GAS Records (2)

The Gong Appreciation Society (GAS or G.A.S.) was formed in 1976 first acting as a kind of fan-club, serving as a network for everything concerning Gong – but also Gong members solo activities and other related bands and artists – which they still do today. They soon became administrator of the estate and musical legacy of Gong, Daevid Allen etc... From 1979 to 1999 G.A.S. (and its sister labels Ottersongs and 2032) released a huge quantity of cassettes documenting the multiple aspects of the Gong Family musical activities. The GAS tapes are official material, although some misinformed sources describe them as bootlegs. In time, the tapes were compiled and edited by various Gong Family members: Daevid Allen, Harry Williamson, Steffie Sharpstrings, Jonny Greene, Brian "Zero" Abbott, Rob Ayling among others. While some have surfaced in later LP or CD releases for wider distribution, many of them consist of recordings which never made it to another format. All of them are of great interest for Gong afecionados and original copies have become collectors' items. With the diffusion of digital technology, cassette tapes became obsolete so GAS chose to issue all further archival or new releases on CD. Over the years, GAS and GAS Records have been run by : 1976-77: Grant Showbiz, Chyme, and Bella (based in Brighton) 1977-81 : Harry Williamson (based at Oxes' Cross, North Devon) 1981-82 : Ark Redwood, aka Aardwark (based at Oxes' Cross, North Devon) 1982-85 : Brian Abbott (based in Devon) 1985 : Pete Barnes and Jake (based in Devon) 1986-88 : Brian Abbott again (based in Devon) 1988-89 : Robin Ayling and Barbara Kirk (based in Yokshire) 1989-91 : Harry Williamson again, with Jonny Greene 1991-present : Jonny Greene (based in Glastonbury) Label code of GAS Records : 01027