Drummer Pierre Moerlen dies
May 7th, 2005 by Koldo Barroso
The percussionist of legendary psychedelic jazz rock band Gong Pierre Moerlen died unexpectedly in his sleep in the early hours on the 3rd of May in Strasbourg. 53 year old Moerlen was at the moment attending rehearsal sessions for the new Pierre Moerlen’’s Gong Band. His funeral took place on Monday, May 9th , in his birth town Colmar, Alsace-Lorraine.
Born 1952, Colmar, Alsace Lorraine, France, Pierre Moerlen belonged to a family of music teachers and was taught to play piano from an early age. Soon he developed an inclination for drums and in 1967 he went to the conservatory to study percussion under Jean Batigue, leader of the Percussion de Strasbourg, and graduating in ”72 with the Premier Prix du Percussion. In 1973, Moerlen toured with the Company Claude Confortes of Grenoble and worked with Gabriel Federow from Magma. Finally he joined Gong in June 1973, and a year later taking part of two of the most beloved and accomplished Gong albums: ”Angel’’s Egg” and ”You”. Pierre Moerlen left and re-joined the band several times, being replaced by different drummers, including Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson) and Brian Davidson.
Moerlen was also a key element for the jazz rock fusion reincarnation of Gong in 1975, recording the albums ”Shamal” , and ”Gazeuse” in 1976. This would give birth to Pierre Moerlen’’s Gong band, featuring Mick Taylor, Alan Holdsworth, Bon Lozaga and Francois Causse.
Pierre Moerlen played on several Mike Oldfield sessions, including those for ”Ommadawn”, ”Incantations”, ”Platinum”, ”Crises”, ”Islands”, and the live version of Tubular Bells. He also played with other artists such as Supersister, Henry Cow, Pekka Pohojol, Robert Wood, Steve Winwood, Terry Oldfield, and Mick Taylor.
In 1985, Pierre Moerlen joined the Swedish Band Tribute recording two albums. He also reformed Pierre Moerlen’’s Gong to record two albums and tour.
Pierre also toured for several big musicals such as Evita, Les Miserables, and Phil Collins” jazz rock act Brand X. In the last years he led a quieter life in his home in Strasbourg where he taught drum and percussion seminars, held regular classes, and worked on new compositions. He will be remembered as one of the most creative and skilled percussionists of the jazz rock scene.