Gong are a
progressive rock band formed by Australian musician
Daevid Allen. Their music has also been described as
space rock. The various incarnations of Gong, its spin-offs and related bands are collectively dubbed the "Gong Global Family". They were formed in 1967, after Allen - then a member of
Soft Machine - was denied entry to the United Kingdom due to a visa complication. Allen remained in France where he and a London-born Sorbonne professor,
Gilli Smyth, established the first incarnation of Gong.