Pere Ubu frontman David Thomas has died, aged 71.
The musician, who also performed with Rocket From The Tombs, and made numerous solo projects, passed away in his home town of Brighton & Hove yesterday (Wednesday April 23).
The news was shared via a statement on the official Pere Ubu page on Facebook, which said Thomas died after a “long illness”. His wife and youngest step-daughter were by his side.
“MC5 were playing on the radio,” the message continued. “He will ultimately be returned to his home, the farm in Pennsylvania, where he insisted he was to be ‘thrown in the barn’.”
Thomas, born in Florida in 1953 but based in the UK, was the only member to have stayed with Pere Ubu throughout the post-punk group’s lengthy career. They formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975.
“David Thomas and his band have been recording a new album. He knew it was to be his last,” the official statement added. “We will endeavour to continue with mixing and finalising the new album so that his last music is available to all.”
It went on: “Aside from that, he left instruction that the work should continue to catalog all the tapes from live shows via the official Bandcamp page. His autobiography was nearly completed and we will finish that for him. Pere Ubu’s Patreon will continue as a community, run by Communex.
“We’ll leave you with his own words, which sums up who he was better than we can – ‘My name is David Fucking Thomas… and I’m the lead singer of the best fucking rock and roll band in the world.’ (Frigo Documentary).”
The message ended with the words: “Long Live Pere Ubu.”
Since the news was shared, countless fans and fellow artists have flocked to social media to pay tribute to the musician.
On X/Twitter, Cherry Red Records said: “We’re saddened to hear of the passing of David Thomas, the visionary frontman of Pere Ubu. David was a true pioneer of the avant-garde and his music and art reshaped the boundaries of post-punk and inspired generations. We are proud to have worked with him.”
Journalist and Membranes singer John Robb described him as “fascinating presence on stage” on Louder Than War. He also said how he stood out in an “utterly unique in an overcrowded space of guitar, bass and drums, and his off-kilter yelping voice remained poetically captivating, often darkly amusing and also somehow terrifying”.
Tongue Master Records hailed him as a “massive influence and true groundbreaking artist”, while a fan on X celebrated him as knowing “how to push the boundaries”.
“Pere Ubu had such a huge influence on me a songwriter,” wrote another. “The idea you could both hate and love the place you’re from AND make it the central character in a song completely shaped the way I approached music… It was beautiful.”
A third simply described Thomas as “a colossus of the musical cosmos” and “always unique”. Check out more tributes below.
We’re saddened to hear of the passing of David Thomas, the visionary frontman of Pere Ubu. David was a true pioneer of the avant-garde and his music and art reshaped the boundaries of post-punk and inspired generations. We are proud to have worked with him.
📸Brian David Stevens pic.twitter.com/OGOCJCPui5
— Cherry Red Records (@CherryRedGroup) April 24, 2025
Farewell to David Thomas, of Pere Ubu (my favorite band for 30 years), Rocket from the Tombs, 2 Pale Boys, and many other projects and appearances.
Privileged to have shaken his hand and thanked him multiple times, and chatted pleasantly with him twice.
STAY SICK AND TURN BLUE! pic.twitter.com/UCT5tgEMcF
— Ian W. Hill (@geminicollision) April 24, 2025
RIP David Thomas (1953 – 2025).
His band Pere Ubu knew how to push the boundaries, there was no such thing as a safety net with these guys and that's exactly what I need to be reminded of when painting. https://t.co/cNdaBUvzq6— Peter Joyce (@pdjart) April 24, 2025
RIP David Thomas. Pere Ubu had such a huge influence on me a songwriter. The idea you could both hate and love the place you’re from AND make it the central character in a song completely shaped the way I approached music. It’s all over everything I’ve done from Apologies on
— Boeckner (@d_boeckner) April 24, 2025
David Thomas died yesterday. A colossus of the musical cosmos, always unique. From the off @ubuprojex set the standard for avant garde as far as I was concerned and were a huge influence. What a voice! "James Stewart trapped in an oboe". Thanks for the music dear chap. pic.twitter.com/4V69e4e4Lo
— The Shend (@The_Shend) April 24, 2025
RIP David Thomas#pereubu #davidthomas
Very sad day.
Massive influence and true groundbreaking artist. pic.twitter.com/tzBxpvFXme— Tongue Master Records (@TongueMasterRec) April 24, 2025
Pere Ubu released their 19th and most recent studio album, ‘Trouble On Big Beat Street’, in 2023. They played their latest live show in July that same year, in Pisa, Italy (per Setlist.FM).
In late 2017, the band cancelled a run of US shows due to Thomas’ health issues. “David insisted on continuing the tour but his doctors have insisted he stays where he is for the moment,” a statement read at the time.