music_note LyroVerse Lyrics, artists, photos, and community curation.
search
menu_bookGuides forumCommunity leaderboard lyricsSubmit lyrics artistSuggest artist login person_add
Live listeners 19
search
Pere Ubu
Artist profile

Pere Ubu

Pere Ubu formed in 1975 from the remains of Rocket from the Tombs, with David Thomas on vocals and Tom Herman on guitar. Their debut album 'The Modern Dance'...

album66 lyric pages photo_library1 photo groups19 listeners here now Editor's note live
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
Start here

The pages that open this catalog up fastest

These picks surface the stronger lyric pages first instead of dropping you into one endless list.

49 Guitars & One Girl Video on page · 2 visits arrow_forward All The Dogs Are Barking Video on page · 2 visits arrow_forward Blow Daddy-o Video on page · 2 visits arrow_forward Breath Video on page · 2 visits arrow_forward Bus Called Happiness Video on page · 2 visits arrow_forward Busman's Honeymoon Video on page · 2 visits arrow_forward
Editor's note

Pere Ubu, the Cleveland band that warped rock.

A restless, angular sound that started in 1975 and never settled down.

For their particular flavor, try 'The Modern Dance' or the song 'Sleepwalk'. They're a good place to hear what the fuss was about.

They came out of Cleveland in the late '70s with a sound that didn't fit anywhere neatly. 'The Modern Dance' and 'Dub Housing' arrived the same year, full of clattering rhythms and David Thomas's distinct vocal presence. A song like 'Fire' shows how they could be both jarring and oddly catchy.

The band formed from Rocket from the Tombs in 1975, with David Thomas as the constant through endless lineup shifts. They put out 'The Modern Dance' in 1978, 'Dub Housing' that same year, and 'The Art of Walking' in 1979. Later compilations like 'Terminal Tower' gathered their early, scattered work.

edit_note Ethan Walker · LyroVerse team · Apr 20
verified

LyroVerse editor's notes are short interpretation guides, not final verdicts. If something needs a correction, visit About or Contact.

Artist at a glance

The fast read

66 lyric pages live 1 photo available Editor's note live Video on page
Photos

Visual archive

Real photos only. No placeholder gallery promo.

Open gallery
Pere Ubu
Background notes

Archive material and source history

Pere Ubu formed in 1975 from the remains of Rocket from the Tombs, with David Thomas on vocals and Tom Herman on guitar. Their debut album 'The Modern Dance' came out in 1978, followed quickly by 'Dub Housing' that same year and 'The Art of Walking' in 1979. These records established their particular approach to rock music, which tended toward angular rhythms and cryptic lyrics.

Thomas has been the only constant member through the band's many lineup changes. Other musicians who've played in Pere Ubu include keyboardist Allen Ravenstine, bassist Tony Maimone, and drummer Jim Jones. Their songs like '30 Seconds Over Tokyo' and 'All The Dogs Are Barking' reflect the band's experimental leanings.

Their sound has been described as avant-garde rock, though it resists easy categorization. They've worked across post-punk, industrial, and art rock territories without settling into any one style. The 1980 compilation 'Terminal Tower' collected some of their early material.

Quick answers

What this artist page can answer fast

Where should I start with Pere Ubu on LyroVerse?

The Start here section opens with 49 Guitars & One Girl, All The Dogs Are Barking, and Blow Daddy-o so you can move through the artist's stronger lyric pages first.

How many lyric pages are live for Pere Ubu?

LyroVerse currently has 66 visible lyric pages for Pere Ubu.

Does Pere Ubu have photos on LyroVerse?

Yes. There are 1 photo available, and the preview gallery on this page links to the full photos section.

Does LyroVerse have an editor's note for Pere Ubu?

Yes. The editor's note on this page is a short LyroVerse team guide, not a final verdict on the artist.

Artist Community

Not just lyrics. The conversation around them.

Follow the artist, compare interpretations across songs, and leave corrections that help the catalog stay sharp.

Open artist hub
0 followers Artist hub stays noindex until the conversations are proven strong
Listener comments

What people are saying

0 comments
Share a short memory or first impression

Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.

Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.

Sign in person_add

No listener comments on Pere Ubu yet.