Pere Ubu, "Breath"

[thomas79marshall]

The guitar sound is excellent. I wonder what effects he's using.

[goodbye41]

HOLY SH*T 24 years on this earth didnt prep me for this..

[corkbender]

Awesome. David Thomas is a great front man, too bad he isn't more appreciated by the general music listening audience.

[tlm315]

@corkbender i agree

[BlackSN8K]

Is he ok up there?

[TheChuckleBuddies]

Excellent Curly from the 3 stooges impression at 3:10. Very comical as a whole though.

[tripehound2]

Brilliant!

[direktorjutjuba]

Fantastično



[verkenderkraftwerk2]

What a hypnotic and powerful frontman. If he's not mentioned in a top great frontmen list, than it's not credible.

[Tnelyosa]

this is my favorite thing ever

[gofuserect]

i love pere ubu

[acoronab]

What year is this?

[vijaygodard]

this is called as "live performance"

[TheRacistsMustDie]

Thank you Michel Foucault for mentioning the theater figure Ubu in one of your texts which I didn't know so I had to look it up and found this band.

[starwars5675]

im 17 an love this shit

[Kamuflarne]

I think me and two of my friends are the only Pere-fans in the world under the age of 40.

[patriciovasquezcalle]

@Kamuflarne Im 24 and i think Modern Dance is a great great album, Greetings from Lima - Perú.

[Borgesdss]

Oh my god! Michael Caine on Guitar!!!!

[WelcomeToInfinity]

I didn't know Preston Lacy has a band.

[lizza015]

¬¬'

[russellcroew]

For you kids out there....this is before you had to be a 'face' to get permission to produce great music.

[matttastrophee]

The opening song off of one of my absolute favorite albums!\

[geoffhead111]

i have to work this guy's act into my band, somehow. wins my award for worst stage moves inna universe n believe me ive seen a lot of em

[Aprilinpakistan]

Crocus Behemoth!

[SuperduperTyphoid]

I love it! It is twisted lunacy dressed up as pop. He moves so well.

[Mjollnir1234]

This IS rock, you fucking clowns. There. That. Moment.

It

[JonasGrumbyBand]

Pere Ubu always reminds me of the 'Scum of the Earth' episode of WKRP...

[secondbalconyjump]

Guitarist looks like Bob Stinson.

[jityr2]

Does he kinda remind you of the lead singer of Meatloaf?

[fardinhimself]

cool

[The1337BBQ]

Like a mix of Sting and Dire Straits.

[siropik]

Più l'ascolto e più godo! Fantastic!

[Nega888]

@siropik

Come non quotarti.

[jms6959]

these guys should be bigger tan u2, just sayin'

[WaxHeadroom]

@jms6959 You're right, but the phrase "just sayin" is one of the worst fads I've encountered.

[SoopSoopa]

@jms6959

literally

[Futilityman]

I saw this show in 89.It has stayed with me all these years.

[mistinroots]

genialne

[vaderbomb93]

Even better than the album version...and that's saying something.

[hiddenfire66]

I'm a bigger fan of their first few albums ... "Cloudland" to me was okay ... but something really comes together here. This is a magical performance.

[ssdu3]

Cocaine.

[tt21121]

awesome song

[comedian618]

The singer's a complete nut job! Thats why we love that freak!

[terrot50]

oh...



[MattyDoable]

Who's the guitar player?

[froncable]

@MattyDoable Jim Jones..he's dead in 2008

[MattyDoable]

This is remarkable.

[MacDrevi0us]

Flanger FTW

[gtralisfr69]

This is the most underrated band in the world.

[hiddenfire65]

Among all the greatness in here is Scott Krauss, who is/was a masterful drummer.

[hiddenfire65]

Among all the greatness in here is Scott Krauss, who is/was a masterful drummer.

[TheBalloonHoax]

This vid got me into Pere Ubu and this led me down the rabbit hole to these guys and i finally figured out the cool little solo the guy does and i couldn't be happier today.

