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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 & Hugh Hopper — Bracknell Bresse Improvisations Alan Gowen & Hugh Hopper — Bracknell Bresse Improvisations
(Voiceprint VP186CD, 1996, CD)
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)
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)

Latest news

2020-10-14
Audion Is Back in Business – Our esteemed colleague Alan Freeman has restarted Audion Magazine after a seven year hiatus. The new incarnation is available online on their Bandcamp site. Audion's history goes back to 1984, and included 58 issues up to 2013. Issue #59 is available now, and #60 is in the works. » Read more

2020-10-06
Romantic Warriors IV – Krautrock (Part 2) Is in the Works – Zeitgeist Media, the people who have brought us the great series of documentary films chronicling the history of progressive rock, are working on the second installment of their examination of German music. Krautrock 2 will focus on artists from Münich such as Guru Guru, Amon Düül II, Xhol Caravan, Kraan, Witthüser & Westrupp, and Popol Vuh. » Read more

2020-09-09
Simeon Coxe RIP – Simeon Coxe, best known for his experimental electronics in the band Silver Apples, has died at the age of 82. The band's 1968 debut album set the stage for both German electronic music and experimental punk music a decade later. Coxe died on September 8 from pulmonary fibrosis. » Read more

2020-09-05
Gary Peacock RIP – Legendary bassist Gary Peacock, veteran of many recordings and performances with Paul Bley, George Russell, Roland Kirk, Bill Evans, Tony Williams, and many more. » Read more

2020-07-22
Tim Smith RIP – Tim Smith, leader of the eccentric band Cardiacs, has died at the age of 59 after many years of health problems. Cardiacs was known for intense and complicated music that combined punk energy with the rhythmic and harmonic sophistication of progressive rock. » Read more

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