The ever-morphing, evolving entity known as Suicide first sprang forth from the primordial soup of musical creativity in the early 1970s, before re-emerging, phoenix-like, at the very epicenter of the New York punk scene in 1976. Despite receiving precious little recognition at the time, their eponymous debut album, released in 1977, would go on to exert an indelible influence on music that defies quantification, subsequently earning a place on numerous ‘Greatest Albums of All Time’ lists in a multitude of publications.
At the heart of Suicide’s minimalist sonic constructions lay the irresistible chemistry between Martin Rev and the charismatic Alan Vega. Together, they created a sound that was equal parts seductive and confrontational, a combustible concoction that would set the stage alight during their notorious, riotous live shows – now rightfully enshrined as legendary in the annals of rock n roll history.
As Vega himself once famously proclaimed, “Everybody came in to see Suicide to be entertained, and all we did was give them back the street, in all its glory.” Truly, Suicide’s visionary, uncompromising artistry was a potent reflection of the turbulent times that spawned them, and their influence continues to reverberate through the ages, a testament to their enduring legacy.
The artistry and experimentation of Suicide have left an indelible mark on the music scene for generations. The daringly innovative soundscapes that they pioneered birthed a whole new movement that inspired a multitude of artists and musicians throughout the decades. The creative tendrils of Suicide’s influence are far-reaching, with a vast array of legendary acts such as New Order, Fad Gadget, Depeche Mode, Bruce Springsteen, KLF, Spiritualized, Moby, Soft Cell, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Sisters of Mercy, Primal Scream and Nick Cave, among many others, all having acknowledged their profound debt to Rev and Vega.
Originally unleashed upon the world in 1988, ‘A Way of Life‘ features an exquisite selection of classic Suicide tracks such as ‘Surrender,’ ‘Jukebox Baby 96,’ and ‘Dominic Christ,’ and once again saw Alan Vega and Martin Rev joining forces with The Cars frontman Ric Ocasek, to produce this masterpiece.
“The first session was scheduled for about 2 PM,” Martin Rev recounts. “Ric wasn’t there yet, only the engineers, so Alan and I just started to warm up and, in the process, started writing some new songs. The engineers decided among themselves to set the recorder rolling, and when Ric came in an hour or two later, ready to work, he asked the engineers if we had already sound-checked. They said, ‘Yeah, and they basically recorded the whole album.’ Ric was amazed and started immediately to listen to what became the first mixes of A Way of Life.”
Behold, as the winds of time carry us to the brink of a monumental event – the 35th anniversary of the groundbreaking opus that is ‘A Way of Life.’ Slated for release on 26 May 2023, via Mute/BMG, this iconic album will be available in various formats, including transparent blue vinyl, complete with an art card and two hitherto unreleased bonus tracks.
Behold also, the CD release, which will come with a 4-page booklet and a staggering five bonus tracks, all of which were discovered by the indefatigable Jared Artaud during his extensive rummaging through the Vega Vault archives. The artwork design and concept was masterfully crafted by Artaud and Michael Handis, the visionary art direction team behind the stunning Surrender album cover of 2022.
Moreover, let us not forget the remastering of this timeless masterpiece, a Herculean task accomplished by none other than the incomparable Denis Blackham of Skye Mastering, who also lent his wizardry to the recent remastered reissues of Suicide’s first and second albums.
Undeterred by the passage of time, Suicide persisted in creating and performing for a remarkable 40 years, culminating in the critically acclaimed Punk Mass at London’s Barbican in 2015 and the passing of Alan Vega in July 2016. Such is their enduring legacy.
Listen to an unreleased version of Suicide’s 1988 live cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” here…don’t worry; they promise to ‘f— it up.’
Decades later, Springsteen would return the compliment with this memorable cover of ‘Dream Baby Dream’.
Pre-order the album here.
A Way of Life vinyl tracklisting (SUICIDELP03)
A1. Wild In Blue (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
A2. Surrender (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
A3. Jukebox Baby 96 (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
A4. Rain Of Ruin (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
A5. Sufferin’ In Vain (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
B1. Dominic Christ (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
B2. Love So Lovely (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
B3. Devastation (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
B4. Heat Beat (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
B5. Born In The USA (Single Edit – Live in Paris 1988)*
Previously Unreleased*
A Way of Life CD tracklisting (SUICIDECD03)
1. Wild In Blue (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
2. Surrender (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
3. Jukebox Baby 96 (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
4. Rain Of Ruin (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
5. Sufferin’ In Vain (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
6. Dominic Christ (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
7. Love So Lovely (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
8. Devastation (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
9. Heat Beat (88′ Version – 2023 Remaster)
10. Born In The USA (Live in Paris 1988)*
11. Devastation (Live in Paris 1987)*
12. Dominic Christ (Early Studio Version)*
14. Cheree (Live in Paris 1988)*
*Previously unreleased