[ghlysptwld]

wait till you check out the older stuff

[umbralll]

Genial!

[Fergussimo77]

He's a tremendous vocalist. The whole band is brilliant and this a brilliant song!

[mantra3000]

The singer looks like a parking lot schizophrenic homeless man.

[mantra3000]

@mantra3000 And I really mean that as a compliment

[meezerlover]

He really gets- into- the music, doesn't he??? lol

[sportmetal87]

WHAT TIHIS GUY ARE DOING???????HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH­A

[MrLaurence19]

When is night music going to be on dvd?  This great!!!!

[pitufogandolfo]

18 people who listen to Shakira went to see a video of Pere Ubu and voted negative. But the seed was in their brains. Wait and see :D

[skbarton13]

Enjoyed this as much as these words can express -- Thank you Mr. Ego! (oh and thanks to David Thomas and the players of Pere Ubu...great tune, great performance -- wildly resonant!)

[zeitok8]

fantabulantastico.

[chardoze]

David Thomas is a genius!!! Brilliant!

[preppus]

damn..this is sooo cool..special vocal make it super special

[sindrole]

hey did that guy play the principal in billy madison?

[jityr2]

What year is this video?

[FraterSoddi]

david thomas is a jehovah's witness

[FungusMossGnosis]

@FraterSoddi

Shit, really? Oh, I read he became JW sometime in the early 80's. That's by far the weirdest thing about him.

[godkingbeast]

this is phoney

[GaylordFocher]

First time I've seen this. Brilliant song, brilliant performance. When was this clip recorded?

[mhicdhughil]

Crocus Behemoth

[SaraSavira]

verdaderamente espectacular¡¡¡¡¡¡

[TheGuitarGuy]

This is awesome, I definitely see some of the singers stage presence influence in Gord Downie from the tragically hip.

[pyenapple]

Note to all future viewers: If you click thumbs-down, you're hugely at risk of being considered a huge idiot.

[geminirat60]

sux

[mandomtz]

touching. it's both criminal and comforting that this band the reach beyond their cult following

[WillCommentForFood]

This performance is timeless

[WaxHeadroom]

Looks like 14 people are soulless husks. Long Live Pere Ubu.

[FungusMossGnosis]

Just like an opera villain gone dada.

[RedMapp1]

David Thomas.... what a frontman!!!!

[jgwest1]

Damn, what kind of alternate universe contains late-night talk shows that book Pere Ubu as the musical guest?  And can I move there please?

[heavydutydudes]

@jgwest1 the 80s

[entityforeclosure]

@jgwest1

Night Music! It had lots of great music.

[boogster123321]

@jgwest1 letterman had them on

[myklmusic]

@jgwest1 Ya know!

[cobdendunster]

Wow! This man rocks!

[CazzoAlato]

what is the year of this masterpeace??

thank' s

[katastrofa234]

:):):):):D

[damianlang]

awesome!

[sleestack808]

beautiful melody

[MattJDesigns]

i can see hwo influenced jello's on-stage antics. pretty cool... thanks for posting this.

[jms6959]

There is NO JUSTCE, or these guys would have u2 as an opening act!!!!!!!

[santyrush]

jajajajajajajajajajajajaj qur tio, hace gestos de todo tipo....

[mitzjob]

A band much imitated but never topped...You'll never see them in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...They're way to hip for that crap-fest...

[VINCENTECT]

Pere Ubu: The most passionate individual group, with the greatest anti-mainstream fusion of of expressive epileptic soul that I have EVER embraced.

Tnegana~

[chukcanuk]

Thanks for posting this. Nightmusic was the best music show ever. A huge spectrum of artists. Not playing hits for the most part. It is sorely missed.

[spasmodiccaress]

Now I can see where Talkin' Heads came from... bE sPASMODIC, CHECK OUT SPASMODIC CARESS ON YOUTUBE

[reddyredd]

I'm a bit bitter that 120 Minutes played 'Waiting For Mary' many times when I was a kid, yet I NEVER saw/heard this gem at the time.

