Just for the record… I was asked to
write a tribute for the Byron Shire News and this is it x
(a 300 word limit was very limiting! ... I wanted to acknowledge his life as a byron shire local)
blessings v smile emoticon
(a 300 word limit was very limiting! ... I wanted to acknowledge his life as a byron shire local)
blessings v smile emoticon
BON VOYAGE DAEVID ALLEN
POET, MUSICIAN, ARTIST AND DEAR FRIEND
13th Jan 1938 - Friday 13th March 2015 aged 77.
POET, MUSICIAN, ARTIST AND DEAR FRIEND
13th Jan 1938 - Friday 13th March 2015 aged 77.
Born in Melbourne, Daevid Allen was an
original fifties beatnik, a rarity in Australia, frequenting underground jazz
clubs before spreading his interplanetary wings to create pioneering
experimental bands Soft Machine and Gong in Europe whose consciousness expanding
music became integral to the age of psychedelia and still resonates worldwide
today.
In the early 80s, disillusioned by the corporate music industry, Daevid
hung up his jester’s hat and tights, eschewed international rock star status and
headed home to Oz. He lived and recorded in “Bananamoon
Observatory”, a banana shack in Main Arm and regular local jams yielded a
series of drones on glissando guitar and keyboards, one of many projects
guided by the healing, transformative power of harmonics and sound.
A prolific creative artist, he
continued to tour overseas as workshop facilitator and musician, returning
from his wild adventures to perform his anarchic lyrical poetry in the Northern
Rivers. His stylistic breadth extended from tender love poems to biting critique
of society, addressing fear and corruption (“I am a Terrorist”), materialism
(“Shopping will not save us”) honoring the earth and the feminine (“Mullumbimby
Mother”), acknowledging indigenous culture (“Cleverwoman”), media influence
(“Trial by Headline”) busting stereotypes (“Dirty Old Man”), and love “(When you
kiss me like that”).
Inspirational and influential in the
rise of spoken word, he took poetry to the streets of Byron, Lismore and Nimbin,
to cafes, pubs, markets and festivals. Unapologetically controversial and deeply
compassionate, he encouraged many others to express themselves poetically.
One of Australia’s greatest poets, his last gig was on St David’s day Byron Bay 1st March 2015.
Daevid lived his last 22 years in New Brighton and is survived by his
four sons Tali, Orlando, Toby and Ynys, his grandchildren and extended
family.
For more see daevidallen.net
Hasta Manana Banana Moon Man!
No comments:
Post a Comment