atch phrases like "way ahead of their time" and "blazing their own trail" don't really cut it-- Suicide were in their own sonic world entirely for most of the 1970s. It took folks a while to catch on, but catch on they did, and nowadays Alan Vega and Martin Rev are widely revered for their influence on punk, no wave, post-punk, noise, synth pop, and all manner of musical explorations that emerged in their wake.
But don't take my word for it. Just ask Liars, Spiritualized, Grinderman, Sunn O))) (with Pansonic), Klaxons, Primal Scream, Lydia Lunch, Peaches, Julian Cope, Vincent Gallo, or Bruce freaking Springsteen, all of whom contribute Suicide covers to an upcoming EP series from UK imprint Blast First (Petite).
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a bowl of soup
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a ton of lead
Wiggle - you can raise the dead
If you listen to "State Trooper" off Nebraska, Bruce is doing a direct Suicide homage, including a perfect Vega-style yelp near the end.
A la "Frankie Teardrop"?
"I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back in Whittier, they're not much bigger than two meters.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
If you listen to "State Trooper" off Nebraska, Bruce is doing a direct Suicide homage, including a perfect Vega-style yelp near the end.
A la "Frankie Teardrop"?
yep.
Bruce closed nearly every show of his Devils And Dust tour in 2005 with Dream Baby Dream. Seems to be a big Suicide fan.
Seems odd. Maybe he and Vega shopped at the same sweat band store in the 80s.
"I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back in Whittier, they're not much bigger than two meters.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft