Jade Wright meets experimental musician David Thomas, the founder of Pere Ubu
PERE Ubu is an unusual band name, but according to founder David Thomas it contains the three important elements.
It is named after a character from a play by French writer Alfred Jarry.
“Jarry staged Ubu Roi in Paris in 1896,” explains David.
“The principal character is a fellow named Pere Ubu.
“You need three things in a band name: It shouldn't mean anything but it should seem to mean something, it needs to look good and sound good and three it should have three syllables. Also the Ubu character was monstrous.”
The experimental rock group was formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. Despite many long-term band members, singer David is the only constant.
Founder of two iconic bands in Rocket From The Tombs and Pere Ubu – he’s a musician’s musician, a true maverick.
His career began as a columnist for weekly magazine The Scene, in Cleveland, in the early 70s.
After years of critiquing, he made the decision to stop writing about art and start creating it.
