Sad news from the psych world: Daevid Allen, founder and frontman of long-running experimentalists Gong, has revealed that cancer has spread through his body and he only has six months to live.
A statement from the musician, who also co-founded Soft Machine, explained that he had previously undergone surgery when cancer was found in his neck. Despite the procedure, the cancer has returned and spread into his lungs.
"The original surgery took much of it out, but the cancer has now recreated itself with renewed vigour while also spreading to my lung. The cancer is now so well established that I have now been given approximately six months to live," he explained in the letter.
Saying that he's "not interested in endless surgical operations," Allen further explained that "the time has come to stop resisting and denying and to surrender to the way it is."
The Australian-born Allen travelled to the UK in 1961 and founded Soft Machine in 1966. Visa issues prevented him from getting back into the UK after the band undertook a long European tour, so he started up Gong while living in Paris.
After producing Gong's Radio Gnome Trilogy (comprising 1973's Flying Teapot and Angel's Egg, and 1974's You), Allen left the band, but rejoined in 1991. The group's most recent collection was last year's I See You. Allen's illness prevented him from touring with the rest of the band.
You'll find his letter in full down below.
Hello you Kookaburras,
OK so I have had my PET-CAT scans (which is essentially a full body viewing gallery for cancer specialists, ) and so it is now confirmed that the invading cancer has returned to successfully establish dominant residency in my neck.
The original surgery took much of it out, but the cancer has now recreated itself with renewed vigour while also spreading to my lung.
The cancer is now so well established that I have now been given approximately six months to live.
So My view has Changed:
I am not interested in endless surgical operations and in fact it has come as a relief to know that the end is in sight.
I am a great believer in "The Will of the Way Things Are" and I also believe that the time has come to stop resisting and denying and to surrender to the way it is.
I can only hope that during this journey, I have somehow contributed to the happiness in the lives of a few other fellow humans.
I believe I have done my best to heal, dear friends and that you have been enormously helpful in supporting me through this time.
So Thank you SO much for being there with me, for the Ocean of Love and Now, importantly, Thank you for starting the process of letting go of me, of mourning then transforming and celebrating this death coming up – this is how you can contribute, this would be a great gift from those emotionally and spiritually involved with me.
I love you and will be with you always
- Daevid xxx -
A statement from the musician, who also co-founded Soft Machine, explained that he had previously undergone surgery when cancer was found in his neck. Despite the procedure, the cancer has returned and spread into his lungs.
"The original surgery took much of it out, but the cancer has now recreated itself with renewed vigour while also spreading to my lung. The cancer is now so well established that I have now been given approximately six months to live," he explained in the letter.
Saying that he's "not interested in endless surgical operations," Allen further explained that "the time has come to stop resisting and denying and to surrender to the way it is."
The Australian-born Allen travelled to the UK in 1961 and founded Soft Machine in 1966. Visa issues prevented him from getting back into the UK after the band undertook a long European tour, so he started up Gong while living in Paris.
After producing Gong's Radio Gnome Trilogy (comprising 1973's Flying Teapot and Angel's Egg, and 1974's You), Allen left the band, but rejoined in 1991. The group's most recent collection was last year's I See You. Allen's illness prevented him from touring with the rest of the band.
You'll find his letter in full down below.
Hello you Kookaburras,
OK so I have had my PET-CAT scans (which is essentially a full body viewing gallery for cancer specialists, ) and so it is now confirmed that the invading cancer has returned to successfully establish dominant residency in my neck.
The original surgery took much of it out, but the cancer has now recreated itself with renewed vigour while also spreading to my lung.
The cancer is now so well established that I have now been given approximately six months to live.
So My view has Changed:
I am not interested in endless surgical operations and in fact it has come as a relief to know that the end is in sight.
I am a great believer in "The Will of the Way Things Are" and I also believe that the time has come to stop resisting and denying and to surrender to the way it is.
I can only hope that during this journey, I have somehow contributed to the happiness in the lives of a few other fellow humans.
I believe I have done my best to heal, dear friends and that you have been enormously helpful in supporting me through this time.
So Thank you SO much for being there with me, for the Ocean of Love and Now, importantly, Thank you for starting the process of letting go of me, of mourning then transforming and celebrating this death coming up – this is how you can contribute, this would be a great gift from those emotionally and spiritually involved with me.
I love you and will be with you always
- Daevid xxx -
