At the time of GONG’s "I See You", it was known that the band’s leader Daevid Allen was fighting cancer. And now the intrepid Chief Pixie admits he’s losing the fight. In his message to the fans, the veteran basically bids farewell to everyone and to life itself. Given his age, there’s little hope for a Wilko Johnson kind of miracle.
That’s what Daevid writes:
“Hello you Kookaburras,
OK so I have had my PET-CAT scans (which is essentially a full body viewing gallery for cancer specialists) and so it is now confirmed that the invading cancer has returned to successfully establish dominant residency in my neck. The original surgery took much of it out, but the cancer has now recreated itself with renewed vigor while also spreading to my lung. The cancer is now so well established that I have now been given approximately six months to live.
So My view has Changed:
I am not interested in endless surgical operations and in fact it has come as a relief to know that the end is in sight. I am a great believer in “The Will of the Way Things Are” and I also believe that the time has come to stop resisting and denying and to surrender to the way it is. I can only hope that during this journey, I have somehow contributed to the happiness in the lives of a few other fellow humans.
I believe I have done my best to heal, dear friends and that you have been enormously helpful in supporting me through this time. So Thank you SO much for being there with me, for the Ocean of Love. And Now, importantly, Thank you for starting the process of letting go of me, of mourning then transforming and celebrating this death coming up – this is how you can contribute, this would be a great gift from those emotionally and spiritually involved with me.
I love you and will be with you always
– Daevid xxx -“