It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dave Allen, the renowned bassist known for his work with Gang of Four and Shriekback, who died on Saturday at the age of 69 due to undisclosed health issues.

The unfortunate news of Allen’s death was confirmed by his longtime colleague and Gang of Four bandmate, Hugo Burnham. He shared that Allen had been bravely facing the challenges of early-onset mixed dementia for several years, a condition that profoundly affected his family, friends, and fans.

Joining Gang of Four just a short time after their inception in 1976, Allen contributed significantly to the band’s early success. He played a vital role in the creation of their highly regarded first two albums, Entertainment! released in 1979, and Solid Gold in 1981, which helped establish the band as pioneers of the post-punk movement.

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In 1981, he left Gang of Four to form Shriekback, where he made his mark on their first five studio albums before departing in 1986. During that time, he also launched the World Domination Recordings label, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit.

Allen briefly reunited with the original lineup of Gang of Four between 2004 and 2008, and in the following years, he balanced his passion for music with technology roles at companies like Intel, Beats Music, and Apple, demonstrating his versatility in different fields.

You can read Burnham’s complete statement below, expressing the profound loss felt by the music community.

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With heavy hearts, we share the devastating news that our dear friend and exceptional musician, Dave Allen, passed away on Saturday morning.

He spent his final moments at home, surrounded by his loved ones. For several years, Dave faced the challenges of early-onset mixed dementia, a journey that has been incredibly difficult for his wife, Paddy, their children, and his close friends. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with them during this time.

Jon and I [Hugo] visited him recently, and we enjoyed a wonderful afternoon filled with laughter and storytelling. We reminisced about our shared adventures, careers in music, family life, and the rich tapestry of our intertwined lives over the past fifty years.

We feel incredibly fortunate to have had the Ace of Bass in our lives, contributing his unique talents and passion.

While we know Dave would have loved nothing more than to join us on stage once more during our farewell US tour in Portland, sadly, that is now beyond reach.

Farewell, dear friend.