Gang of Four bᴀssist Dave Allen has sadly pᴀssed away his ‘heartbroken’ bandmates announced in a statement, just weeks before the group’s US tour. 

Dave, who retired from the British punk band’s line-up in 2008, died on Saturday aged 69 surrounded by his wife and children after battling early-onset dementia. 

Alongside a slew of pH๏τos of the late musician, Hugo Burnham and John King penned: ‘It is with broken yet full hearts that we share the news that Dave Allen, our old music partner, friend, and brilliant musician, died on Saturday morning’.

‘He was at home with his family. Dave had endured the early-onset of mixed dementia for some years which has been a heartbreaking time for his wife Paddy, his children, and close friends. Our love and thoughts are with them. Jon and I [Hugo] went to see him and spent a lovely afternoon with him and the family’.

‘We talked and laughed for hours, sharing rich and vivid memories of good times together. Adventures, careers in music, raising families, our interwoven lives spanning half a century. We’ve been so very lucky to have had the Ace of Bᴀss in our lives.

Before adding: ‘We know that Dave would have wanted nothing more than to step onstage with us again in Portland on our farewell US tour. But it’s now a bridge too far. Goodbye, Old Friend’.

Gang of Four bᴀssist Dave Allen has sadly pᴀssed away his ‘heartbroken’ bandmates have announced in a statement, just weeks before the group’s US tour (pictured 2005) 

Dave (centre) who retired from the punk band’s line-up in 2008, died aged 69 after battling early-onset dementia (pictured with bandmates (L-R) Jon King and Hugo Burnham

Gang Of Four (L-R) Hugo Burnham, Jon King, Dave Allen, Andy Gill pictured 1979

Rushing to the comments devastated fans shared their condolences writing:  ‘Beautiful tribute and sending love and condolences’: ‘The bᴀss lines he wrote, both as a young man and later in life, were and are didactic for bᴀssists of my generation and ever onward. Truly a hero. Very sorry for your loss’.

‘Such sad news, dave really was an amazing bᴀss player. loads of love to you all x’: ‘One of my heroes. I learned how to play bᴀss better, to groove and syncopate, to put melodic flourishes in the right places from him. Rest in power’: ‘I am so sad and so sorry to hear this. Heartbroken for you, and sending much love to you all’.

Dave formed the band in Leeds in 1976 alongside, singer Jon King, drummer Hugo Burnham and guitarist Andy Gill.

Andy sadly died aged 64 after reportedly contracting of Covid-19 in 2020.

Dave left the Gang of Four, who throughout their career has released a whopping 10 albums, in 1981 and went on to from his band Shriekback, before returning to the line-up from 2004 until 2008.

In 2019, the new line-up embarked on a 40th anniversary world tour, playing in countries including Japan, Greece, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. 

Gang of Four is known for combining punk-rock, funk and dub with lyrics focusing on Marxist politics and the social and political ills of society. The influential band are considered one of the leading bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s post-punk movement.

Rolling Stone editor David Fricke previously described the band as ‘probably the best politically motivated band in rock & roll.’

Alongside a slew of pH๏τos of the late musician (pictured 2009) Hugo Burnham and John King penned a tribute

Dave  (far right) left the Gang of Four in 1981 and went on to from his band Shriekback, before returning to the line-up from 2004 until 2008 (band pictured 2005)

They wrote: ‘It is with broken yet full hearts that we share the news that Dave Allen, our old music partner, friend, and brilliant musician, died on Saturday morning’

Rushing to the comments devastated fans shared their condolences writing: ‘Beautiful tribute and sending love and condolences’

Announcing Andy’s death in a statement in 2020 the band wrote: ‘This is so hard for us to write, but our great friend and supreme leader has died today. 

‘Andy’s final tour in November was the only way he was ever really going to bow out; with a Stratocaster around his neck, screaming with feedback and deafening the front row.

‘His uncompromising artistic vision and commitment to the cause meant that he was still listening to mixes for the upcoming record, whilst planning the next tour from his hospital bed.’

Former bandmate Andy Gill (pictured, 2015) has died aged 64 in 2020