Suicide
Background information
Origin	USA
Genre(s)	Proto-punk, punk, post-punk, electronic music, experimental music, No Wave
Members
Alan Vega Martin Rev

Suicide is an American rock music group intermittently active since 1971 and composed of Alan Vega (vocals) and Martin Rev (synthesizers and drum machines). Much like Silver Apples, they are an early synthesizer/vocal musical duo. Image File history File links No_Photo_Available. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Protopunk is a term used to describe a number of performers who were important precursors of punk rock, or who have been cited by early punk rockers as influential. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Post punk generally refers to the particularly fertile and creative period following the initial punk rock explosion. During the first wave of punk, roughly spanning 1976-1983, bands such as The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Ramones and The Damned began to challenge the current styles and conventions of rock... For other uses, see Electronic music (disambiguation). ... For experimental rock music, see experimental rock. ... No Wave was a short-lived but influential music and art scene that thrived briefly in New York City during the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk scene there. ... Alan Vega (born 1948) is the vocalist for 1970s and 80s punk/post punk duo Suicide. ... Martin Rev (full name Martin Reverby) is the instrumentalist from New York punk-era electronic band Suicide. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... Alan Vega (born 1948) is the vocalist for 1970s and 80s punk/post punk duo Suicide. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Martin Rev (full name Martin Reverby) is the instrumentalist from New York punk-era electronic band Suicide. ... For other uses, see Synthesizer (disambiguation). ... A Boss DR-202 Drum Machine A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums and/or other percussion instruments. ... The Silver Apples were a psychedelic electronic music duo from New York City composed of Simeon Coxe III, who performed as Simeon, on a primitive synthesizer of his own devising, and drummer Danny Taylor. ...

Never widely popular amongst the general public, Suicide are nonetheless hugely influential: critic Wilson Neate writes that Suicide "would prove as influential as The Clash. Listening to their self-titled 1977 debut from the vantage point of late 2002, it's all so obvious: the synth pop, techno, and industrial dance sounds of the '80s and '90s, and now the new New Wave of electroclash, all gesture back to that foundational album." [1] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Synth pop is a style of popular music in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. ... For the comic book character previously known as Techno, see Fixer (comics). ... Electronic body music (acronymed and mainly known as EBM) is a music genre that combines elements of industrial music and electronic punk music. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

History

Rev's simple, keyboard riffs (initially played on a battered Farfisa organ before he acquired a synthesizer) were accompanied by primitive drum machines, proving an ideal backdrop for Vega's vocals. Vega owed an obvious debt to Elvis Presley and rockabilly singers, but his muttering, shrieking, nervy delivery was unique, sounding at once both fragile and threatening. Riff is also an alternate spelling of Rif, a region of Morocco. ... Farfisa is a brand name for a series of electronic organs and later multitimbral keyboards, made in Ancona in the Marche region of Italy. ... For other uses, see Synthesizer (disambiguation). ... A Boss DR-202 Drum Machine A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums and/or other percussion instruments. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music to emerge during the 1950s. ...

Suicide emerged alongside the early punk scene in New York City with a reputation for ferocious and controversial live shows; Vega stated "We started getting booed as soon as we came onstage. Just from the way we looked they started giving us hell already." [2] The first album was reissued with bonus material including "23 Minutes Over Brussels", a recording of a Suicide concert that deteriorated into a riot. Vega and Rev both dressed like arty, pre-cyberpunk street thugs, and Vega was notorious for brandishing a length of motorcycle drive chain onstage. This sort of audience confrontation was inspired by Vega witnessing a Stooges concert in the early '70s, which he later described as "great art". New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... A classical music concert in the Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne 2005 Kasia Kowalska concert in Warsaw A concert is a live performance, usually of music, before an audience. ... Berlins Sony Center reflects the global reach of a Japanese corporation. ... Roller chain and sprocket Mack AC delivery truck at the Petersen Automotive Museum with chain drive visible Chain drive was the main feature which differentiated the safety bicycle introduced in 1885, with its two equal-sized wheels, from the direct-drive penny-farthing or high wheeler type of bicycle which... The Stooges are an American rock band that was first active from about 1967 to 1974, and then reformed in 2003. ...

Their first album, Suicide (1977), is often regarded as a classic: One critic writes: "'Dream Baby Dream', 'Che', 'Ghost Rider'—these eerie, sturdy, steam-punk anthems rank among the most visionary, melodic experiments the rock realm has yet produced." [3] However, the ten-minute "Frankie Teardrop" might be the album's highlight, telling the harrowing story of a poverty-stricken Vietnam vet pushed to the edge: critic Emerson Dameron writes that the song is "one of the most terrifying, riveting, absurd things I’ve ever heard."[4] Suicide is the influential first studio album by American punk band Suicide, released in 1977. ... For the comic book, see Steampunk (comics). ... Vietnam veteran is a phrase used to describe someone who served in the armed forces of participating countries during the Vietnam War. ...

