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Alan Gowen

Alan Gowen
Country
England
Profile
Alan Gowen (born 19 August 1947, North Hampstead, northwest London - 17 May 1981) was a fusion/progressive rock keyboardist, best known for his work in Gilgamesh and National Health. Gowen joined Assagai in 1971 before going on to found Sunship in 1972 with Jamie Muir (drums, also from Assagai) and Laurie Baker (bass). The band also included Allan Holdsworth on guitar. He formed Gilgamesh in 1973 and started a collaboration with Hatfield and the North, eventually founding National Health with Hatfield and the North's keyboardist Dave Stewart in 1975. Gowen left National Health in 1977. In 1978, Gowen formed Soft Heap with Elton Dean, Hugh Hopper, and Pip Pyle. With Dave Sheen replacing Pyle, the band toured as Soft Head in the summer of 1978. He also recorded a second Gilgamesh album that year. Gowen re-joined National Health in 1979-1980 and also continued with Soft Heap in this period. Before a Word is Said (1981), recorded with Richard Sinclair (bass, briefly in Gilgamesh), Phil Miller (guitar, from National Health), and Trevor Tomkins (drums, from Gilgamesh), was the last album Gowen recorded before his death from leukemia in 1981.
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Related articles (13)
Releases on file (15)
Various Artists — Romantic Warriors III: Canterbury Tales Various Artists — Romantic Warriors III: Canterbury Tales
(Zeitgeist Media 3, 2015, DVD)
Alan Gowen / Phil Miller / Richard Sinclair / Trevor Tomkins — Before a Word Is Said Alan Gowen / Phil Miller / Richard Sinclair / Trevor Tomkins — Before a Word Is Said
(Voiceprint VP103, 1982/1995, CD)
National Health — D.S. al Coda National Health — D.S. al Coda
(Blueprint BP129CD, 1982/2001, CD)
Alan Gowen & Hugh Hopper — Bracknell Bresse Improvisations Alan Gowen & Hugh Hopper — Bracknell Bresse Improvisations
(Cuneiform no#, 1980/2021, DL)
Gilgamesh — Another Fine Tune You Got Me Into Gilgamesh — Another Fine Tune You Got Me Into
(Esoteric Recordings ECLEC2126, 1979/2009, CD)
National Health — Playtime National Health — Playtime
(Cuneiform Rune 145, 1979/2001, CD)
Soft Heap — Soft Heap Soft Heap — Soft Heap
(Esoteric Recordings ECLEC2131, 1979/2009, CD)
Soft Heap — Al Dente Soft Heap — Al Dente
(Reel Recordings RR 008, 1978/2008, CD)
National Health — National Health National Health — National Health
(Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2129, 1978/2009, CD)
National Health — Of Queues and Cures National Health — Of Queues and Cures
(Esoteric Recordings ECLEC2130, 1978/2009, CD)
Soft Head — Rogue Element Soft Head — Rogue Element
(Ogun OGCD 013 B, 1978/1996, CD)
Hugh Hopper & Alan Gowen — Two Rainbows Daily Hugh Hopper & Alan Gowen — Two Rainbows Daily
(Cuneiform Rune 77, 1978/1995, CD)
Gilgamesh — Arriving Twice Gilgamesh — Arriving Twice
(Cuneiform Rune 140, 1975/2000, CD)
Gilgamesh — Gilgamesh Gilgamesh — Gilgamesh
(Esoteric Recordings ECLEC2242, 1975/2011, CD)
National Health — Missing Pieces National Health — Missing Pieces
(East Side Digital ESD 81172, 1974/1996, CD)

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