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Gong
This page is provided only for information, it does not apply to the 2002 festival.
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After three days of top class music on the Avalon stage the Sunday night headline act had to be something special and it was! Gong are arguably one of the most influential bands of the last thirty years, their tendrils stretching out and influencing genres as diverse as dance and heavy metal. Currently going though a bit of a renaissance with four of the original members back in the band and a successful British tour under their belts Gong took to the stage for the first time at Glastonbury Festival for twenty nine years to a full house of pot head pixies, octave Doctors and a bloke called James who couldn't find his way to the pyramid stage to see David Bowie.
Wearing what looked like a designer motorway maintenance workers jacket subculture superhero Daevid Allen struck up the first cord on his cut down guitar and an invisible arc of what can only be described as Gongness radiated out and touched every person and the one dog in the audience.
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After a monologue from Allen concerning Glastonbury, spaceships and that sort of thing the stage entourage is augmented by children, some in pixie hats who dance their way through the next number. Then as saxophone player Didier Malherbe dons what looked like an acid influenced version of a smurf hat the band break into Radio Gnome. Psyadelic images flash on the screens behind and in front of the band and the air is awash with the sound of echo soaked guitar, sweeping analogue synths and driving bass lines. This is how music at a festival should sound. As the set progresses echo enhanced wails from vocalist and inspirational feminist Gilli Smyth float across the audience on a cloud of free jazz style saxophone and the groove builds until everyone is hypnotised and swaying in tune with the music. Songs from early classic Camembert Electric are definite crowd pleasers as are the tales from the planet Gong, flying teapot anyone?
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After something between an hour and a quarter and an eternity the set comes to an end� but no Gong yet again mount the stage, Daevid Allen having changed into a silver cat suit and wack out a ten minute plus version of the glorious ohmn riff, what more could any Gong fan or festival goer wish for. A great Glastonbury rounded off by a seriously great band viva Gong!
Words: Ade Black
Pictures: Kay Wills
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� 1994-2000 Glastonbury Festivals Ltd.
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