17 Facts About Sonic Youth

1.

Sonic Youth was an American rock band based in New York City, formed in 1981.

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2.

Sonic Youth emerged from the experimental no wave art and music scene in New York before evolving into a more conventional rock band and becoming a prominent member of the American noise rock scene.

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3.

Sonic Youth have been praised for having "redefined what rock guitar could do" using a wide variety of unorthodox guitar tunings while preparing guitars with objects like drum sticks and screwdrivers to alter the instruments' timbre.

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4.

The bands shared a rehearsal space, and Sonic Youth embarked on its first tour in November 1982 supporting Swans.

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5.

Sonic Youth were well received in Europe, but the New York press largely ignored the local noise rock scene.

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6.

That same year, Moore and Gordon were married, and Sonic Youth released Bad Moon Rising, a self-described "Americana" album that served as a reaction to the state of the nation at the time.

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7.

Sonic Youth was so impressed with Shelley's drumming after seeing him play live that they hired him without an audition.

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8.

Sonic Youth released one single in 1986 and one studio album in 1988 under the Ciccone Youth name.

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9.

Sonic Youth decided to release their next record on Enigma Records, which was distributed by Capitol Records and partly owned by EMI.

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10.

In 2001, Sonic Youth collaborated with French avant-garde singer and poet Brigitte Fontaine on her album Kekeland.

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11.

The following year, Sonic Youth participated in the first outing of the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival and curating the ensuing compilation album.

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12.

Later in 2008, Sonic Youth ended their relationship with Geffen, due to dissatisfaction with how the label had promoted their last several albums.

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13.

In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sonic Youth sold official face masks based on the artwork from the album Sonic Nurse, with proceeds going to charities Brooklyn Community Bail Fund, Bed Stuy Strong, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's COVID-19 Relief Fund.

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14.

Sonic Youth is considered a pioneering band in the noise rock and alternative rock genres.

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15.

Sonic Youth's sound relied heavily on the use of alternative tunings.

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16.

Moore said that Sonic Youth was heavily influenced by the Velvet Underground, along with The Stooges, Branca, Patti Smith, Wire, Public Image Ltd and French avant-gardist Brigitte Fontaine.

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17.

Sonic Youth saw The Faith performing in 1981 and had a strong admiration towards their only two records, a split LP with fellow Washington, D C hardcore band Void and the EP Subject to Change.

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