Biography of Pere Ubu

Named for the French absurdist play by Alfred Jarry, Pere Ubu was one of the most important and long-lived bands of the punk/new wave era (formed in September 1975 in Cleveland). The current edition of the band features original members David Thomas (vocals) and Scott Krauss (drums). Another current member, Tony Maimone (bass), joined the group in 1976. Pere Ubu was organized by Thomas and fellow rock journalist Peter Laughner (guitar, bass) for the purpose of recording the apocalpytic single "30 Seconds over Tokyo." By spring of 1976, Pere Ubu had recorded a second single, "Final Solution," and traveled to New York, where they gained exposure. The band was then reorganized, minus Laughner, who died the following year. Mercury Records signed Pere Ubu and issued their debut album, The Modern Dance, in February 1978. Its combination of uncompromising rock, featuring odd noises and Thomas's high-pitched singing, earned the group critical hosannas and commercial indifference beyond a loyal cult, a situation that would continue for most of their existence. That existence was fitful. Pere Ubu was dropped by Mercury and signed by Chrysalis, which released Dub Housing and New Picnic Time (both 1979), after which the group split again. But they were back to release The Art of Walking in 1980 (on Rough Trade). 390 Degrees of Simulated Stereo (1981) was an archival live album, and Song of the Bailing Man (1981) was the last album before another split. 1985 saw the release of a compilation, Terminal Tower, and in 1987, Pere Ubu was reorganized, releasing the slighly more commercially accessible albums The Tenement Year (1987), Cloudland (1989), and Worlds in Collision (1991). ~ William Ruhlmann