|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSUICIDEAn electronic/new wave duo formed '71: vocalist Alan Vega (b Boruch Alan Bermovitz, 23 June 1938, NYC; d 16 July 2016), Marty Rev, keyboards (ex-jazz band organist). Vega was an art student who turned to music as a stream of situations rather than static artworks; he never gave up a career in quiter art. The Mixture of Vega's rockabilly and Rev's relentless keyboards came from same scene as the New York Dolls ('Rocket USA' appeared on a seminal Max's Kansas City showcase '76); the uncompromising live act inspired love or hate (like Dolls) but remained unsigned until the punk era. Craig Leon (Ramones) and Marty Thau produced Suicide '77 on Thau's Red Star label (later on Demon UK), it and flexi-disc 24 Minutes Over Brussels '78 was a live show that turned into a riot; the disc found few takers. They were bottled off the stage supporting Clash in UK '77, too much even for punks. Patronage of the Cars' Ric Ocasek led to pop crossover; he used them as Cars tour support, featured them on Midnight Special (the Cars' TV show), produced Alan Vega and Martin Rev '78 for the Ze label (latter aka Infinity). They went for solo careers, put Suicide on hold (track 'Hey Lord' on Ze's A Christmas Album '81 served notice they'd be back). The NYC tape label ROIR released Half Alive '81 on cassette only. Vega's eponymous solo LP '81 included a European hit single 'Juke Box Baby' (top five in France, Benelux): much more vocal-oriented than Suicide. He continued with a career as a sculptor, with a one-man show in NYC's Barbara Gladstone Gallery '82, again '83, in Amsterdam '83. Collision Drive '82 returned more to Suicide's metallic drone, was followed by live dates with a surprisingly conventional rock band (Mark Kuch, guitar; Larry Chaplan, bass; Sesu Coleman, drums). Ocasek-produced Sunset Strip '83 updated 'Juke Box Baby' to 'Video Babe' and had a track in French for Europe ('Je T'Adore'), plus rockabilly-based 'American Dreamer' and 'Wipe Out Beat', off-the-wall cover of Hot Chocolate's 'Every 1's A Winner'. Just A Million Dreams '85 was produced by Chris Lord-Alge, Arthur Baker associate and disco producer, acclaimed as their best yet, also denigrated for commercialism, ironic since the duo were being recognized as founding fathers of European synth pop and new wave; they'd had their influence on Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, DAF, Birthday Party, Sisters of Mercy, others right up to Sigue Sigue Sputnik, using only a rhythm machine, a cheap Farfisa keyboard and heavily-echoed Vega neo-Presley vocals. Rev had done solo LP Clouds Of Glory '85; they re-formed '88 for gigs; A Way Of Life '89 and Y.B. Blue '92 were new albums; Vega went solo again with Deuce Avenue '90, Power On To Zero Hour '91, New Raceion '93. Asked to explain the group's name, Vega said, 'If I'd called it ''Life'', no one would have come.' Two-CD Suicide '98 compiled the '78 debut, the flexi-disc and a previously unreleased live set from CBGB's. Live 1977-78 on Blast First/Petite compiled bootlegs, confirming that they were at their best when the audience hated them. |