But now whenever I do any karaoke, my expressionism is just totally Dave Thomas. My hands can't help but think "What would Dave do?"

[wizishere]

Pere Ubu owns the beatles !

[migbee]

@wizishere totally different. how can you even make that comparison?

[oHelmslyo]

This sounds very un-Ubu like in comparison to their early stuff, but this shiny production work hardly tamed them, especially Dave Thomas who's eccentric as ever. This is a pretty good song even if it is a drastic break from their usual route.

[bxymox]

Tourette's guy! TITS !

[ericarmstrong1]

David Thomas is one of the purest performers ever. They're playing in Cleveland March 5. Don't miss seeing them in person.

[Screwuytlukas]

whats wrong with him, is he on drugs?

[Robert85435]

@ sceruytlukas - nothing's wrong, why?

[GoChokeOn1]

"Mr Thomas's voice is that of a man muttering in a crowd. You think he's talking to himself until you realize he's talking to you."

-Greil Marcus

[wetsuit101]

DUDE. I finally know where Tim and Eric got the inspiration for Casey's on-stage mannerisms.

Also, Pere Ubu is sheer genius.

[ShockTheseTrees]

Hahah brilliant observation. I never thought of that.

[borat27]

WOW. you are right. I want to hear them do hamburgers and hot dogs

[CodyRicheson]

@wetsuit101, you just made my day. Tjim and Eric are my idols and Pere Ubu is quickly becoming a new favorite of mine. I discovered them through The Residents.

[ghlysptwld]

I was willing to cut you down . with a chain saw till you said genius

[tmcintosh21]

@wetsuit101 He just has soul, Tim and Eric got it from something else, in which I know of.

[herbertkearse]

Did David Thomas have Tourette Syndrome

[Fatgeologist]

David Thomas really should be the next US president!

[hobbsk]

i watch this video ever month. it really picks me up and makes we want to play guitar!! brilliant

[LennyTootsHoffman]

Play guitar. Emulate Jim Jones.

[hobbsk]

@LennyTootsHoffman Wear Birkenstocks. Emulate Abbie Hoffman.

[kraftwerk456]

i can't get the guitar riff right.

Fuck it's catchy

[agathox89]

love this live version so much more than the recorded version

[erik444strand]

I can't find the recorded version. How to find? Any help is highly appreciated!

[eyevocal]

The remastered and expanded version of Cloudland is available now. If not in a cool store in your area, then on Amazon.

[zoranest]

actually guys this the only listenable song form pere ubu the rest is captain insano music

[mihovil]

@zoranest Captain Insano would make an okay band name.

[TobeUK]

although i have tonnes of punk, 'post-punk', all kinds of underground and alternative stuff in my record collection, its taken me forever to get around to Pere Ubu for some reason...but i now have a copy of The Modern Dance and love it, but ive got a LOT of catchin up to do- which 3 or 4 of their albums should i get next people?

[thcia]

I would recommend "Dub Housing" if you can find it.

[eyevocal]

If you don't have Terminal Tower - An Archival Collection, get it NOW. After that, save some money and buy the Datapanik in the Year Zero box set, which will get you all their early studio output.

[PorkShopExpress]

angoissante question:Comment est-ce possible que David Thomas, en plus d'être un des principaux pivot de la musique Américaine des 40 dernières

années, avec Captain Beefheart, Television, Talking heads ou The residents, n'ait pas eu l'opportunité d'être acteur

[Yoetah]

D Thomas is brilliantly bizarre

[zazeify]

David, you're quickly becoming my favorite singer. Really a joy.

[lizandrillo]

let me walk with you, cause it´s breakingggg my heartttttt....yeahhhhh!

[candydirt]

I love David's gesticulations :3

[lizandrillo]

Those gesticuklations are David´s own trademark....great åerfomer!!!!....love them all!

