Suicide: Classic Or Dud

. . so don't listen to 'em sober! (Works for me with AC/DC.)

Classic. Especially for the second album. Especially for "Mister Ray".

I'd discuss the Suicide Live 1977-78 box here but it seems like ILM is filled with just as many idiots as their audiences on this thing

No, go on, I still want to know what its like.

I was very tempted by it, I must admit.

well, if you didn't like 23 Minutes Over Brussels, you probably won't like 6 Hours Over Earth

The sound quality is poor, but I could go for six hours of the same quality of performances, regardless.

this is one of my favorites

http://www.roir-usa.com/covers/suicide.gif

The performances are all very consistent, sounding very much like the first record--they had an insider running space echo behind the board.
The audiences -- not sure what's worse, the legendary "Shouting Man" at the NYC gigs--insistently maintaining the same war whoop throughout the set, OR the waves of booing, cat calls, whistles, dick sound men, riots, etc at the Europe/UK gigs. Nevertheless, Vega is ON FIRE, taking everybody on. REV NEVER MISSES A NOTE.

OK, I've got to have it . .

My only warning is this "Shouting Man" comes very close to ruining the box. Suicide can shut up the overseas crowd at time with pure volume, but back home they're no match for this idiot.

Balls, I need to buy this now.

SO, according to many sources, Alan Vega is 70 YEARS OLD??
Meaning peak-era Suicide was done in his late 30s/early 40s?
WHAT.

What sources? Wiki and AMG both have him born in 1948, which would make him 60, not 70.

Blast First PR insist he's 70, proclaiming 70th b-day celebration.

Marty must be around 70? Not Alan?

"peak-era Suicide was done in his late 30s/early 40s?"

Suicide started as "performance artists" => age limits not so stringent, even back in the 70's.

how did i only just find out m rev's surname is "reverby"?!

i like that much more than rev

So, I suspect I was the only one of us at the Barbican last week, and this is as good a thread as any other to talk about it in.

I'm kind of conflicted as at times it was as brilliant and uncompromising as even, but the encores...

So, this is billed using terms like "closing the circle", which sounds ominous, and is certainly an evening,of contrasts. Both halves of the show start with a seemingly unrelated performance of mouth music by a group of singers at the back of the stage. It's booed quite roundly the second time for no appreciable reason. In the first half this is followed by Henry Rollins talking about how much Suicide means to him, listening to the first album with Ian Mackaye, and becoming friends with Vega and being neighbours with Marty while living in NYC.

The rounding out the first half are solo sets from Marty with backing singers and Vega with his wife and son. Marty's is arguably more entertaining and lurches from doo-wop into something which could comfortably have sat on Kate Bush's The Red Shoes, over which he adds the sound of being sucked through an airlock and triggered by him jabbing a fist on the keys, or his flat palm or even his forearm. Some have more vocals than others but it's never really short of engaging despite being a fairly challenging listen. Vega comes out for his and it's immediately apparent that something isn't right. He is more or less led to a chair at the back of the stage where he remains until the thumping industrial techno starts; this makes him want to get up but he has three goes at trying to stand up before he can finally get to his feet and shuffle forward a bit. His eye and ear for performance are clearly still just as astute, however, and it's as good as anybody else working in the genre that I've seen in the past handful of years.

After the second mouth music, we get a Suicide show. Or part of one. The tracks are pretty indeterminate (although Marty claims one of them is Frankie Teardrop, with which it shares no notes or words) until 'Surrender', which Marty and Vega croon at each other and you realise this is the only place the two of them belong, on stage with each other in the greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world. "I fuckin' love this song" says Marty, even as he tries to render it unrecognisable. And after about 20 minutes, it's abruptly over. Vega looks to the back of he stage and the VegaWrangler comes on to help him off.

After about a five minute break Vega is helped back on by Rollins and there's a canter through Ghost Rider which is 80% Rollins, 20% Vega. Marty looks a bit confused as to what's going on, and turns off the backing. Rollins helps Vega back off and Marty follows. Another 5 minutes and Bobby Gillespie turns up at the front of the stage to sing Dream Baby Dream with Marty; Vega comes on for a couple of minutes of it before the VegaWrangler takes him away and it's clear there's going to be nothing more long before the house lights come up around 30 minutes early.

