Alan Vega left a robust vault. The excavation begins with a new album.
This file photo taken on March 5, 2004 shows US singer Alan Vega performing in the western French city of Nantes as part of the I.D.E.A.L. Festival. FRANK PERRY / AFP.
by Rob Tannenbaum
(NYT NEWS SERVICE)
.- In 1978, the adversarial New York duo Suicide played a show in Boston, opening for the Cars, local heroes whod crossed over into pop success. Suicide performed a set of assaultive and static electronic music, and the unhappy audience demonstrated its distaste by throwing ashtrays, some of which hit singer Alan Vega. But Vega and his bandmate, Martin Rev, had recently finished European tours opening for the Clash and Elvis Costello during which they caused a literal riot in Belgium. (It was later documented on a live recording, 23 Minutes Over Brussels, named for the length of Suicides set before the gendarmes were summoned.)
Alan Vega Left a Robust Vault The Excavation Begins With a New Album nytimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nytimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
by Guy OddySaturday, 10 April 2021
Electro-punk magnificence
If there’s someone who could claim to have proved Arnold Schoenberg’s pithy phrase that “If it is art, it is not for all” it was Alan Vega. His and Martin Rev’s abrasive synth-punk duo, Suicide were famously detested by fans of the Clash, one of whom even threw an axe at him on stage when they supported Strummer’s more straightforward punk rockers in the late 70s.
If there’s someone who could claim to have proved Arnold Schoenberg’s pithy phrase that “If it is art, it is not for all” it was Alan Vega. His and Martin Rev’s abrasive synth-punk duo, Suicide were famously detested by fans of the Clash, one of whom even threw an axe at him on stage when they supported Strummer’s more straightforward punk rockers in the late 70s. Yet, he was also worshipped by the Sisters of Mercy, Andy Weatherall and, somewhat surprisingly, Bruce Springsteen, among plenty of others. In fact, Suicide may even
Hear Alan Vega s Previously Unreleased Track Fist exclaim.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from exclaim.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.