By Aaron Richter
“These recordings are not for the fainthearted or casual fan” warns the back of Suicide: Live 1977–1978, a limited-edition six-disc box set out now on Blast First Petite. The collection documents the tour following the release of Suicide’s classic self-titled debut. It includes rough recordings of full shows at New York City venues CBGB’s, Max’s Kansas City and The Palladium, as well as brutal sets from a European tour with Elvis Costello and the Clash.
Riots were incited. Bottles were thrown. Faces were cut with glass. The punks were royally fucked with. For singer Alan Vega and keyboardist Martin Rev, instigation and agitation were vital and necessary. Although it’s a difficult, monotonous listen, this box set (limited to only 3,000 copies) captures an anger, a frustration and an oppressive, pulsating sound that truly pissed people off. Here, Vega speaks candidly with self-titled about the death of punk, the art of confrontation and his biggest fear. Part two of our unedited interview—the one with the ax-wielding fan anecdote—will run tomorrow morning.
“Ghost Rider (live)”
[youtube 1woMEExMZXg]
self-titled: What do you like about this box set?
It’s a blast from the past. It was a great time, I remember, opening for the Clash in those days, ’78. That tour was unbelievable. The riots. The nightly riots. I had to listen to a lot of the stuff over again, and that was kind of difficult.
It’s a blast from the past. It was a great time, I remember, opening for the Clash in those days, ’78. That tour was unbelievable. The riots. The nightly riots. I had to listen to a lot of the stuff over again, and that was kind of difficult.
What was difficult?
It was a long time ago. I’ve done so much since then. You gotta remember that was the tour for the first album with Suicide. Since then I’ve had 21, 22 new albums. I’m using the word “albums”—I’m an old guy. It was like going back to something, like, “Oh, shit. I wish I did that this way, or this that way.” You can’t change all that, which is why it’s kinda great in a way, too. Every album is… Or every record… Or whatever you call them these days… You don’t even call them CDs anymore.
It was a long time ago. I’ve done so much since then. You gotta remember that was the tour for the first album with Suicide. Since then I’ve had 21, 22 new albums. I’m using the word “albums”—I’m an old guy. It was like going back to something, like, “Oh, shit. I wish I did that this way, or this that way.” You can’t change all that, which is why it’s kinda great in a way, too. Every album is… Or every record… Or whatever you call them these days… You don’t even call them CDs anymore.
You mean “Collection of MP3s.”
Right. Exactly. Outer space [laughs]. Yeah, it’s like a diary. Everything’s like a diary. I could listen to this album and zoom back in time. Who was my girlfriend? What was happening? Where was I? What was I thinking? How the fuck did I even dress like that?
Where did the recordings come from?
A shitty little tape recording from someone sitting in the balcony or something. That’s why it sounds like it sounds. We used to do our own recordings, prior to making records: We used to record on a one-track tape recorder, use two sides of an amp—those Fender amps—one side for the vocals and one side for the keyboard.
Right. Exactly. Outer space [laughs]. Yeah, it’s like a diary. Everything’s like a diary. I could listen to this album and zoom back in time. Who was my girlfriend? What was happening? Where was I? What was I thinking? How the fuck did I even dress like that?
Where did the recordings come from?
A shitty little tape recording from someone sitting in the balcony or something. That’s why it sounds like it sounds. We used to do our own recordings, prior to making records: We used to record on a one-track tape recorder, use two sides of an amp—those Fender amps—one side for the vocals and one side for the keyboard.
Everything featured in this collection is unrefined from the original tapes. Why keep it so rough?
I hate when people re-master stuff. The other day I just had to buy a Rolling Stones record. What was it? One of the famous ones. Beggars Banquet. I was really looking forward to listening to the Stones. But I bought such a re-mastered thing—it sounded so fucking terrible.
I hate when people re-master stuff. The other day I just had to buy a Rolling Stones record. What was it? One of the famous ones. Beggars Banquet. I was really looking forward to listening to the Stones. But I bought such a re-mastered thing—it sounded so fucking terrible.
I think my mom bought me that same version this past Christmas. It’s like the Super-CD format, and it sounds awful.
Right? I was so disappointed. Remember that thing, “Where’s the beef?” I mean, where was the music? What did they do to this thing? It wasn’t the Rolling Stones. With vinyl, you’ve got all the scratches and bumps. You get used to listening to it that way. I listened to this one time and said, “Where’s the banquet?”
Right? I was so disappointed. Remember that thing, “Where’s the beef?” I mean, where was the music? What did they do to this thing? It wasn’t the Rolling Stones. With vinyl, you’ve got all the scratches and bumps. You get used to listening to it that way. I listened to this one time and said, “Where’s the banquet?”
Self Titled - 2008