What's clear was that unless there is a step change improvement in Vega's health then there really aren't going to be many more shows. Or those that do will be fantastic for 20-30 minutes and then his age and frailty will kick in until you're actually willing him to stop. I had a great time, but Suicide are probably a fans only prospect this stage and even then it may try the patience of some; Vega's condition is also quite upsetting and shocking, although his deterioration does stop you from thinking that Marty is over 70 as well and cavorting in PVC and sci-fi shades.

Very glad I went.

makes me sad reading that. did wonder how it was after reading this tweet by helm:

https://twitter.com/ALTER_STOCK/status/619250936855285760

I think the Mouth Music was Phil Minton's Feral Choir, sorry to hear they were booed

Feral Choir sounds right, will look at the handout.

I saw them supporting the Stooges and he was hobbling about arthritically then, and that was 5 years ago. Marty was full of beans though.

Sorry to derail the thread, guys, but I haven't done one of these in ages and can't resist the urge...

Another 5 minutes and Bobby Gillespie turns up

Backstage at the Barbican. The calm is broken when the Bold Boab bowls into the dressing room gladhanding all and sundry...

Boab (singing... sort of): "Hello! Hello!"

Marty Rev: Robby Gillspy?

Boab: Naw naw, Gillespie, auld yin, gerrit right, Boaby Gillespie. At yer service.

Rev: The singer from ummmmmm...

Boab: Primal Scream, big man... (turning to address his entourage) here, who let this daft auld cunt in?

Entourage member: (mumbling) That's Marty Rev.

Boab: Y' whit?

Entourage member: (more insistently): Marty Rev!

Boab: Shit. (turning to face Rev) Marty! Ah've no' see you since eh...

Rev (deadpan): ... ever.

Boab: Aye, right... eh... so where's that Veega guy hidin', ah tell ye whit, ah'm fuckin' ower the fuckin' moon that he's gonnae be singin' wan ah mah songs the night, so ah um.

Rev: No no, you'll be singing one of our songs.

Boab: 'zat right? How d'ye work that wan oot, big yin?

Rev: It was agreed with your management, you'll be singing "Dream Baby Dream" tonight.

Boab: Aye, that's right, "Dream Baby Dream".

*pause*

Rev: Which is our song.

Boab: Who's song?

Rev: Our song.

Boab: Your song?

Rev: Our song.

Boab: Oor song.

Rev: OUR SONG!

Boab: (squaring up) OOR SONG!

Rev: (walking away in disgust) Can someone deal with this asshole?

Boab: Here you! Don't fuckin' walk away fae me! Ah'll fuckin' have you, pal! You're lucky ah've goat a policy o' no' hittin' auld age pensioners in wraparoon shades!

Entourage member: Calm down, Bobby.

Boab: Naw, ah'll calm doon fuck all, man, he's fuckin' at it...

Entourage member: ... it's a Suicide song...

Boab: ... thinks he can come the big I Am wi' me? That'll be the fuckin' day...

Entourage member: ... "Dream Baby Dream" is a Suicide song...

Boab: ... cheeky fuckin' article, does he know who... whit did ye say?

Entourage member: "Dream Baby Dream" is a Suicide song.

Boab: It's no', is it?

Entourage member: It is.

Boab: Ah was sure it wis a Scream number.

Entourage member: Well you might have ripped it off at some point.

Boab: Aye, that's probably it, ah fuckin' lose track o' the cunts we've ripped aff, to be fuckin' frank... Here, ah've made a right arse o' this, black affrontit ah um, ah better find wan o' these cunts and apologise. Holl'! Veega! Rev!

*Boab strides off and comes across Alan Vega sitting in the corner with his wife and son*

Boab: Here, auld yin, sorry tae interrupt 'n' that but ah'm lookin' for yon Marty Rev, huv ye seen him? Scrawny auld duffer wi' a pair o' mad shades oan?

