25th Birthday Party London, The Forum in Bloomington, MN

On October 8 and 9, 1994,
Gong
celebrated its 25th anniversary with a massive festival at The Forum in London. In addition to Gong, sets were played over the two days by
Kevin Ayers
,
Tim Blake
"Shapeshifter" Gong
Here & Now
Fluvius
Shortwave
Planet Gong
Kangaroo Moon
, and
the Invisible Opera Company of Tibet
. This classic
lineup, which hadn't played together since 1977, consisted of
Daevid
Gilli
Didier
Mike Howlett
Pip Pyle
Steffi Sharpstrings
Shyamal Maitra
; no particular era of
is most represented here, but rather a mix of personalities from throughout the band's history. Judging by this two-CD set commemorating the event, it was an amazingly energetic two days, as the
repertoire was infused with new life, sounding fresh and current, with new variations and tunes inserted throughout. As a psychedelic and alternative rock institution,
proves here that it still has the vitality and ability to entertain a new generation of fans. ~ Jim Powers