GONG with CHO-ZEN FEW

**Looking for the Tucson show? Click HERE**

Many years ago when I moved to Arizona my friend who ran Evolution Records turned me on to the space rock jams of Gong. At the time, we were very much into Van der Graaf, Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Floyd, Genesis and all the great prog bands. Gong fit right in.

These guys will be exceptionally wonderful; and amazing, please accept my invite to get tickets for this incredible show. It will be a night we will never forget. Come on! – Danny Z

The ever-metamorphosing entity that is GONG launches, as ever, into unknown – and unknowing – territory with new tours destined to be talked about, discussed, and argued over, up and down the land. From its beginnings in a French commune in 1967, through the Virgin Records years, mismanagement, court cases, break-ups and re-joining’s, deaths and rebirths – there has always been a continuous thread of beautiful, dangerous and extraordinary music.

The current holders of the flame have come together over the last eight years; sinuous bass player Dave Sturt joined just as the album 2032 was shown to the world; Ian East (Sax, Flute) was the next to blow in through the portal; Fabio Golfetti brought his guitars from Brazil (after working with Daevid Allen for many years); Kavus Torabi (lead vox and guitars) appeared to Daevid in a vision; Cheb Nettles (drums) just sort of turned up.

In 2015, Daevid Allen passed away. His influence and legacy were honoured on the band’s subsequent album, Rejoice! I’m Dead! (2016). In recent years GONG has performed with the Steve Hillage Band (himself a former member of the 1970s GONG line-up) and released the critically acclaimed album The Universe Also Collapses (2019) and a stunning new live album Pulsing Signals (2022) captures the band at a creative peak with tracks drawn from their 2019 tour. Their new studio album, Unending Ascending, was release in November 2023.

Gong’s musically diverse world includes shades of psychedelia, space rock, jazz, avant-garde, krautrock and surreal soundscapes.

KAVUS TORABI vocals, guitar || FABIO GOLFETTI guitar || IAN EAST sax, flute

DAVE STURT bass || CHEB NETTLES drums

About special guest CHO-ZEN FEW

The band was formed in late 2023 in Superior AZ by Ruben Riera on woodwinds, Steve Mitchell on bass, and Paul Sears on drums. Ruben has worked extensively in the NYC area playing clubs and festivals and in the Carribean as well as in Arizona playing a variety of styles. Steve Mitchell has worked for decades with rock bands all over Germany, and in Arizona. Paul Sears has worked in the USA and Europe and has played on well over 200 recordings. 

“I have a long relationship with Gong. I have played (since 1979) and recorded with Daevid Allen the founder, Steve Hillage, Didier Malherbe, and Tim Blake who were in Gong early on. It’s an honor to be working my old friend Kavus Torabi whom I have known for 20 or so years.” said Sears when talking about the upcoming shows in Phoenix and Tucson.