The Walrus - Music With Big Fuckin' Teeth!

10/07/2007

Suicide: Synth-Pop Minimalists in a Punk-Rock Age

Suicide's first album, 1977's Suicide is full of harrowing mantras of super-heroes, down-trodden Vietnam-Vets, and weird, inspirational love ballads. Subsequent albums never quite reached the plateau of their debut, but nevertheless they went on to be a huge influence on the likes of Joy Division, New Order, Stereolab, Sisters of Mercy, Radiohead, and even The Cars (Ric Ocasek actually produced the bands second album.)

They modeled their sound after 60's electronic visionaries The Silver Apples and 70's glam icons Lou Reed and Iggy Pop. Singer Alan Vega, with his ghostly Elvis styled vocals, feverish yelps, and strange mannerisms displayed a presence on stage that was both seductive and menacing. Martin Rev, in his ultra-futuristic sunglasses, laid down repetitive, minimalistic synth rhythms that supported but NEVER interfered with Vega's saucey vocals.

With that, one may say that they invented modern day synth-pop...before punk even started. They were creating new-wave music before bands like The Ramones ever took the stage at CBGB's. Suicides minimalist manifestos stood out like a sore thumb, and when they began performing their music live in NYC in the mid/late 70's they were furiously heckled by a crowd who only wanted one thing...punk rock. Even though they didn't have a punk-rock sound or even play guitars, Suicide could be considered as punk-rock or even more so than their traditional contemporaries, because of their refusal to compromise their sound.

Check out these two live videos from the band's early days: