Audio: Interview with Kavus Torabi and Dave Sturt of Gong
Since its founding in Paris in 1967, Gong has been more than a band. With its signature style of psychedelic space rock, the group launched by Soft Machine guitarist David Allen has always been more of a collective than a proper band. With its ever-changing lineups and fascinating excursions into other styles including jazz fusion, Gong and its offshoot projects have released more than 45 studio albums and dozens of live sets. Through the years, Gong’s personnel has included Steve Hillage, Allan Holdsworth, Bill Bruford and many other important names in both the French and Canterbury, England musical communities.
Daevid Allen passed away in 2015, but before his death Gong released I See You, an album featuring Allen with guitarist Fabio Golfetti, sax and flute player Ian East, drummer Cheb Nettles, bassist Dave Sturt and guitarist Kavus Torabi. That lineup –minus Allen – would go on to make three more albums including Gong’s latest, Unending Ascending. Now the band has put together something exceedingly rare: a North American tour. On the eve of that tour – which included a date here in Asheville North Carolina at the Grey Eagle on September 27 – I spoke with Kavus Torabi and Dave Sturt for AshevilleFM.
Listen to the interview here…
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day for several years). The more than 5000 interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- some 40 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 30 Great Concept Albums is available now. Read even more about him here.