[Gonzo82883]

greatttttttttttttttttttttttt

[oylovely]

fuckin' love this band!

[lizardale]

Please, someone help me... I'm looking for the tabs of Breath...

[davebo27]

I just found this song because my name is David Thomas, and i like egosurfing.

[gnarlyharley1]

The first time I saw them was on "Post Modern MTV." back in the '80's. Cool band

[SassofonaroVale95]

pere ubu 4ever!!!!

[soundofsulfer]

i guess he has to make those gestures to get his voice out. haha, but it sounds good.

[2fej]

Really stuck on this song. Great sound and perfromers. Thanks for sharing.

[disconnected22]

I actually found an mp3 of this song on LimeWire...

[Nakkinak]

This is an EXPRESSIVE singer

[jityr2]

@Nakkinak Yeah a lot of body language.

[chardoze]

Excellent performance!!!

[srgntpppr]

Dave Thomas is just the best.

[khanflesh]

They just don't make 'em like that anymore. The man oozes chaos and charisma.

[matteosniper]

very nice sound this is music it's so different from commercial sound

[giacomo23]

immensi.

[7714808]

Does anyone know the story on the synth and Bass players? Seem like I can remember them with the Residents or at least Snakefinger.

[wtfwaco]

Synth player is Eric Drew Feldman who did play with Snakefinger (and Capt. Beefheart, Frank Black/Pixies, and PJ Harvey). Bass player is Tony Maimone who has played with Bob Mould, They Might Be Giants, and Jon Langford/Mekons.

[donnybrooklads]

Utter sheer genius eons ahead of the mob.. David Byrne take a seat

[August079]

Lolol - The Real Art Punk my friends! and comic perfomer. lol :D

[talissin]

omg i love this man, just the way he pose himself...I'd call it communication, better, expression.

[karlthompson30]

Did these discover indie pop 20 yrs too early, or are they just shit, or maybe blind, or both or all three, or just shit! - anomic from surrey.

[shadowplayca]

grandissimi pere ubu!!

[texasBMXer]

Man. No wonder Rocket From the Tombs split up...

[justoffbyabit]

I lost my entire music library. Someone please tell me the song that has the following lyrics...

I wear a suit... And honey I wear a tie... Yeah, yeah yeah....

[Polyphemus47]

"Slow Walking Daddy" from St Arkansas

[TOREMJ]

I've never heard about this group but the singer is quite a character. Enjoyable clip.

[luvumo2day]

awesome show pi pa arghhghh! love 4 evevah .....rockonbonzo76!!!!!!!!!! thankyou for the alert!!! so coool

[spanishdragon06]

if you cant understand what pere ubu is tryin to say then you are not fit to be a part of humanity and must be exterminated along with those who enjoy metallica over pere

[Ibanezguy2007]

what are they trying to say then? And yer I listen to Metallica. dont try and compare, they are two completely different bands/genres of music.

but yeh, go on explain..

[zoranest]

do u guys actually enjoy their music? why?

[yamagouchy69]

Great melody, amazing beat, very inventive of style. In short - unlike any other band.

[Dmasterofpuppet]

they're new wave's father . awesome

[zoranest]

i really cant understand their music except that song

[eczema1966]

You right Briggsbeall:

"They ought to be national treasures."

people react without thinking at all. Know nothing about the band, probably never heard more than one song of them (and maybe only just heard that version of "breath"). For those who don't know, i would just say , listen to Dub Housing, Modern Dance, Raygun Suitcase, Pennsylvania, St Arkansas, Why I Hate Women.

Y'know, the damnable thing is that, compared to the front men of early rocknroll--Louis Jourdan, Little Richard, Jerry Lee, Elvis--Mr. Thomas is practically sedate, and their stuff, certainly Cloudland--brainy, challenging, a little off-beat, sure--can hardly be called inaccessible. They've made at least four of the greatest records ever. They ought to be national treasures. And people react like the booboisie at the first Impressionism show.