Suicide

Biography

This US duo was an important influence on Birthday Party, Soft Cell, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Nine Inch Nails and the Sisters Of Mercy with their potent fusion of rockabilly and electronic music on cheap equipment. Singer Alan Vega and multi-instrumentalist Martin Rev polarized audiences in Max’s Kansas City and other New York clubs in the early 70s, remaining unheard on vinyl until the advent of the new wave when their arrangement of ‘Rocket 88’ was included on the Max’s Kansas City compilation in 1976. Ramones associates Craig Leon and Martin Thau oversaw the duo’s early recording career (on Thau’s Red Star label). Their self-titled debut was a striking collection, a combination of Rev’s screeching synths and Vega’s warped rockabilly voice that would prove to be one of the most influential albums of the 70s. It was followed by an infamous live set recorded in Brussels, where Vega and Rev were forced off the stage by a hostile...

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