Suicide Ghost Riders CD

The ROIR label, which specializes in little-known classics (probably because of the label's former policy of releasing material on cassette only), has recently begun to reissue most of its classic treasure trove of recorded material on compact disc. From Television, to obscure dub, to this live release by legendary New York avant-noise band Suicide, every release is a must-have.

This live recording of Suicide (taken from a 1981 tenth anniversary show in Minneapolis) demonstrates what a powerhouse of a band two men, a microphone and one cheesy keyboard could be. Singer Alan Vega sometimes whispers his way through classics such as "Sweet White Lady" and the title track, and sometimes wails like a lost soul wandering parched in a post-apocalyptic city, while Martin Rev's white-noise drone thunders like a cross between an air raid siren and a Farfisa organ. There's also a great cover of ? and the Mysterians' "96 Tears," that almost makes the original sound tepid. A lost classic, not for the timid.

Seventeen years ago, in September 1981, New York City's most controversial underground electro-punks were invited to celebrate their tenth anniversary by performing in concert at The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota - this now-legendary concert was released by ROIR as cassette-only in 1986.Today, in 1998, Suicide's influence and presence on the electronic scene has elevated them to a mentor status that their commercial career never realized.Suicide have just returned from performing in London as part of a pre-promotional tour celebrating the March re-release of their very first eponymous LP, on Red Star in 1977, now on Mute/Blast First Records as of mid-March. While in London, they appeared with SPIRITUALIZED: "And a horde of slavering pop stars, including PULP, NICK CAVE, THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN, PRIMAL SCREAM, ORBITAL, THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS and JONATHAN FIRE EATER charging into Spiritualized's dressing room, rushed past Jason Pierce to lick a new arsehole for some bunch of aging long-hair tossers called Suicide, who were ever-so-slightly famous before you were born." NME 1/31/98 Why all this adulation from their peers? Alan Vega and Marty Rev, back in the late 60's and early 70's, virtually invented electronica. Constantly performing in every armpit dive in lower Manhattan, they were laughed at and reviled for their eccentric music. Graduating to CBGB's and Max's Kansas City (now reopened), they were part of a growing scene that included Richard Hell, The Ramones, Dead Boys, Blondie, Television, The New York Dolls, Dictators, Wayne County, Cherry Vanilla and the itinerant Iggy Pop. Today, still together for international gigs, they are lauded for being geniuses in the forefront of the now faddish electronic era and for creating some time honored classic songs that are as relevant today as ever.

Recorded at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1981. Includes liner notes by David Fricke.

Suicide: Alan Vega (vocals); Martin Rev (various instruments).