Suicide's albums and performances in the late 1970s and early 1980s are regarded as some of the most influential post punk recordings and helped shape the direction of indie rock, industrial music and dance music. Among others, The Sisters of Mercy, Henry Rollins, Joy Division, She Wants Revenge, New Order, Soft Cell, Radiohead, The Fleshtones, Ric Ocasek of The Cars, and R.E.M. have listed Suicide as one of their influences. Bruce Springsteen is also a Suicide fan: he has performed their songs in concert, and Springsteen's "State Trooper" from his Nebraska album is clearly influenced by Suicide -- sounding almost like Suicide "unplugged". Post-punk was a popular musical movement beginning at the end of the 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid 1970s. ... Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music often used to refer to bands that are on small independent record labels or that arent on labels at all. ... It has been suggested that Chicago Industrial be merged into this article or section. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Sisters of Mercy are a rock band that emerged out of the English post-punk scene in 1980-1981. ... Henry Rollins (born February 13, 1961 as Henry Lawrence Garfield) is an American singer and songwriter, spoken word artist and author. ... Joy Division were an English rock band that formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. ... She Wants Revenge is an American indie rock/darkwave band, based in San Fernando Valley, California. ... New Order are an English rock group formed in 1980 from the remaining members of Joy Division—Bernard Sumner (vocals, guitars, synthesizers), Peter Hook (bass, electronic drums), and Stephen Morris (drums, synthesizers). ... Soft Cell was an English synthesizer duo during the early 1980s (currently re-formed). ... Radiohead is an English rock band that formed in Oxfordshire in 1986. ... Roman Gods (1982) Beachhead (2005) The Fleshtones are a U.S. rock & roll band that blends Garage Rock and R&B. They are famous for their high-energy live shows and dedicated celebration of party music. ... Ric Ocasek (born Richard Otcasek on March 23, 1949, in Baltimore, Maryland) is the former vocalist and frontman for The Cars and a producer for several other groups, including Bad Brains and Suicide. ... The Cars were an American rock band, fronted by Ric Ocasek, that emerged from the early punk scene in the late 1970s. ... R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia in 1980 by Bill Berry (drums), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass guitar), and Michael Stipe (vocals). ... Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an influential American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. ... Nebraska is the sixth album by Bruce Springsteen, released in 1982 (see 1982 in music). ... MTV Unplugged is a series showcasing popular musical artists playing acoustic instruments. ...

In 1986 Alan Vega collaborated with Andrew Eldritch of The Sisters of Mercy on the 'Gift' album, released under the name of 'The Sisterhood'. Vega and Rev have both released solo albums, and Suicide released their first album in over a decade with 2002's American Supreme. Sales, however, were slow and critical reception was mixed. See also: 2002 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2002 Record labels established in 2002 // 2002 was marked by significant trends in rock music. ...

In 2005, SAF Publishing put out Suicide No Compromise, a "docu-biography" by David Nobahkt, which featured extensive interviews with Vega and Rev as well as many of their contemporaries and famous fans. Also that year, their song "Ghost Rider" was used in a Brazilian deodorant commercial.

Discography

Albums

• Suicide (1977) (Mute/Blast First CD reissue includes extra disc of 1978 live performances, including the original "23 Minutes Over Brussels" flexidisc)
• 21½ minutes in Berlin/23 minutes in Brussels (1978) (Red Star Records Frankie 1)
• Suicide (second album) (1980) (Produced by Ric Ocasek - reissued as The Second Album - Mute/Blast First CD reissue includes extra disc of 1975 rehearsal sessions)
• Half Alive (1981) (collection of live and demo material recorded from 1975-1979 - originally on ROIR cassette only - liner notes by Lester Bangs)
• Ghost Riders (1986) (live concert from 1981 - originally on cassette only)
• A Way of Life (1988) (Produced by Ric Ocasek - Mute/Blast First CD reissue includes live bonus disc recorded in 1987)
• Why Be Blue (1992) (Mute/Blast First CD reissue includes live bonus disc recorded in 1989)
• Zero Hour (1997) (late 70's live recordings)
• American Supreme (2002) (initial CD copies included live bonus disc recorded in 1998)

Suicide is the influential first studio album by American punk band Suicide, released in 1977. ... Track Listing Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne Mr. ... An editor has expressed a concern that the subject of the article does not satisfy the notability guideline for Music. ...

External links

• Suicide and You, by Matthew Moyer
• "Suicide Watch" article by Simon Reynolds on Alan Vega, including some information on Suicide in general
• http://limbos.org/suicide/ very complete site
• [5] Martin Rev official site
• [6] Alan Vega official site