Alan Vega, singer of electro-punk duo Suicide, has died aged 78.
Henry Rollins shared the below statement, approved by Vega's family, confirming his passing on his website. He died in his sleep on July 16.
Vega started Suicide with instrumentalist Martin Rev in 1970 and the band remained active up until Vega's death. They were renowned for their turbulent live shows and were said to have paved the way for post-punk and synth-pop, among other genres that followed.
"With profound sadness and a stillness that only news like this can bring, we regret to inform you that the great artist and creative force, Alan Vega has passed away.
Alan passed peacefully in his sleep last night, July 16. He was 78 years of age.
Alan was not only relentlessly creative, writing music and painting until the end, he was also startlingly unique. 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.
Alan Vega was the quintessential artist on every imaginable level. His entire life was devoted to outputting what his vision commanded of him.
One of the greatest aspects of Alan Vega was his unflinching adherence to the demands of his art. He only did what he wanted. Simply put, he lived to create. After decades of constant output, the world seemed to catch up with Alan and he was acknowledged as the groundbreaking creative individual he had been from the very start.
Alan’s life is a lesson of what it is to truly live for art. The work, the incredible amount of time required, the courage to keep seeing it and the strength to bring it forth—this was Alan Vega.
Alan is survived by his amazing family, wife Liz and son Dante. His incredible body of work, spanning five decades, will be with us forever."
Since the news a flood of tributes from fellow musicians have appeared online, including posts from Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea, Billy Idol, MGMT and Primal Scream bassist Simone Marie.
Just got off stage to find out the great Alan vega has left us. What a great innovator been listening to suicide constantly lately. R.I.P❤️
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