Alan Vega, frontman of the proto-punk band Suicide, died Friday at the age of 78.
Fellow punk legend Henry Rollins confirmed news of Vega’s death by issuing a statement on behalf of his family.
“Alan was not only relentlessly creative, writing music and painting until the end, he was also startlingly unique,” the statement read. “Along with Martin Rev, in the early 1970’s, they formed the two person avant band known as Suicide. Almost immediately, their incredible and unclassifiable music went against every possible grain. Their confrontational live performances, light-years before Punk Rock, are the stuff of legend. Their first, self-titled album is one of the single most challenging and noteworthy achievements in American music.”
Vga released five albums as a member of Suicide in addition to a handful of solo albums. His music has since been cited as a major influence for the likes of Trent Reznor, Bruce Springsteen, LCD Soundsystem, and Neon Indian.
