Published
Sat, Jul 16, 2016, 16:09
- The Suicide frontman passed away in his sleep at 78 on July 16th.
Alan Vega, frontman of the seminal duo Suicide, has died.
Born in Brooklyn in 1938, Vega was an influential creative force for nearly four decades. He's best known for his band with Martin Rev, Suicide, whose self-titled 1977 debut is an enduring classic due to its minimalist, repetitive synthesizer patterns and Vega's snarling vocal style. Confrontational antics at early Suicide performances presaged the punk movement. While "Frankie Teardrop" is widely thought of to be one of the most harrowing documents of the downtown NYC scene, the group also had a romantic side as heard on tunes like "Cheree" and "Dream Baby Dream," a 1979 single that is a staple of Bruce Springsteen's live set. (That one was also reissued by Superior Viaduct earlier this year.)
Vega was also an avid collaborator. He worked with Big Star's Alex Chilton on an LP called Cubist Blues (a 1994 record that was re-released by Light In The Attic recently) and put out two albums in collaboration with Pan Sonic's Ilpo Väisänen and Mika Vainio. The musician, actor and radio host Henry Rollins broke the news of Vega's passing via his website, along with a touching statement memorializing Vega. Rollins will DJ a Suicide tribute set on his KCRW radio show tomorrow. In 2012, Vegas suffered a heart attack and stroke, but recovered and continued to perform. He died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 78.
Watch a fan clip for "Dream Baby Dream."