Pere Ubu Members, Gear & Sound
US rock group from Cleveland
Members
Select a Pere Ubu band member to check out the music gear they use live and in the studio.
- See Gear
- See Gear
- See Gear
-
See Gear
Roles:
Needs more gearGroups:
Swans The Feelies Richard Hell & The Voidoids Electric Eels Locus Solus The Rockit Band The Lounge Lizards Autonomous Zone Two Against One The Styrenes The Lodge Gestalt et Jive Blind Light Flying Mijinko Band The Big Guns Divination X-X The Golden Palominos Herbie Hancock (band) F.O.E Longhouse Peter Brötzmann Tentet Tokyo Rotation K2 - See Gear
- See Gear
About
Pere Ubu is an American avant-garde rock band known for their innovative approach to music, blending elements of post-punk, art rock, and experimental rock. Formed in 1975 in Cleveland, Ohio, the group has undergone numerous lineup changes over the years, with David Thomas as the constant frontman, known for his distinctive, theatrical vocal style. The original lineup included Peter Laughner (guitar), Tom Herman (guitar), Tim Wright (bass), Allen Ravenstine (keyboards), and Scott Krauss (drums). Pere Ubu emerged from the remnants of the cult band Rocket from the Tombs and quickly gained a reputation for their idiosyncratic sound, which combines punk's raw energy with abstract, often surreal musical landscapes.
How to Sound Like Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu's sound is characterized by its angular, dissonant guitar riffs and chaotic yet controlled rhythms, creating a soundscape that feels both industrial and organic. Their music often features piercing synths and avant-garde noise, courtesy of Allen Ravenstine's keyboard work, which adds a layer of unpredictable texture. This is complemented by the band's use of fuzz and overdrive effects, such as the Electro-Harmonix "Ram's Head" Big Muff Pi V2 and Boss BD-2 Blues Driver, to produce distorted, gritty tones. Guitars like the Gibson ES-335 are often employed to deliver both jangly and robust sounds that oscillate between melodic and abrasive. This blend of experimental noise and rhythmic precision is what gives Pere Ubu their unmistakable edge, making them pioneers in the world of alternative and experimental rock.
Discography
The Modern Dance
1978
Dub Housing
1978
New Picnic Time
1979
The Art of Walking
1980
Song of the Bailing Man
1982
One Man Drives While the Other Man Screams - Live, Vol. 2
1989
Raygun Suitcase
1995
The Shape of Things
2000
Lady from Shanghai
2013
Carnival of Souls
2014
20 Years in a Montana Missile Silo
2017
Terminal Tower
2018
The Long Goodbye
2019
By Order Of Mayor Pawlicki (Live In Jarocin)
2020
390 Degrees of Simulated Stereo V.21C (Live)
2021
Pennsylvania (2021 Remix & Remaster)
2021
St. Arkansas (2021 Remix & Remaster)
2021
Carnival of Souls (2022 Master)
2022
Lady from Shanghai (2022 Remix and Master)
2022
Long Live Père Ubu! (2022 Remix and Master)
2022
Why I LUV Women (2022 Remix and Master)
2022
Trouble On Big Beat Street
2023
Get the Pere Ubu Sound
Want to sound like Pere Ubu? This gear comes straight from the setups of the band's members, based on proven sources. Dive into each artist's page for more detail and inspiration.