We are sad to hear that our friend and long time collaborator David Thomas, the groundbreaking frontman of Pere Ubu, Rocket From The Tombs, and numerous solo projects, has died after a long illness. He passed away on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at home with MC5 playing on the radio.
Over the past two decades, Fire Records worked closely with David Thomas and Pere Ubu to celebrate and preserve the band’s legacy, reissuing landmark albums from across their catalogue including no less than five expansive box sets including previously unearthed material, compiled in close collaboration with Thomas himself.
Thomas leaves behind a legacy as one of the true outsiders of modern music — a singular voice who inspired generations of artists across genres. From punk and post-punk to art rock and experimental music, his influence is deeply felt. Musicians ranging from Joy Division and R.E.M. to The Fall, Pixies, and Sonic Youth have acknowledged Pere Ubu’s role in shaping their sound. David’s work opened doors for the bold, the weird, and the fiercely independent.
The band’s statement ends with a line that captures his spirit perfectly: “My name is David Fucking Thomas… and I’m the lead singer of the best fucking rock and roll band in the world.”
Long live Pere Ubu.