Vega: (begins to speak but Boab interrupts)

Boab: Aye, ye could say we wur at cross purposes earlier an' ah think ah might o' offended the cunt (noticing Mrs. Vega) Oops, sorry Missus.

Vega: (begins to speak but Boab interrupts again)

Boab: Aye, so if ye see him, fuckin' point him in mah direction. Touchy auld bastard, bit o' a prima donna, if ye know whit a fuckin' mean, (winking at Vega Jr), eh son?

Vega: Ummmm, haven't seen him around but I'll be sure and tell him you're looking for him, Mr?

Boab: Gillespie. Boaby Gillespie, and you are?

Vega: Vega.

Boab: Veega? Right! Ah shoulda fuckin' guessed! Whit a fuckin' turn up fer the books! Well ah hope you and your grandson and his bird enjoy the show the night, 'cuz yer son's gonnae be singin' wan o' mah songs! Here, where is he anyway, fuckin' Alan Veega, is he hidin' fae his auld da' or sumthin'? Fuckin' first night nerves probably, heid doon the cludgie, (nudging Mrs Vega) am I right, doll? Anyway, goat tae fuckin' shoot the craw ... (sotto voce to Vega Jr.) here you take care o' yer granda, he's no' lookin' too good, the auld yin. (brightly) Catch ye's later! (under breath) "Dream baby dream, da-da-da-da"...

dream boaby dream

Can't deny, thought about that one myself.

Henry Rollins has just posted a family-approved statement -- Alan Vega has passed at the age of 78.

http://henryrollins.com/news/detail/alan_vega1/

oh fuck. rip ghost rider

Rest In Peace great one.

fucking hell.

RIP :(

Aw man... Going to celebrate his life by taking the Frankie Teardrop Challenge tonight.

RIP

WHAT THE FUCK

at the risk of alarming you, many ilx0rs are mortal as well (not my cat, or ned)

78 is solid

Devastated, even though I've been expecting it since last summer. A true hero. RIP VEGA.

I love that he was already officially over the hill (in youth culture terms) when Suicide started releasing albums. I love that his rap was like a hustler who figured out that America was the biggest fucked up hustle on every level. RIP.

Sad times. RIP Alan. Loved this guy ;_;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GnLtfDSAYQ

Have always referred to this thread to remind myself when I made my first ever ILM post (Wednesday, April 4, 2001 12:00 AM (15 years ago))

RIP beautiful dreamer.

Awwww RIP motorcycle hero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6Vrf-CjnLo

Glad i did get to see both suicide and the 5 piece Alan Vega Band in the mid 80s.

Would love to hear some Reverend B so wonder if there is anything recorded

A visionary, a provocateur, a poet. Life well spent.

somehow he/they still looked.. youthful, if not young even recently

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pYhH4nd7_c

can't believe he was 78. that's my parent's generation. pre-boomer punks are rare. debbie harry is 70, i think. he was born the same year as my mom.

This is a fantastic read (if you skip a little of the A.R.E. Weapons mythologising) - http://bombmagazine.org/article/3181/alan-vega

http://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=205&v=qCRTCqgAkfg

always did love this song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCRTCqgAkfg

don't know why this isn't working on the last link

Charlie Harper is in his 70s too

RIP, an American original

From FB:

Over here on E Street, we are saddened to hear of the passing of Alan Vega, one of the great revolutionary voices in rock and roll. The bravery and passion he showed throughout his career was deeply influential to me. I was lucky enough to get to know Alan slightly and he was always a generous and sweet spirit. The blunt force power of his greatest music both with Suicide and on his solo records can still shock and inspire today. There was simply no one else remotely like him.

Bruce Springsteen

uh wow

This is a fun and really interesting listen.

Heard "Nike Solider" off "Mutator" and really like it. I've never delved into his solo work, can anyone point me to the best stuff?

idk abt best but the first three are solid, and I love Etant Donnes so I appreciate Re-Up and Sniper as well, but haven't heard anything else

yea I like the first two a lot and the record he did with Alex chilton also great

classic

First three albums for sure, I really like Zero Hour too. In terms of collabs, Alex Chilton, the two PanSonic and the Revolutionary Corps of Teenage Jesus definitely.