongzilla in the early 1990s, releasing four albums to date which are very much an extension of the percussive fusion that the original group brought to the fold, and they perform a mix of new and old live material going back to the Gazeuse/Expresso II period. Moerlen joined them for their 2002 European tour.
Pierre Moerlen died unexpectedly on May 3, 2005 of natural causes, while rehearsals for yet another line-up of Pierre Moerlen's Gong were underway.
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
outfit which is very different from the first incarnation of 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...
, the psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
space-rock act led by 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...
. It is notable for the prominent use of mallet percussion, such as marimba
Marimba
The marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. It consists of a set of wooden keys or bars with resonators. The bars are struck with mallets to produce musical tones. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys ...
, xylophone
Xylophone
The xylophone is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets...
, and vibraphone
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
featured in a rock/jazz context, making for a very distinctive and unusual sound that could have been classified as warmer and more melodic than most typical fusion
Fusion (music)
A fusion genre is music that combines two or more styles. For example, rock and roll originally developed as a fusion of blues, gospel and country music. The main characteristics of fusion genres are variations in tempo, rhythm, i a sometimes the use of long musical "journeys" that can be divided...
could be, and is comparable to the sort of fusion-influenced output many bands on the Canterbury scene
Canterbury Scene
The Canterbury scene is a term used to loosely describe the group of progressive rock, avant-garde and jazz musicians, many of whom were based around the city of Canterbury, Kent, England during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
were producing at around this time.
Amid a flurry of lineup changes in the mid-1970s, including the departure of founding members Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth
Gilli Smyth
Gilli Smyth is a musician who performed with the bands Gong, Mother Gong and Planet Gong as well as several solo albums and albums in collaborations other members of Gong...
, Gong drummer Pierre Moerlen
Pierre Moerlen
Pierre Moerlen was a French drummer and percussionist, best known for his work with Gong and Mike Oldfield.-Biography:...
found himself in charge of the band and with two albums remaining on their Virgin recording contract.
Moerlen formed a new Gong lineup featuring his brother Benoit on mallet percussion, US-born bassist Hansford Rowe
Hansford Rowe (musician)
Hansford Rowe is a fusion bass guitarist.Basically a self-taught musician, Rowe played bass in a local New York City band in jazz clubs until he met drummer Pierre Moerlen...
and a rotating cast of session guitarists, notably Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth is an English guitarist and composer. He has released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played many different styles of music over a period of four decades, but first drew attention for his work in jazz fusion...
, Mike Oldfield
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
, ex-Rolling Stone Mick Taylor
Mick Taylor
Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is an English musician, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and The Rolling Stones...
, and Bon Lozaga.
They released two albums under the Gong moniker, Gazeuse!
Gazeuse!
Gazeuse! is an album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong, issued in 1976. In the U.S., it was called Expresso.The album is jazz fusion and has little to do with the psychedelic space rock of Daevid Allen's Gong, even though the bands share a common history...
(called Expresso in North America) in 1977 and then Expresso II
Expresso II
Expresso II is an album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong, issued in 1978.Like the other Pierre Moerlen's Gong albums, the album is predominantly jazz-fusion and has little to do with the psychedelic space rock of Daevid Allen's Gong, even though the bands share a common history.Expresso II is a companion...
in 1978. Following the completion of the Virgin contract, Moerlen changed the name of the group to Pierre Moerlen's Gong, presumably to distance itself from its very different previous incarnation. In early 1979, the group released Downwind
Downwind (album)
Downwind is an album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong, issued in February, 1979 .Like the other Pierre Moerlen's Gong albums, Downwind is predominantly jazz fusion and has little to do with the psychedelic space rock of Daevid Allen's Gong, even though the bands share a common history...
, which was a more rock/pop flavoured album that featured occasional lead vocals by Moerlen himself and a cameo by Steve Winwood
Steve Winwood
Stephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
. Later in 1979 they released another album, Time is the Key
Time is the Key
-Personnel:*Pierre Moerlen – drums, gong, vibraphone, electravibe, marimba, glockenspiel, tympani, darbourka, synthesizers *Hansford Rowe – bass , acoustic guitar , bass synthesizer *Bon Lozaga – guitar with...
, that took the band further into pop/rock territory. The live album "Pierre Moerlen's Gong Live" was released in 1980, followed later that year by another studio album Leave It Open
Leave It Open (album)
-Track listing:-Personnel:* Francois Chausse – percussion* Delmelza – percussion* Brian Holloway – guitar, rhythm guitar* Charlie Mariano – saxophone* Pierre Moerlen – drums, gong, rhythm guitar, keyboards, vibraphone, synthesizer bass, polymoog...
. By this point, Pierre Moerlen's incarnation of Gong scaled back its activity greatly, not releasing another record until 1986's Scientology
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
-inspired Breakthrough, featuring members of the Swedish band Tribute. The group quietly disbanded soon after.
Lozaga, Rowe, and Benoit Moerlen went on to form Gongzilla in the early 1990s, releasing four albums to date which are very much an extension of the percussive fusion that the original group brought to the fold, and they perform a mix of new and old live material going back to the Gazeuse/Expresso II period. Moerlen joined them for their 2002 European tour.
Pierre Moerlen died unexpectedly on May 3, 2005 of natural causes, while rehearsals for yet another line-up of Pierre Moerlen's Gong were underway.
Discography
- 1976: Gazeuse!Gazeuse!Gazeuse! is an album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong, issued in 1976. In the U.S., it was called Expresso.The album is jazz fusion and has little to do with the psychedelic space rock of Daevid Allen's Gong, even though the bands share a common history...
(Expresso in North America) - 1978: Expresso IIExpresso IIExpresso II is an album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong, issued in 1978.Like the other Pierre Moerlen's Gong albums, the album is predominantly jazz-fusion and has little to do with the psychedelic space rock of Daevid Allen's Gong, even though the bands share a common history.Expresso II is a companion...
- 1979: DownwindDownwind (album)Downwind is an album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong, issued in February, 1979 .Like the other Pierre Moerlen's Gong albums, Downwind is predominantly jazz fusion and has little to do with the psychedelic space rock of Daevid Allen's Gong, even though the bands share a common history...
- 1979: Time is the KeyTime is the Key-Personnel:*Pierre Moerlen – drums, gong, vibraphone, electravibe, marimba, glockenspiel, tympani, darbourka, synthesizers *Hansford Rowe – bass , acoustic guitar , bass synthesizer *Bon Lozaga – guitar with...
- 1980: Pierre Moerlen's Gong Live
- 1980: Leave It OpenLeave It Open (album)-Track listing:-Personnel:* Francois Chausse – percussion* Delmelza – percussion* Brian Holloway – guitar, rhythm guitar* Charlie Mariano – saxophone* Pierre Moerlen – drums, gong, rhythm guitar, keyboards, vibraphone, synthesizer bass, polymoog...
- 1986: Breakthrough
- 1988: Second Wind
- 1998: Full Circle Live '88
- 2004: PentaninePentaninePentanine is an album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong, issued in 2004. The last album in Pierre Moerlen's life was recorded in 2002 at St.Petersburg with Russian musicians.-Track listing:#"Flyin' High" – 5:49#"Airway to Seven" – 4:37...
External links
- Planet Gong
- [ Pierre Moerlen's Gong on Allmusic Guide]