Kavus Torabi

Kavus Torabi
Kavus Torabi
	Torabi in 2025
Born	5 December 1971; Tehran, Iran
Occupations	Musician; composer; producer; DJ; record label owner; radio broadcaster; artist; author;
Known for	Music, writing and visual art
Spouse	Dawn Staple (m. 2003)
Children	1
	Musical career
Origin	Plymouth, Devon, England
Genres	Psychedelia; progressive rock;
Instruments	Guitar; vocals;
Years active	1988–present
Label	Believers Roast
Member of	Admirals Hard; Cardiacs; Guapo; Knifeworld; Gong; The Utopia Strong; The Holy Family; Miranda Sex Garden;
Formerly of	Die Laughing; The Monsoon Bassoon; Miss Helsinki; North Sea Radio Orchestra; Authority; Hatchjaw and Bassett; Chrome Hoof;

Kavus Torabi (born 5 December 1971) is a British musician, composer, record label owner and radio broadcaster. Described as a "psychedelic polymath", he is a multi-instrumentalist known for his work in the psychedelic, avant-garde rock field (primarily as a guitarist). Torabi has fronted the bands Knifeworld, Gong and the Utopia Strong, as well as being a member of Cardiacs, Guapo and the Monsoon Bassoon.

Born in Iran of English and Iranian decent, Torabi moved to the UK in 1973 and was raised in Plymouth. He was a founding member of the Monsoon Bassoon, whose album I Dig Your Voodoo (1999) was produced by Tim Smith, the leader of Cardiacs. After working as the band's guitar technician for eight years, Torabi joined Cardiacs as a second guitarist and vocalist in 2003, replacing Jon Poole, initially for three shows performing the band's early materal captured on the live album The Special Garage Concerts. His first Cardiacs studio work was the 2007 single "Ditzy Scene", which he wrote the words for. The band went into an indefinite hiatus in 2008 due to Smith experiencing neurological problems following a cardiac arrest. Five years after Smith's death, LSD was released in 2025 as the only Cardiacs studio album with Torabi.

Between 2009 and 2018, Torabi led his own group Knifeworld. With the snooker player Steve Davis, Torabi co-presented the radio show The Interesting Alternative Show on Phoenix FM, has DJ'd at events, co-founded the electronic band the Utopia Strong, and wrote the joint autobiography Medical Grade Music (2021). After being introduced by to Gong founder Daevid Allen by Davis, Torabi joined the progressive rock band as an additional guitarist and debuted on the 2014 album I See You. Following the illness and death of Allen from cancer in 2015, Gong continued with Torabi as frontman. With Torabi left in charge, Gong have released the studio albums Rejoice! I'm Dead! (2016), The Universe Also Collapses (2019) and Unending Ascending (2023), with the upcoming album Bright Spirit to release in 2026.