The Breakup, Sonic Youth

Sid and Nancy, Kurt and Courtney, maybe even Sonny and Cher, these are the rock and roll couples we rely on for ongoing (even posthumous) celeb gossip. Sonic Youth fans can take solace in that Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore are not deceased, however, their 26 year marriage is no more. According to Pitchfork, in spite of the most famous couple in noise-rock having decided to end their relationship, they will fulfill  five dates in south America this November. After that there are no further shows planned.

Consider the magnitude of this divorce on the music world. There have been three decades of music from Sonic Youth where they produced some incredible songs. SY recorded six albums in the 80’s keeping the kids from badly teased hair and cut-off leather vests. Re-listen to Teenaged Riot remembering that at the time GnR and Poison were on heavy rotation. In the 90’s they steered a generation away from Stone Temple Pilots and allowed Nirvana to remain edgy. The Dirty album was a Gen X dream, saving the cohort from dying of ‘Grunge’ and ‘Alternative’. The new millennium saw them ease off the noise pedal and proved that if they wanted to, they could make catchy melodies without sounding typical or surrendering to digital clarity. Incinerate is arguably one of the best songs they ever wrote.

Having to accept that bands (and couples) break up sometimes doesn’t mean we can’t relive the past with any of their 17 studio albums (seriously, I had no idea there were 17 albums, plus tonnes of live and side recordings). However, if you want to forget the past and move on, Thurston is always pushing music forward with his latest solo release Demolished Thoughts – touring in Europe at the end of November. All the best to both band members – thanks for the rock.

Check the 1998 Index Magazine Interview: http://www.indexmagazine.com/interviews/kim_gordon_thurston_moore.shtml