UKC

http://pitchfork.com/news/66862-suicides-alan-vega-dead-at-78/

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/aug/01/popandrock.suicide

I was at the Clash gig. I thought Suicide were fantastic and I bought their debut album the next day.
RIP Alan, Dream Baby Dream..

In reply to aln:

Shame.
I saw them on that tour with the Clash at Leeds Queen's Hall, they got pelted with cans all the way through, I don't think I've seen anybody provoke as strong a reaction as they got. I'm sure I've got Frankie teardrop on an old Peel show tape somewhere.

In reply to aln:

Sad news, love that tortured rock n roll

In reply to aln:

I too saw them on that tour, but in Aberdeen, where they had seats thrown at them and a guy on stage taking a swing at Vega. I reckon I was one of about half a dozen folk there who absolutely loved them - everyone else hated them. (In a strange combination, the other support band was a group called The Coventry Specials, who soon after dropped the 'Coventry' from their title).
As a young reporter for the local paper I interviewed Vega within minutes of him coming off stage and he was absolutely buzzing with the confrontation. Saw them a few months later down in London at the sweatbox of the 100 Club; tremendous gig and with a more sympathetic audience. Still the most extreme gig I've ever been at.

In reply to cragtyke:

>I don't think I've seen anybody provoke as strong a reaction as they got. I'm sure I've got Frankie teardrop on an old Peel show tape somewhere.

I scared the shit out of my younger cousin playing Frankie Teardrop through headphones in the dark, volume control used at appropriate moments.

In reply to OMR:

Yeah they thrived on confrontation. Would've loved to experience them at the 100

In reply to aln:

Yeah, small, crowded, sweat condensing and running down the walls and Vega shouting and screaming over Rev's nagging beat, hitting himself with the microphone... sounds like a vision of hell and maybe that was the attraction. Totally uncompromising. Brilliant experience.

In reply to OMR:

Sounds like my kinda fun..

In reply to aln:
I saw them at Acid Daze in Leeds, in 87. I seem to remember they were boo'd or indeed boo'd off before their set was complete. Seems to be a bit of a theme regarding audience reactions. (Spaceman3, on the other hand, totally uncharismatic, sat on plastic chairs all the way through - superb set.)

I did listen to them inadvertently again the other week, as a they were part of a spotify mix. There was a certain intensity that made me immediately think 'it's Suicide', even though I wasn't really listening and engaged in other things.