Dave Allen, the bass player for post-punk band Gang of Four, has died at 69 years old.
His former bandmates Jon King and Hugo Burnham confirmed the musican’s death on social media, sharing that he had previously been diagnosed with dementia.
Their post read: ‘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,’ the post, written by Burnham, continues.
‘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.’
Allen was a defining force in Gang of Four, with his distinctive bass playing style becoming one of the band’s most recognisable characteristics.
Guitarist Andy Gill, King, and Burnham initially comprised the band, along with bassist Dave Wolfson, who Allen replaced after a handful of gigs in the late 70s.
The band’s 1979 debut album Entertainment! was beloved by critics and became a hugely influential force in postpunk music, in large part due to Allen’s relentlessly energetic bass playing.
Bands like R.E.M. and Nirvana took inspiration from the group’s sound, with Allen’s playing style particularly becoming a part of the changing mainstream sound of the 80s.
Entertainment! made Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Win two tickets to Polygon Live, the UK’s first immersive music festival
Metro has teamed up to give away 20 pairs of tickets to Polygon Live LDN, a unique new festival taking place in London’s Crystal Palace Park from 2-4 May 2025.
Blending light and spatial sound, the 360º immersive festival has a stellar lineup including popular artists such as Max Cooper, Jon Hopkins and Tinariwen, as well as the likes of Arooj Aftab and Photay.
For a chance to win an incredible day out at this UK-first festival for you and a friend, simply enter your details here.
You have until midnight on 18 April 2025 to enter. Good luck!
*Open to GB (excluding N. Ireland) residents aged 18 or over. Promotion open from 12:01 on 02/04/2025 and closes at 23:59 on 18/04/2025. 1 entry per person. 20 prizes of 2x General Admission Single Day tickets to attend 1 day of Polygon Live LDN 2025 at Crystal Palace Park, valid for either Friday 2 May 2025, Saturday 3 May 2025 or Sunday 4 May 2025. 1 entry per person.
Full T&Cs apply, see here. Full Polygon T&Cs apply to entry and attendance, see here.
After playing on the bands second album and a couple of EP’s, Allen left the band until 2005’s album Return the Gift, which was also beloved by fans and critics.
Allen founded the band Shriekback – with whom he released six albums in the 1980s – with former XTC member Barry Andrews.
The band had two top 20 singles – Intoxication and Shark Walk – in 1989.
Allen also founded the indie label World Domination Recordings which recorded many of his musical projects.
The news of Allen’s death comes just weeks before Gang of Four’s North American farewell tour, which kicks off in Boston in April before embarking across the United States and Canada.
After making stops in major cities like Toronto, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, and Los Angeles, Gang of Four will wrap up that leg with a show in San Diego on May 29.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: What actually happened with Led Zeppelin, a mud shark, and a groupie in 1969
MORE: Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules star Robert Trebor dies of sepsis aged 71
MORE: Val Kilmer’s final days after being bedridden for years before death aged 65
